Legal Term: AFFRAY

Definition: criminal law. The fighting of two or more persons, in some public place, to the terror of the people.

2. To constitute this offence there must be, 1st, a fighting, 2d, the fighting must be between two or more persons, 3d, it must be in some public place , 4th, it must be to the terror of the people.

3. It differs from a riot, it not being premeditated, for if any persons meet together upon any lawful or innocent occasion, and happen on a sudden to engage in fighting, they are not guilty of a riot but an affray only, and in that case none are guilty except those actually engaged in it. Hawk. b. 1, c. 65, s. 3 , 4 Bl. Com. 146, 1 Russell, 271.

Return to the Legalnut.com Law Dictionary