INDUCEMENT. In Contracts. The benefit which the obligor is to receive from a contract is the inducement for making it, In Criminal Law. The motive. Confes sions are sometimes made by criminals under the influence of promises or threats. When these promises or threats are made by per sons in authority, the confessions cannot be received in evidence. See CoNrEssioN.
In Pleading. The statement of matter which is introductory to the principal sub ject of the declaration or plea, and which is necessary to explain or elucidate it. Such matter as is not introductory to, or necessary to elucidate the substance or gist of, the declaration, plea, etc., nor collaterally appli cable to it, is surplusage.
2. An inducement is, in general, more a matter of convenience than of necessity, since the same matter may be stated in the body of the declaration ; but by its use confession of statement is avoided. 1 Chitty, Plead. 259.
But in many cases it is necessary to lay a foundation for the action by a statement, by way of inducement, of the extraneous or col lateral circumstances which give rise to the plaintiff's claim. For instance, in an action for a nuisance to property in thepossession of the plaintiff, the circumstance of his being possessed of the property should be stated as inducement, or by way of introduction to the mention of the nuisance. Lawes, Plead. 66, 67; 1 Chitty, Plead. 292; Stephen, Plead. 257 ; 14 Viner, Abr. 405; 20 id. 345 ; Bacon, Abr. Pleas, etc. (I 2).
When a formal traverse is adopted, it should be introduced with an inducement, to show that the matter contained in the tra verse is material. 1 Chitty, Plead. 38. See