Blacks Law Dict. 1st ed

ACCUSATION

ACQUISITION

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facts which, if established, will entail a civil liability upon him. Thus, the debtor's ao knowledgment of the creditor's demand or right of action will toll the statute of limita tions. Admission is also used in this sense. To denote an avowal of criminal acts, or the concession of the truth of a criminal charge, the word "confession" seems more appro priate. ACKNOWLEDGMENT MONEY. A sum paid in some parts of England by copy hold tenants on the death of their lords, as a recognition of their new lords, in like man ner as money is usually paid on the attorn ment of tenants. Cowell. ACOLYTE. An inferior ministrant or servant in the ceremonies of the church, whose duties are to follow and wait upon the priests and deacons, etc. ACQUEST. An estate acquired newly, or by purchase. 1 Reeve, Eng. Law, 56. ACQUETS. In the civil law. Property which has been acquired by purchase, gift, or otherwise than by succession. Immovable property which has been acquired otherwise than by succession. Merl. Report. Profits or gains of property, as between husband and wife. Civil Code La. § 2369. ACQUIESCE. To give an implied con sent to a transaction, to the accrual of aright, or to any act, by one's mere silence, or with out express assent or acknowledgment. ACQUIESCENCE. Acquiescenceis where a person who knows that he is entitled to impeach a transaction or enforce a right neglects to do so for such a length of time that, under the circumstances of the case, the other party may fairly infer that he has waived or abandoned his right. Sweet. ACQUIETANDIS PLEGIIS. A writ of justices, formerly lying for the surety against a creditor who refuses to acquit him after the debt has been satisfied. Reg. Writs, 158; Cowell; Blount. ACQUIRE. In the law of contracts and of descents; to become the owner of property; to make property one's own. ACQUIRED. Coming to an intestate in any other way than by gift, devise, or descent from a parent or the ancestor of a parent. 2 Lea, 54. ACQUISITION. The act of becoming the owner of certain property; the act by

ACCUSATION. A formal charge against a person, to the effect that he is guilty of a punishable offense, laid before a court or magistrate having jurisdiction to inquire into the alleged crime. Accusator post rationabile tempus non est audiendus, nisi se bene de omis sione excusaverit. Moore, 817. An ac cuser ought not to be heard after the expira tion of a reasonable time, unless he can account satisfactorily for the delay. ACCUSE. To bring a formal charge of crime against a person, before a competent court or officer. 30 Mich. 468. See 5 Rich. 492. ACCUSED. The person against whom an accusation is made. "Accused" is the generic name for the de fendant in a criminal case, and is more ap propriate than either "prisoner" or "defend ant." ICar. &K. 131. ACCUSER. The person by whom an ac cusation is made. ACEPHALI. The levelers in the reign of Hen. I., who acknowledged no head or superior. Leges H. 1; Cowell. Also certain ancient heretics, who appeared about the be ginning of the sixth century, and asserted that there was but one substance in Christ, and one nature. Wharton. ACEQUIA. In Mexican law. A ditch, channel, or canal, through which water, di verted from its natural course, is conducted, for use in irrigation or other purposes. ACHAT. Fr. A purchase or bargain. Cowell. ACHEBSET. In old English law. A measure of corn, conjectured to have been the same with our quarter, or eight bushels. OowelL ACKNOWLEDGE. To own, avow, or admit; to confess; to recognize one's acts, and assume the responsibility therefor. ACKNOWLEDGMENT. In convey ancing. The act by which a party who has executed an instrument of conveyance as grantor goes before a competent officer or court, and declares or acknowledges the same as his genuine and voluntary act and deed. The certificate of the officer on such instru ment that it has been so acknowledged. The term is also used of the act of a person *vho avows or admits the truth of certain

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