PROSECUTION

In crlminal law. A. criminal action; a proceeding instituted and carried on by due course of law, before a competent tribunal, for the purpose of determining the guilt or innocence of a person charged with crime. See U. S. v. Rei singer, 128 U. S. 398, 9 Sup.. Ct. 99, 32 L. Ed. 480; Tenne ee v. Davis, 100 U. S. 257, 25 L. Ed. 648; Schulte v. Keokuk County, 74 Iowa, 292, 37 N. W. 376; Sigsbee v. State, 43 Fla. 524, 30 South. 816. By an easy extension of its meaning "prosecution" Is sometimes used to designate the state aa the party proceeding in.a criminal action, or the prosecutor, or counsel; as when we speak of ''the evidence adduced by the pr~secution.".,_..Uoa. -MaltaJo"U See lbLIOIOUa. [s. 964]