ATTEMPT, in law, an act done with intent to commit a crime, and forming one of a series of acts which would constitute its actual commission if it were not interrupted. Mere intention to commit a crime is not sufficient, and an attempt must proceed to an overt act, but at the same time it must fall short of the ulti mate purpose in any part of it. A person may be guilty of an attempt to commit a crime, even if its commission in the manner proposed was impossible. Every attempt to commit a felony or misdemeanour is in itself a common law misdemeanour, punish able by fine or imprisonment, unless the attempt to commit is specifically punishable by statute as a felony, as in the case of attempted murder, or in a defined manner as a misdemeanour ; and a person who has been indicted for a felony or misdemeanour may, if the evidence so warrants, be found guilty only of the attempt.