Playing

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Plebiscite

New York City opened some thirty play-
grounds under the Board of Education.

Playing Cards. See Cards, Playing.

Plays. See Drama.

Plea, in the general sense, denotes any pro-
ceeding at law, but more technically is re-
stricted to certain answers open to a de-
fendant in an action or suit, In action at law,
pleas (in the more technical sense) are of
several kinds, and are classified as dilatory
and preemptory. Dilatory pleas are grounded
on some alleged defect in the plaintiff's case
arising either out of want of jurisdiction in
the court before which the action has been

jcction to the jurisdiction of the court; (2)
a pica in abatement; (,$) a special plea in
bar, such as formerly acquitted or convicted
on the same charge, or a pardon; or (4) he
may plead the general issue of not guilty.

Pleadings. At the common law, after
the issue of a writ or summons and an ap-
pearance has been entered in an action, the
parties deliver the pleadings, which contain
a summary of the material facts of the case
for the guidance of the other parties and the
judge. Only facts must be stated, and not
arguments or evidence. Pleadings have been
greatly simplified under the reformed pro-

Gowanus Playground, Brooklyn) N. Y.

brought, or in respect that it has been brought
against the wrong defendant, or that it is
premature, or that the form of the action is
bad. Preemptory pleas go directly to the root
of the plaintiff's case, either by denying the
facts on which he founds, or by alleging
others which entirely alter the complexion
of the case. Demurrers which take exception
to the law, as opposed to the facts, on which
the plaintiff relies are sometimes included
under peremptory pleas though properly dis-
tinct. In criminal prosecutions the accused is
called upon to plead to the indictment. He
may plead guilty, but if he advances an an-
swer or plea, it must be either (i) an ob-

cedure of England and the United States, and
may now be amended in case of error*

Pleasantville, borough, Atlantic co., New
Jersey, on Lake Bay. It is a residential place.
Lake Bay is the center of a large oyster in-
dustry, for which Pleasantville is the shipping
point; p. 11,050.

Pleasantville, village, Westchcster co.,
New York, is situated 32 miles northeast of
New York City; p.4»454-

Plebiscite, originally a term used in an-
cient Rome to denote a resolution of the plebs
or commons formally passed at their regular
assembly, the Concilium Plebfa At first such
resolutions were only binding on the plebians