Coventry Act
Defined in 8 dictionaries — Cyclopedic (1922), Ballentine's (1916), Bouvier (1914), Black's (1910), Kinney (1893), Black's (1891), Burrill (1850), Bouvier (1839)
The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary
Walter A. Shumaker and George Foster Longsdorf; ed. James C. Cahill · 1922
The common name for St. 22 & 23 Car. II. c. 1, against maiming by lying in wait, it having been enacted in consequence of an assault on Sir John Coventry in the street, and slitting his nose, in revenge, as was supposed, for some obnoxious words uttered by him in parliament.
Ballentine's Law Dictionary
James A. Ballentine · 1916
Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia
John Bouvier; revised by Francis Rawle · 1914
The common name for the statute 22 & 23 Car. II. c. 1,— It having been enacted in consequence of an assault on Sir John Coventry in the street, and slitting his nose, in revenge, as was supposed, for some obnoxious words uttered by him in parliament By this statute it is enacted that if any person shall, of malice aforethought, and by lying in wait, unlawfully cut or disable the tongue, put out an eye, slit the nose, cut off the nose or lip, or cut off or disable any limb or member, of any other person, with intent to maim or disfigure him, such person, his counsellors, aiders, and abettors, shall be guilty of felony without benefit of clergy. The act was repealed by 9 Geo. IV. c. 31.
Black's Law Dictionary
Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910
A Law Dictionary and Glossary
George C. Kinney · 1893
The statute 22 & 23 Car. II., u. 1, enacted for the punishment of the offense of cutting off or disabling a limb or member, with intent to maim or disfigure. So called from being occasioned by an assault on Sir John Coventry.
A Dictionary of Law
Henry Campbell Black · 1891
The name givent 0 the statute 22 & 23 Car. II. ¢. 1, which pro vided for the punishment of assaults with intent to maim ordisigure aperson. It was so named from its being occasioned by an assault on Sir John Coventry in the street. 4 BI. Comm, 207.
A New Law Dictionary and Glossary
Alexander M. Burrill · 1850
The English statute 22 (& 23 Car. II. c. 1, enacted for the punishment of the offence of cutting off or disabhng a limb or member, with intent to maim or disfigure. It was so called from being occasioned by an assault on Sir John Coventry in the street. 4 Bl. Com. 207. Crabb's Hist, Eng. Law, 628. This, with other statutes on the same subject, is now repealed by 7 & 8 Geo. IV. c. 27, and 9 Geo. IV. c. 31, which latter act is itself repealed, as far as its provisions relate to this subject, by 7 Will. I V., and 1 Vict. c. 85. 4 Steph. Com. 126, note.
A Law Dictionary, Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States
John Bouvier · 1839
criminal law. Is the common name for the statute 22 & 23 Car. II. c. 1; it having been enacted in consequence of an assault on Sir John Coventry in the street, and slitting his nose in revenge, as was supposed, for some obnoxious words uttered by him in parliament. By this statute it is enacted, that if any person shall, of malice aforethought, and by laying in wait, unlawfully cut or disable the tongue, put out an eye, slit the nose, cut off the nose or lip, or cut off or disable any limb, or member of any other person, with intent to maim or disfigure him; such persons, his counsellors, aiders and abetters, shall be guilty of felony, without benefit of clergy; 4 Bl. Com. 207. This statute is copied by the act of the legislature of Pennsylvania. For the act of Connecticut, see 2 Swift's Dig. 293.