英文法律词典 C-117

COPYHOLD, estate in the English law. A copyhold estate is a parcel of a manor¹, held at the will of the lord, according to the custom of the manor, by a grant from the lord, and admittance of the tenant², entered on the rolls of the manor court. Cruise, Dig. t. 10, c. 1, s. 3. Vide Ch. Pr. Index, h. t.

CORAM. In the presence of; before. Coram nobis, before us; coram vobis, before you; coram non judice, is said of those acts of a court which has no jurisdiction³, either over the person, the, cause, or the process. 1 Con⁴. 40. Such acts have no validity. Where a thing is required to be done before a particular person, it would not be considered as done before him, if he were asleep or non compos. Vide Dig. 4, 8, 27, 5; Dane's Ab. Index, h. t.; 5 Harr. & John. 42; 8 Cranch, 9; Paine's R. 55; Bouv. Inst. Index, h. t.

CORD, measures. A cord of wood must, when the wood is piled close, measure eight feet by four, and the wood must be four feet long. There are various local regulations in our principal cities as to the manner in which wood shall be measured and sold.

CORN. In its most comprehensive sense, this term signifies every sort of grain, as well as peas and beans, this is its meaning in the memorandum⁵ usually contained in policies of insurance. But it does not include rice. 1 Park. Ins. 112; Marsh⁶. Ins. 223, note; Stev. on Av. part 4, art. 2; Ben. on Av. eh. 10; 1 Marsh. Ins. 223; Park on Ins. 112; Wesk. Ins. 145. Vide Com. Dig. Biens, G 1.

CORNAGE. The name of a species of tenure⁷ in England. The tenant by cornage was bound to blow a horn for the sake of alarming the country on the approach of an enemy. Bac. Ab. Tenure, N.

CORNET. A commissioned officer in a regiment⁸ of cavalry⁹.

CORODY, incorporeal¹⁰ hereditaments. An allowance of meat, drink, money, clothing, lodging¹¹, and such like necessaries for sustenance¹². 1 Bl. Com. 282; 1 Ch. Pr. 225.

CORONER. An officer whose principal duty it is to hold an inquisition, with the assistance of a jury, over the body of any person who may have come to a violent death, or who has died in prison. It is his duty also, in case of the death of the sheriff, or when a vacancy¹³ happens in that office, to serve all the writs¹⁴ and process which the sheriff is usually bound to serve. The chief justice of the King's Bench is the sovereign or chief coroner of all England, although it is not to be understood that he performs the active duties of that office in any one count. 4 Rep. 57, b. Vide Bac. Ab. h. t.; 6 Vin. Ab.242; 3 Com. Dig. 242; 5 Com. Dig. 212; and the articles Death; Inquisition.

2. The duties of the coroner are of the greatest consequence to society, both for the purpose of bringing to punishment murderers and other offenders¹⁵ against the lives of the citizens, and of protecting innocent persons from criminal accusations¹⁶. His office, it is to be regretted, is regarded with too much indifference¹⁷. This officer should be properly acquainted with the medical and legal knowledge so absolutely indispensable in the faithful discharge of his office. It not unfrequently happens that the public mind is deeply impressed with the guilt¹⁸ of the accused, and when probably he is guilty, and yet the imperfections of the early examinations leave no alternative to the jury but to acquit¹⁹. It is proper in most cases to procure²⁰ the examination to be made by a physician, and in some cases, it is his duty. 4 Car. & P. 571.