CROWN

The sovereign power in a monarchy, especially in relation to the pun• ishment of crimes. "Felony is an offense of the crown." Finch, Law, b. 1, c. 16..An ornamental badge of regal power worn on the head by sovereign princes. The word is frequently used when speaking of the sovereign himself, or the rights, duties, and prerogatives belonging to him..Also a silver coin of the value of five.shillings. Wharton. -Crown case■• In English law. Criminal prosecutions on behalf of the crown, u representing the public; causes in the criminal courts.-Crown ca■es reserved. In English law. Questions of law arising in criminal trials at the a izes, (otherwise than by way of de· murrer,) and not decided there, but reserved for the consideration of the court of criminal ap• peal.-Crown court. In English law. The court in which the crown cases, or criminal busine , of the a izes is transacted.-Crown debts. In English, law. Debts due to the crown, which are put, by various statutes, upon a ·different footing from those due to a sub· ject.-Crown lands. The demesne lands of the crown.-Crown law. 1Criminal law in England is sometimes so termed, the crown being always the prosecutor in criminal proceedings. 4 BI. Comm. 2.-Crown office. The criminal side of the court of king's bench. The king's attorney in this court is called "master of the crown office." 4 BI. Comm. 308.-Crown of•:6.ce' in chancery. One of the offices of the English high court of chancery, now transferred to the high court of justice. The principal of· ficial, the clerk of the crown, is an officer of parliament, and of the lord chancellor, in his nonjudicial capacity, rather than an officer ot the courts of law.-Crown::pape:r. A pa~r containing th:e list of crimmal cases which await the hearing -or decision of the court, and particularly of the court of king's bench; and it then includes all cases arising from h1formations quo warran to, criminal informations, criminal cases brought up fi:om inferior courts b,Y writ ot oertiorari, and,cases from the Be1Js1ons. Brown.-<ll.'own ■Ide. The·· criminal department of the court of king's hen$; the civil departml'llt or branch beiD&",wled the [s. 308]