Public Wrongs
Defined in 2 dictionaries — Cyclopedic (1922), Black's (1910)
The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary
Walter A. Shumaker and George Foster Longsdorf; ed. James C. Cahill · 1922
A public wrong, otherwise termed a "crime," is a breach and violation of the public rights and duties due to the whole community, considered as a community in its social aggregate capacity. 4 Bl. Comm. 5; Thatcher's Cr. Gas. 550. Thus, an entry on the land of another without committing a breach of the peace is a mere trespass (8 Grat. [Va.] 708; 6 Denio [N. Y.] 277), but an entry upon the land of another in such manner as to cause a breach of the public peace is a public wrong, criminally punishable (8 Grat. [Va.] 708). See 1 Clark & Marshall, Crimes, 4.
Black's Law Dictionary
Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910
Violations of public rights and duties which affect the whole community, considered as a community ; crimes and misdemeanors. 3 Bl. Comm. 2; 4 Bl. Comm. 1.
Defined under Wrong in Black's Law Dictionary.