APPROVEMENT, English crim. law. The act by which a person indicted oftreason or felony, and arraigned for the same, confesses the same before anyplea pleaded, and accuses others, his accomplices, of the same crime, inorder to obtain his pardon. 2 This practice is disused. 4 Bl. Com. 330 1Phil. Ev. 37. In modern practice, an accomplice is permitted to giveevidence against his associates. 9 Cowen, R. 707; 2 Virg. Cas. 490; 4 Mass.R. 156; 12 Mass. R. 20; 4 Wash. C. C. R. 428; 1 Dev. R. 363; 1 City HallRec. 8. In Vermont, on a trial for adultery, it was held that a particepscriminis was not a competent witness, because no person can be allowed totestify his own guilt or turpitude to convict another. N. Chap. R. 9.
APPROVEMENT, English law. 1. The inclosing of common land within the lord'swaste, so as to leave egress and regress to a tenant who is a commoner. 2.The augmentation of the profits of land. Stat. of Merton, 20 Hen. VIII.; F.N. B. 72 Crompt. Jus. 250; 1 Lilly's Reg. 110.