Blacks Law Dict. 1st ed

803

CRIMINAL PROCESS

CROSS-COMPLAINT

/ CROP. The products ot the harvest In corn or grain. Emblements. CROPPER. One who, having no inter est in the land, works it in consideration of receiving a portion of the crop for his labor. 2 Eawle, 11. The difference between a tenant and a cropper is: A tenant has an estate in the land for the term, and, consequently, he has a right of property in the crops. Until division, the right of property and of possession in the whole is the tenant's. A cropper has no estate in the land; and, although he has in some sense the possession of the crop, it is the possession of a servant only, and is, in law, that of the landlord, who must divide off to the cropper his share. 71 N. C. 7. CROSS. A mark made by persons who are unable to write, to stand instead of a sig nature; usually made in the form of a Mal tese cross. As an adjective, the word is applied to various demands and proceedings which are connected in subject-matter, but opposite or contradictory in purpose or object. CROSS-ACTION. An action brought by one who is defendant in a suit against the party who is plaintiff in such suit, upon a cause of action growing out of the same transaction which is there in controversy, whether it be a contract or tort. CROSS-APPEAL. Where both parties to a judgment appeal therefrom, the appeal of each is called a "cross-appeal" as regards that of the other. 3 Steph. Comm. 581. CROSS-BILL. In equity practice. One which is brought by a defendant in a suit against a plaintiff in or against other defend ants in the same suit, or against both, touch ing the matters in question in the original bill. Story, Eq. PI. § 389; Mitf. Eq. PI. 80. A cross-bill is a bill brought by a defendant against a plaintiff, or other parties in a former bill depending, touching the matter in question in that bill. It is usually brought either to obtain a nec essary discovery of facts in aid of the defense to the original bill, or to obtain full relief to all par ties in reference to the matters of the original bilL It is to be treated as a mere auxiliary suit. 17 How. 591; 35 N. H. 235. A cross-bill is a species of pleading, used for the purpose of obtaining a discovery necessary to the defense, or to obtain some relief founded on the collateral claims of the party defendant to the original suit UGa.167. Also, if a bill of exchange or promissory note be given in consideration of another bill or note, it is called a "cross" or "counter" bill or note. CROSS-COMPLAINT. In code practice. Whenever the defendant seeks affirmative re

broken or violated, the laws prescribed for the regulation of the conduct of the people of the community, and who have thereby laid themselves liable to fine or imprisonment or other punishment. 4 Araer. & Eng. Enc. Law, 730. CRIMINAL PROCESS. Process which issues to compel a person to answer for a crime or misdemeanor. 1 Stew. (Ala.) 27. CRIMINAL PROSECUTION. An ac tion or proceeding instituted in a proper court on behalf of the public, for the purpose of securing the conviction and punishment of one accused of crime. CRIMINALITER. Criminally. This term is used, in distinction or opposition to the word "civiliter," civilly, to distinguish a criminal liability or prosecution from a civil one. CRIMINATE. To charge one with crime; to furnish ground for a criminal pros ecution; to expose a person to a criminal charge. A witness cannot be compelled to answer any question which has a tendency to criminate him. CRIMP. One who decoys and plunders sailors under cover of harboring them. Wharton. CRO, CROC In old Scotch law. A weregild. A composition, satisfaction, or assythment for the slaughter of a man. CROCIA. The crosier, or pastoral staff. CROCIARIUS. A cross-bearer, who went before the prelate. Wharton. CROCKARDS, CROCARDS. A foreign coin of base metal, prohibited by statute 27 Edw. I. St. 3, from being brought into the realm. 4 131. Comm. 98; Crabb, Eng. Law, 176. CROFT. A little close adjoining a dwell ing-house, and inclosed for pasture and till age or any particular use. Jacob. A small place fenced off in which to keep farm-cattle. Spelman. The word is now entirely obso lete. CROISES. Pilgrims; so called as wear ing the sign of the cross on their upper gar ments. Britt. c. 122. The knights of the order of St. John of Jerusalem, created for thedefense of the pilgrims. Cowell; Blount. CROITEIR. A crofter; one holding a croft.

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