COMPURGATOR. Formerly, when a person was accused of a crime, or sued in a civil action, he might purge himself upon oath of the accusation made against him, whenever the proof was not the most clear and positive; ...
was allowed or required to purge himself by his oath and the oath of compurgators .... that he would purge himself o the day and with the full tale of compurgators assigned by the Court.
If the defendant swore an oath to his own innocence and found twelve compurgators to swear likewise to their belief that the accused was innocent, he was acquitted.
COMPURGATION - Obs. A person of good birth and reputation could bring two witnesses of good standing, to swear he was telling the truth. Should the accuser bring co-accusers, the defendant had to bring an equal number of compurgators.
55, copied from Glanvill, which points to an origin in the Norman inquest or " recognition." In the ancient custom of compurgation, once prevalent in Europe, the accused's oath was supported by the oaths of a number of helpers or compurgators who ...
 See also: Swear, Defend, Defendant, Law, Oath
  
|
RSS
