Autrefois

Formerly; heretofore. AUTREFOIS ACQUIT (Fr. formerly acquitted). A plea made by a defendant indicted for a crime, that he has formerly been tried and acquitted of the same offense. See "Jeopardy." AUTREFOIS ATTAINT (Fr. formerly attainted). In criminal pleading. A plea that the defendant has been attainted for one felony, and cannot, therefore, be criminally prosecuted for another.

4 Bl. Comm. 336.

Now obsolete. AUTREFOIS CONVICT (Fr. formerly convicted). In criminal pleading. A plea made by a defendant indicted for a crime or misdemeanor, that he has formerly been tried and convicted of the same. This plea Is substantially the same in form as the plea of autrefois acquit, and is grounded on the same principle, viz., that no man's life or liberty shall be twice put in jeopardy for the same offense.

1 Bish. Crim. Law, §§ 651-680; 1 Green (N, J.) 362; 1 Mc Lean (U. S.) 429; 7 Ala. 610; 2 Swan (Tenn.) 493.

A plea of autrefois convict which shows that the judgment on the former indictment has been reversed for an error in the judgment, is not a good bar to another indictment for the same offense.

3 Car. & K. 190.

But a prior conviction by judgment before a justice of the peace, and a performance of the sentence pursuant to the judgment, constitute a bar to an indictment for the same offense, although the complaint on which the justice proceeded was so defective that his judgment might have been reversed for error.

3 Mete. (Mass.) 328; 8 Mete. (Mass.).532.

See "Jeopardy." AUXILIA AD FILIUM MILITEM FAciendum vel ad filiam maritandam. Aids to make the lord's son a knight, or to marry AUXILIUM (Lat.) An aid; tribute or services paid by the tenant to his lord.