Felon

Felon and Felony. The Old Fr. felon was derived from a Low Lat. felo, fello, 'a traitor,' a word probably of Celtic origin (cf. Gaelic feallan, 'a traitor'), but ultimately cognate with Lat. fallere and Eng. fail. Its original signification was supposed to be a vassal who failed in his fidelity or allegiance to his superior, thus committing an offence by which he forfeited his fee or feud. From this it came to signify traitors or rebellious, and was gradually generalised till it reached its modern meaning. In English text-books felony is usually defined as a crime which works a forfeiture of land or goods. Treason itself, says Coke, was comprised under the name of felony, and all capital offences; also such offences as suicide, manslaughter, and larceny, 'as they submit the committers of them to forfeitures.' At the present day it is not possible to draw any logical and consistent distinction between those crimes which are called felonies and those which are called misdemeanours. Sir J. F. Stephen, in his History of the Criminal Law, has pointed out that the distinction is obsolete; and, if parliament should ever find time to recast the criminal law in general principles, the term will probably disappear. The general principles of American law are the same as those of English law. In Scotch law the term felony has not now any special significance. See COMPOUNDING OF FELONY, and FORFEITURE.