SUSPICIOUS CHARACTER. In the criminal laws of some of the states, a person who is known or strongly suspected to be an habitual criminal, or against whom there is reasonable cause to believe that he has committed a crime or is planning or intending to commit one, or whose actions and behavior give good ground for suspicion and who can give no good account of himself, and who may therefore be arrested or required to give security for good behavior. See McFadin v. San Antonio. 22 Tex. Civ. App. 140, 5-1 5. W. 48; People v. Russell, 35 Misc. Rep. 765, 72 N. Y. Supp. 1; 4 Bl. Comm. 252.
SUTHDURE. The south door of a church, where canonical purgation was performed, and plaints, etc., were heard and determined. Wharton.
SUTLER. A person who, as a business, follows an army and sells provisions and liquor to the troops.
SUUM CUIQUE TRIBUERE. Lat. To render to every one his own. One of the three fundamental maxims of the law laid down by Justinian.
SUUS HÆRES. Lat. In the civil law. Those descendants who were under the power of the deceased at the time of his death, and who are most nearly related to him. Calvin.
SUUS JUDEX. Int. In old English law. A proper judge; a judge having cognizance of a cause. Literally, one's own judge. Bract. tel. -101.
SUZEREIGN. L. Fr. In French and fendsi law. 'i‘he immediate vassal of the king; a crown vassal.
SWAIN; SWAINMOTE. See SWEIN: swnnznora.
SWAMP LANDS. See LAND.
S W A R, F-MONEY. Warth-money; or
guard-money paid in lieu of the service of castle-ward. Cowell.
SWEAR. 1. To put on oath; to administer an oath to a person.
2. To take an oath; to become bound by an oath duly administered.
3. To use profane language. Swearing, in this sense, is made a punishable offense in many jurisdictions.
SWEARING THE PEACE. Showing to a magistrate that one has just cause to be afraid of another in consequence of his mena- ces, in order to have him bound over to keep the peace.
SWEEPING. Comprehensive: including in its scope many persons or objects; as a sweeping objection.
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SYLLABUS
SWEIN. In old English law. or freeholder within the forest.
A freeman
SWEINMOTE. In forest law. A court hoiden before the verderors, as judges, by the steuard of the sweinmote, thrice in ery year, the sweina or freeholrlers within the forest composing the jury. Its prlacipl fin risdiction -was—l-‘irst, to inquire into the up-‘ pressions and grlexauces committed by thu vilicers of the forest; and, secondly, to re ceive and try presentments certified firm the ', court of attachments in olifenses against vert and venison. 3 Bl. Comm. 72.
SWELL. To enlarge or increase. In an action of tort, circumstances of aggravation may "sweil" the damages.
SWIFT WITNESS. A term colloquially applied to a witness who is unduly zeuioO or partial for the side which calls him. mad who betrays his bias by his extreme read} ness to answer questions or volunteer information.
SWINDLING. Cheating and defrauding grossly with deliberate artifice. Wyatt r. Ayres. 2 Port. (Ala.) 157; Forrest v. Hanson 9 Fed. (3.15. 4.36; Thorpe v. State. 40 Te: Cr. R. 346, 50 S. W. 383; Chase v. Wl1lLioci: 3 Ilili (N. Y.) 140; Stevenson v. Hayden, 2 Mass. 408.
By the statute, "sWlndilng" is defined to be the acquisition of personal or movable property, money, or instrument of writing conveying or securing a vnlnabie right, by means of some false or deceitful pretense or device, or fraudulent representation, with intent to uppropiiate the same to the use of the party so acquiring, or of destroying or hu- pan-lng the rights of the party justly entitled to the same. Pen. Cods Tex. art. 790; May V. State, 15 Tex. App. 436.
SWOLING OF LAND. So much land as one‘s plow can till in a year; a hide of land. Cowell.
SWORN BROTHERS. In old English law. Persons who, by mutual oaths, Core- nant to share in each other's fortunes.
SWORN CLERK5 IN CEANCERY. Certain officers in the English court of ch:1u< Cery, whose duties were to keep the record: make copies of pleadings, etc. Their offitu were abolished by St. 5 8: 6 Vick. 1:. 103
SYB AND SOM. A Saxon form 0fgl'ee[ing, meaning peace and safety.
SYLLABUS. A head-note; a note prefix- ed to the report of an adjudged case, containing an epitome or brief statement of the rulings of the court upon the point or points decided in the case. See Konnce v. Dooht tie, 48 W. Va. 592, 37 S. E. 6-13.
