Blacks Law Dict. 1st ed

BRIEF

154

BRIBE

BRIBOTJR. One that pilfers other men's goods; a thief. BRICOLIS. An engine by which walla were beaten down. Blount. BRIDEWELL. In England. A house of correction. BRIDGE. A structure erected over a river, creek, stream, ditch, ravine, or other place, to facilitate the passage thereof; in cluding by the term both arches and abut ments. 40 N. J. Law, 305. A building of stone or wood erected across a river, for the common ease and benefit of travelers. Jacob. Bridges are either public or private. Pub lic bridges are such as form a part of the high way, common, according to their character as foot, horse, or carriage bridges, to the public generally, with or without toll. 2 East, 342. A private bridge is one erected by one or more private persons for their own use and convenience. BRIDGE-MASTERS. Persons chosen by the citizens, to have the care and super vision of bridges, and having certain fees and profits belonging to their office, as in the case of London Bridge. BRIDLE ROAD. In the location of a private way laid out by the selectmen, and accepted by the town, a description of it as a "bndle road" does not confine the right of way to a particular class of animals or special mode of use. 16 Gray, 175. BRIEF. In general. A written docu ment; a letter; a writing in the form of a letter. A summary, abstract, or epitome. A condensed statement of some larger docu ment, or of a series of papers, facts, or prop ositions. An epitome or condensed summary of the facts and circumstances, or propositions of law, constituting the case proposed to be set up by either party to an action about to be tried or argued. In English practice. A document pre pared by the attorney, and given to the bar rister, before the trial of a cause, for the in struction and guidance of the latter. It con tains, in general, all the information neces sary to enable the barrister to successfully conduct their client's case in court, such as a statement of the facts, a summary of the pleadings, the names of the witnesses, and an outline of the evidence expected from them, and any suggestions arising out of the peculiarities of the case.

BRIBE. Any valuable thing given or promised, or any preferment, advantage, privilege, or emolument, given or promised corruptly and against the law, as an induce ment to any person acting in an official or public capacity to violate or forbear from his duty, or to improperly influence his behavior in the performance of such duty. The term "bribe" signifies any money, goods, right in action, property, thing of value, or advantage, present or prospective, or any promise or undertaking to give any, asked, given, or accepted, with a corrupt in tent to influence unlawfully the person to whom it is given, in his action, vote, or opinion, in any public or official capacity. Pen. Code Dak. § 774. BRIBERY. In criminal law. The re ceiving or offering any undue reward by or to any person whomsoever, whose ordinary profession or business relates to the admin istration of public justice, in order to influ ence his behavior in office, and to incline him to act contrary to his duty and the known rules of honesty and integrity. 1 Russ. €rimes, 154; 1 Hawk. P. C. 414; 3 Co. Inst. 149; 29 Ark. 302. The term "bribery" now extends further, and includes the offense of giving a bribe to many other classes of officers; it applies both to the actor and receiver, and extends to voters, cabinet ministers, legislators, sheriffs, and other classes. H Whart Crim. Law, § 1858. The offense of taking any undue reward toy a judge, juror, or other person concerned in the administration of justice, or by a pub lic officer, to influence his behavior in his office. 4 Bl. Comm. 139, and note. Bribery is the giving or receiving any un due reward to influence the behavior of the person receiving such reward in the discharge of his duty, in any office of government or of justice. Code Ga. 1882, § 4469. The crime of offering any undue reward or re muneration to any public officer of the crown, or -other person intrusted with a public duty, with a view to influence his behavior in the discharge of his duty. The taking such reward is as much bribery as the offering it. It also sometimes signi fies the taking or giving a reward for public office. The offense is not confined, as some have supposed, to judicial officers. Brown. BRIBERY AT ELECTIONS. The of fense committed by one who gives or prom ises or offers money or any valuable induce ment to an elector, in order to corruptly induce the latter to vote in a particular way or to abstain from voting, or as a reward to the voter for having voted in a particular way or abstained from voting.

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