Compounding a crime consists in taking money, goods or other amends on an agreement not to prosecute.88 This offense is a misdemeanor at common law.

If a person injured receives anything of value in consideration of agreeing to stifle criminal proceedings, he puts himself in a position to hinder the administration of justice, and his act in thus agreeing not to prosecute may constitute the crime of compounding a felony.89

By statutes in some of the states the compounding of a misdemeanor is a criminal offense.

84 Hereford vs. People, 197 111., 222, 238; Mackin vs. People, 115 111., 329, the charge may be sustained by any material circumstance corrobating one witness

85 Underbill's Cr. Ev., Sec. 468, citing: Reg. vs. Virrier, 12 A. & E., 317; Williams vs. Com.,

91 Pa. St., 493; Adellberger vs. State (Tex. Cr.), 39 S. W., 103. 86 3 Greenl. Ev., Sec. 259; State vs. Buckley, 18 or 228; Schwartz vs. Com., 27 Gratt (Va.), 1025.

87 Jefferson vs. State (Tex. Cr.), 29

S. W., 1090.

88 Underhill's Cr. Ev., Sec. 458.

89 4 Blackstone Com., 133.

An agreement not to prosecute or in some other way to favor and protect the criminal is an essential element of the offense of compounding.90

The consideration upon an agreement not to prosecute may be anything of value, or the promise of it.91 And the fact that the person with whom the offense was compounded afterwards, in violation of his agreement, institutes a prosecution for the offense so compounded is no defense to a charge of compounding.92