Search Result for "unlawful assembly":

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Unlawful \Un*law"ful\, a. Not lawful; contrary to law. -- Un*law"ful*ly, adv. -- Un*law"ful*ness, n. [1913 Webster] Unlawful assembly. (Law) See under Assembly. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Assembly \As*sem"bly\, n.; pl. Assemblies. [F. assembl['e]e, fr. assembler. See Assemble.] 1. A company of persons collected together in one place, and usually for some common purpose, esp. for deliberation and legislation, for worship, or for social entertainment. [1913 Webster] 2. A collection of inanimate objects. [Obs.] --Howell. [1913 Webster] 3. (Mil.) A beat of the drum or sound of the bugle as a signal to troops to assemble. [1913 Webster] Note: In some of the United States, the legislature, or the popular branch of it, is called the Assembly, or the General Assembly. In the Presbyterian Church, the General Assembly is the highest ecclesiastical tribunal, composed of ministers and ruling elders delegated from each presbytery; as, the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, or of Scotland. [1913 Webster] Assembly room, a room in which persons assemble, especially for dancing. Unlawful assembly (Law), a meeting of three or more persons on a common plan, in such a way as to cause a reasonable apprehension that they will disturb the peace tumultuously. Westminster Assembly, a convocation, consisting chiefly of divines, which, by act of Parliament, assembled July 1, 1643, and remained in session some years. It framed the "Confession of Faith," the "Larger Catechism," and the "Shorter Catechism," which are still received as authority by Presbyterians, and are substantially accepted by Congregationalists. [1913 Webster] Syn: See Assemblage. [1913 Webster]
Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856):

UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY, crim. law. A disturbance of the public peace by three or more persons who meet together with an intent mutually to assist each other in the execution of some unlawful enterprise of a private nature, with force and violence; if they move forward towards its execution, it is then a rout (q.v.) and if they actually execute their design, it amounts to a riot. (q.v.) 4 Bl. Com. 140; 1 Russ. on Cr. 254; Hawk. c. 65, s. 9; Com. Dig. Forcible Entry, D 10; Vin. Abr. Riots, &c., A.