ADDITION (Lat. additio, an adding to).
Whatever is added to a man's name by way of title or description, as additions of mystery, place, or degree. Cowel ; Termes de la Ley ; 10 Wentworth, Plead. 371 ; Salk. 5 ; 2 Ld. Raym. 988; 1 Wile. 244.
Additions of estate are esquire, gentleman. and the like.
These titles can, however, be claimed by none, and may be assumed by any one. In Nash v. Bat tershy (2 LA Raym. 986; 6 Mod. 80), the plaintiff declared with the addition of gentleman. The de fendant pleaded in abatement that the plaintiff was no gentleman. The plaintiff demurred, and it was held ill; for, said the court, it amounts to a con fession that the plaintiff is no gentleman, and then not the person named in the oount. He should have replied that he is a gentleman.
Additions of mystery are such as scrivener, painter, printer, manufacturer, &c.
Additions of places are descriptions by the place of residence, as A. B. of Philadelphia, and the like. See Bacon, Abr. Addition ; Doctr. Plac. 71 ; 2 Viner, Abr. 77 ; 1 Lilly, Reg. 39 ; 1 Mete. Mass. 151.
2. The statute of additions extends only to the party indicted. An indictment, there
fore, need not describe, by any addition, the person upon whom the offence therein set forth is alleged to have been committed. 2 Leach, Cr. Cas. 4th ed. 861 ; 10 Cush. Mass. 402. And if an addition is stated, it need not be proved. 2 Leach, Cr. Cas. 4th ed. 547 ; 2 Carr. & P. 230. But where a defendant was indicted for marrying E. C., "widow," his first wife being alive, it was held that the addition was material. 1 Mood. Cr. Cas. 303 ; 4 Carr. & P. 579. At common law there was no need of addition in any case, 2 Ld. Raym. 988 ; it was required only by stet. 1 Hen. V.
c. 5, in cases where process of outlawry lies. In all other cases it is only a description of the person, and common reputation is suffi cient. 2 Ld. Raym. 849. No addition is necessary in a Homine Replegiando. 2 Ld. Raym. 987 ; Salk. 5 ; 1 Wile. 244, 245 ; 6 Coke, 67.
In French Law. A supplementary pro cess to obtain additional information. Guyot, Repert.