“When the prisoner hath thus pleaded not guilty, non culpabilis, or nient culpable; which was formerly used to be abbreviated upon the minutes, thus, ‘non (or nient) cul.’ the clerk of the assise, or clerk of the arraigns, on behalf of the crown replies, that the prisoner is guilty, and that he is ready to prove him so.” 4 William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England 333 (1769).
nient culpable
nient culpable (nee-ent k[schwa]l-p[schwa]-b[schwa]l), n. [Law French] Hist. A general plea of “not guilty” in a tort or criminal action.
