Compurgator

One of several neighbors of a person accused of a crime,_ or charged as a defendant in a civil action, who appeared and swore that they believed him on his oath.

3 Bl. Comm. 341.

COMPUTUS (Lat, computare, to account). A writ to compel a guardian, bailiff, receiver, or accountant to yield up his accounts. It is founded on St. Westminster II. c.

12; Reg. Orig. 135.

COMTE (Fr.; Lat. comes). Count. A title of office in the ancient law of France, denoting a governor of a particular territory or district, who united the characters of a military leader and a judge. As a judge, he had an equal jurisdiction with the missiis 'dominicus, or king's commissary. Esprit des Lois, liv.

28, c. 28; Id. liv. 30, c. 18.

As a military officer, he commanded the freemen, and led them to the field. Id. liv.

30, cc. 17, 18.

Montesquieu says he was at the head of all the freemen of the monarchy. Id. liv.

31, c. 23.

See, also. Id. liv.

30, c. 18; Id. liv. 31, c. 1.

The comte was subordinate to the due (duke). Guyot, Inst. Feud. c.

1, § 8.

See "Comes"; "Count." In later times, a title of nobility. Boulainvilliers Etat de la France, iii.

56; Barr. Obs. St. 31.