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Credible

Defined in 5 dictionaries — Ballentine's (1916), Black's (1910), Kinney (1893), Black's (1891), Burrill (1850)

Ballentine's Law Dictionary

James A. Ballentine · 1916

Competent. See 9 Pick. (Mass.) 350, 20 Am. Dec. 481. Credible witness. One, who being competent to give evidence, is worthy of belief. See 27 Tex. App. 47, 11 Am. St. Rep. 180, 10 S.W. 749.

Black's Law Dictionary

Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910

Worthy of belief; entitled to credit. See Competenct.

Credible person. One who is trustworthy and entitled to be believed; in law and legal proceedings, one who is entitled to have his oath or affidavit accepted as reliable, not only on account of his good reputation for veracity, but also on account of his intelligence, knowledge of-the circumstances, and disinterested relation to the matter in question. Dunn v. State, 7 Tex. App. 605 ; Territory v. Leary, 8 N. M. i8O, 43 Pac. 688; Peck v. Chambers, 44 W. Va. 270, 28 S. E. 706.

Credible witness. One who, being competent to give evidence, is worthy of belief. Peck v. Chambers, 44 W. Va. 270, 28 S. E. 706; Savage v. Bulger (Ky.) 77 S. W. 717 : Amory v. Fellowes, 5 Mass. 228; Bacon v. Bacon, 17 Pick. (Mass.) 134; Robinson v. Savage, 124 111. 266, 15 N. E. 850.

Credibility. Worthiness of belief; that quality in a witness which renders his evidence worthy of belief. After the competence of a witness is allowed, the consideration of his credibility arises, and not bsfore. 3 Bl. Comm. 369; 1 Burrows, 414, 417; Smith v. Jones, 68 Vt. 132, 34 Atl. 424. As to the distinction between competency and credibility, see Competency.

Credibly Informed. The statement in a pleading or affidavit that one is "credibly informed and verily believes" such and such facts, means that, having no direct personal knowledge of the matter in question, he has derived his information in regard to it from authentic sources or from the statements of persons who are not only "credible," in the sense of being trustworthy, but also informed as to the particular matter or conversant with it.

A Law Dictionary and Glossary

George C. Kinney · 1893

To be believed; entitled to credit; worthy of belief.

A Dictionary of Law

Henry Campbell Black · 1891

Worthy of belief; entitled to credit. See COMPETENOY.

A New Law Dictionary and Glossary

Alexander M. Burrill · 1850

[Lat. credibilis, from credere, to believe, or trust.] In the law of evidence. To be believed; entitled to credit; worthy of belief. A term applied to a witness after his evidence is given. This term is never used as synonymous to competent. When applied to testimony, it presupposes the evidence given. Lord Mansfield, 1 Burr, 414, 417. After the competence of a witness is allowed, the consideration of his credibility arises, and not before. Id. ibid. 3 Bl. Com. 369.