Alias

Alias is a name given in England to a second writ issued when the first has failed, but is more commonly used in both England and Scotland as part of an indictment describing a prisoner who goes by more names than one. The indictment used to be in Latin, and alias dictus is (late) Latin for 'otherwise called.' The name given to the prisoner at baptism or confirmation should be given; but what is essential is to exclude reasonable doubt as to identity, and so a man without a name may be indicted, if otherwise identified, and mistakes in the indictment may be amended. Aliases are generally used at trial for the purpose of proving previous convictions under the other names. It has, however, been proposed to abolish aliases in criminal pleading.