CRIME

A crime is an act committed or omitted, in violation of a public law, either forbidding or commanding it; a breach or violation of some public right or duty due to a whole community, considered as a community in its social aggregate capacity, as distinguished from a civil injury. Wilkins v. U. S., 96 Fed. 837, 37 C. C. A. 588; Pounder v. Ashe, 36 Neb. 564, {i4 N. w. 847; State v. Bishop, 7 Conn. 185; In re Bergin, 31 Wis. 386; State v. Brazier, 37 Ohio St. 78; People v. Williams, 24:Mich. 163, 9.Am. Rep. 119; In re Clark, 9 Wend. (N. Y.) 212: "Crime" and "misdemeanor," properly speaking, are synonymous terms; though in common usage "crime" is made to denote such ofl'enses as are of a deeper and more atrocious dye. 4 BI. Comm. 5. Crimes are those wrongs which the gov• ernment notices as injurious to the public, and punishes in what is called.a "criminal proceeding," in its own name. 1 Bish. Crim. Law, § 43. A crime may be defined to be any act done In violation of those duties which an ind i• vidual owes to the corpmunity, and for the breach of which the law has provided that the offender shall make satisfaction to the public. Bell. A crime or public ofl'ense is an act commit0 • ted or omitted in violation of a law forbidding or commanding it, and to which is annexed, upon.conviction, either of the follow• ing punishments: (t) Death; (2) imprisonment; (3) fine; (4) removal from office; or (5) disqualification to hold and enjoy any [s. 305]