In criminal law. A criminal action; a proceeding instituted and carried on by due course of law, before a competent tribunal, for the purpose of de-termining the guilt or innocence of a per-son charged with crime. See U. S. v. Reis-Inger, 128 U. S. 398, 9 Sup. Ct. 99, 32 L. Ed. 480; Tennessee 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
Source: Black's Law Dictionary 2nd Ed (1910)
