Crimen

Lat. (plur. crimina.) A crime. See Crime. In the civil law. An accusation.

Inst. 1. 26, pr.

Cooper's Notes in loc. Hei' necc. El. Jur. Civ. lib. 1, tit 26, § 802, CRIMEN FALSL Lat. In the civil law. The crime of falsifying; which might be committed either by writing, as by the forgery of a will or other instrument; by words, as by bearing false witness, or perjury; and by acts, as by counterfeiting or adulterating the public money, dealing with false weights and measures, counterfeiting seals, and other fraudulent and deceitful practices. i>»^.

48. 10.

Hallifax Anal. b.

3, ch. 12, num. 56 — 59.

In the common law, this term is also used, but in no very precise or determinate sense. In the ancient law of England it was employed to denote the making of false charters, false measures, false money, and other falsifications.

1 Beeves' JlisL Eng, Law, 200. 2 irf. 8, 9.

Glanv, lib.

14, c. 7.

More particularly it was used to signify the two crimes of counterfeiting or falsifying the king's seal, and of making false money, (including the reduction of the value of genuine com, as by clipping.) Bract fol.

104 b, 119 b.

FUta, lib.

1, c. 23.

In modem law its predominant signification is forgery; though it includes also perjury and offences of a kindred character.

4 Bl Com, 89, 247. 4 Sieph. Com, 89, 247.

But it appears never to have been employed in the extensive sense given to it by the civil law. 1 Oreenleafon Ev, § 373, and note.

Wilde, J., 1 1 Metcalfs R. 302.