LIICRI CALTSA (Lat. for the sake of gain). In Criminal Law. A term descrip tive of the intent with which property is taken cases of larceny.
According to the tenor of the latest authori ties, lucri causd would appear to be immar terial ; though, in recent cases, judges have sometimes thought it advisable not to deny, but rather to confess and avoid it, however sophistically. The prisoner, a servant of A, applied for, and received, at the post-office, all A's letters, and delivered them to A, with the exception of one, which the prisoner de stroyed in the hope of suppressing inquiries respecting her character. This was held to be a larceny; "for, supposing that it was a necessary ingredient in that crime that it should he done lucri causa (which was not admitted), there were sufficient advantages to be obtained by the prisoner in making away with the written character." 1 Den. Cr. Cas. 180. In a case where some servants in husbandry had the care of their master's team, they entered his granary by means of a false key, and took out of it two bushels of beans, which they gave to his horses. Of eleven judges, three were of opinion that there was no felony. Of the eight judges who were for a conviction, some (it is not stated how many) alleged that by the better feeding of the horses the men's labor was lessened, so that they took the beans to give themselves ease,—which was, constructively, at least, lucri causd. Russ. & R. 307. When
a similar case afterwards came to be decided by the judges, it was said to be no longer res integra. 1 Den. Cr. Cas. 193. The rule with regard to the lucri causti is stated by the English criminal law commissioners in the following terms: " The ulterior motive by which the taker is influenced in depriving the owner of his property altogether, whether it is to benefit himself or another, or to injure any one by the taking, is immaterial." Coke, M. The thirteenth letter of the alphabet.
Persons convicted of manslaughter, in Eng land, were formerly marked with this letter on the brawn of the thumb.
This letter is sometimes put on the face of treasury notes of the United States, and sig nifies that the treasury note bears interest at the rate of one mill per centum, aud not ,one per centum interest. 13 Pet. 176.
In English Law.
An officer attending the court of session.