A person connected with the commission of a crime is either a principal or an accessory. One committing a crime with his own hand is principal. There are two classes of accessory; - before the fact, and after the fact.

34 Belk. vs. People, 125 111., 5S4. 35 Hughes Cr. Law, Sec. 2464, 2465; Bonker vs. People, 37 Mich., 4;

8 Am. & Eng. Ency., 286 (2nd Ed.). 36 Hughes Cr. Law, Sec. 8; 8 Am. & Eng. Ency., 288 (2nd Ed.).

An accessory is one who is not the chief actor in a felonious offense, not present at its performance; but is in some way concerned therein, either before or after the act committed.37

By the common law an accessory before the fact is one who being absent at the time of the commission of the offense, doth yet procure, counsel or command another to commit it. And absence it is said is indispensably necessary to constitute one an accessory; for if he be actually or constructively present when the felony is committed he is an aider and abetter and not an accessory before the fact.38

An accessory after the fact is one who, knowing a felony to have been committed, receives, relieves, assists or comforts the felon.39

Three essential elements constitute the offense of accessory after the fact; first, the felony must be complete; second, the accessory must know that the principal committed the felony; third, the accessory must harbor or assist the felon.40

One may be guilty of aiding, abetting, advising or encourageing an unknown principal.41 And one may aid or abet another in the commission of a crime by signs or motions.42

Accessories are limited to felony cases. There are no accessories in misdemeanors.43

37 4 Blackstone Com., 35.

38 1 Hale P. C, 615; 4 Blackstone Com., 36; 3,Greenl.Ev., Sec.42. 39 1 Hale P. C, 618; 4 Blackstone,

37; 1 Am. & Eng. Ency. Law, 258. 40 1 Am. & Eng. Ency. Law, 266

(2nd Ed.).

41 Spies vs. People, 122 111., 241;

Hughes Cr. Law, Sec. 2476. 42White vs. People, 139 111., 149. 43 1 Am. & Eng. Ency. Law, 260

(2nd Ed.); 1 Hale P. C, 550;

Hughes, Cr. Law, Sec. 2479.

In misdemeanors all accessories are principals at common law.44