rewar

REWARD. An offer of recompense given by authority of law for the performance 
of some act for the public good; which, when the act has been performed, is 
to be paid; or it is the recompense actually paid. 
     2. A reward may be offered by the government or by a private person. In 
criminal prosecutions, a person may be a competent witness although he 
expects, on conviction of the prisoner, to receive a reward. 1 Leach, 314, n 
9 Barn. & Cresw. 556; S. C. Eng. C. L. R. 441; 1 Leach, 134; 1 Hayw. Rep. 3 
1 Root, R. 249; Stark. Ev. pt. 4, p. 772, 3; Roscoe's Cr. Ev. 104; 1 Chit. 
Cr. Law, 881; Hawk. B. 2, c. 12, s. 21 to 38; 4 Bl. Com. 294; Burn's Just. 
Felony, iv. See 6 Humph. 113. 
     3. By the common law, informers, who are entitled under penal statutes 
to part of the penalty, are not in general competent witnesses. But when a 
statute can receive no execution, unless a party interested be a witness, 
then it seems proper to admit him, for the statute must not be rendered 
ineffectual for want of proof. Gilb. 114. In many acts of the legislature 
there is a provision that the informer shall be a witness, notwithstanding 
the reward. 1 Phil. Ev. 92, 99.