INTENTION. A design, resolve, or de termination of the mind.
2. In Criminal Law. To render an act criminal, a wrongful intent must exist, Hob. 134; Ambl. 307 ; Russ. & R. 196, 154; 1 Leach, Cr. Cas. 4th ed. 280, 284; 2 id. 1019; 7 Carr. & P, 428 ; 8 id. 136; 1 Den. Cr. Cas. 387 ; Paine, C. C. 16 ; 2 McLean, C. C. 14 ; 2 Ind. 207; 30 Me. 132 ; 1 Rice, So. C. 145 ; 4 Harr. Del. 315 ; 19 Vt. 564; 3 Dev. No. C. 114 ; 1 Bishop, Crim. Law, 221 et seq. And with this must be combined a wrongful act ; as mere intent is not punishable, Cald. 397 ; 1 Strange, 644 ; 2 id. 1074 ; 9 Coke, 81 a; 1 Ell. & B. 435 ; 2 Carr. & P. 414; 7 id. 156; 2 Mass. 138 ; 2 B. Monr. Ky. 417 ; 1 Dail. Penn. 33 ; 9 Ark. 42 ; 10 Vt. 353 ; I Dev. & B. No. C. 121; Gilp. Dist. Ct. 306 ; 5 Cranch, 311; but see Jebb, Cr. Cas. 48 n.; Russ. & R. 308 ; 1 Ell. & B. 435 ; 1 Lew. Cr. Cas. 42 ; I Russell, Crimes, Greaves ed. 48; but a wrongful intent may render an act otherwise innocent, criminal. 1 Carr. & K. 600 ; Carr. & M. 236 : 2 All. Mass. 181 ; 1 East, Pl. Cr. 255 ; 1 Bishop, Crim. Law, 229, 253.
3. Generally, where any wrongful act is committed, the law will infer conclusively that it was intentionally committed, 2 Gratt.
Va. 594 ; 4 Ga. 14; 2 All. Mass. 179 ; and also that the natural, necessary, and even pro bable consequences were intended. 1 Green leaf, Ev. 18 ; 3 id. 13 ; 3 Dowl. & R. 464 ; 2 Lew. Cr. Cas. 237 ; 3 Maule & S. 11, 15 ; 5 Carr. & P. 538 ; 8 id. 143, 148 ; 9 id. 258, 499; 3 Wash. C. C. 515; 13 Wend. N. Y. 87; 3 Pick. Mass. 304; 15 id. 337; 9 Mote. Mass. 410 ; 2 Gratt. Va. 594; 1 Bay, So. C. 245; 9 Humphr. Tenn. 66; 1 Ov. Tenn. 305. See, also, 8 Carr. & P. 143, 274, 582; 2 Carr. & K. 356, 777 ; Baldw. C. C. 370 ; 4 N. H. 239 ; 8 id. 240 ; 1 'red. No. C. 76 ; 2 id. 153 ; 5 id. 350; 18 Johns. N.Y. 115; 6 Blackf. Ind. 299; 3 Harr. Del. 571 ; 13 Ala. N. s. 413.
When by the common law, or by the pro vision of a statute, a particular intention is essential to an offence, or a criminal act is attempted but not accomplished, and the evil intent only can be punished, it is necessary to allege the intent with distinctness and precision, and to support the allegations with proof. On the other hand, if the offence does
not rest merely in tendency or in an attempt to do a certain act with a wicked purpose, but consists in doing an unlawful or criminal act, the evil intention will be presumed, and need not be alleged, or, if alleged, it is a mere formal averment, which need not be proved. Bigelow, C. J., 2 All. Mass. 180. See 1 Star kie, Crim. Plead. 165; 1 Chitty, Crim. Law, 233 ; 6 East, 474 ; 5 Cush. Mass. 305.
4. This proof may be of external and visi ble acts and conduct from which the jury may infer the fact, 8 Coke. 146 ; or it may be by proof of an act committed.: as, in case of bur glary with intent to steal, proof of burglary and stealing is conclusive. 1 Bishop, Crim. Law, fl 250, 251 ; 5 Carr. & P. 510; 7 id. 518; 9 id. 729; 2 Mood. & R. Cr. Cas. 40. When a man intending one wrong fails, and accidentally commits another, he will, except where the particular intent is a substantive part of the crime, be held to have intended the act he did commit. Eden, Pen. Law, 3d ed. 229; 13 Wend. N.Y. 159; 21 Pick. Mass. 515; 2 Mete. Mass. 329; 1 Gall. C. C. 624; 1 Carr. & K. 746 ; Roscoe, Crim. Ev. 272.
In Contracts. An intention to enter into the contract is necessary : hence the person must have sufficient mind to enable him to intend.
In Wills and Testaments. The inten tion of the testator governs unless the thing to be done be opposed to some unbending rule of law. 6 Cruise, Dig. 295 ; Jarman, Wills, Index ; 6 Pet. 68. Phis intention is to be gathered from the instrument, and from every part of it. 3 Yes. Ch. 105 ; 4 id. 610. See