carnally knew

1 definition found

carnally knew - Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) :

  CARNALLY KNEW, pleadings. This is a technical phrase, essential in an 
  indictment to charge the defendant with the crime of rape; no other word or 
  circumlocution will answer the same purpose as these word's. Vide Ravished, 
  and Bac. Ab. Indictment, G 1; Com. Dig. Indictment, G 6; 1 Hale, 632; 3 
  Inst. 60; Co. Litt. 137; ) 1 Chit. Cr. Law, *243. It has been doubted 
  whether these words were indispensible. 1 East, P. C. 448. But it would be 
  unsafe to omit them.