SIGNA, civil law. Those species of indicia (q.v.) which come more 
immediately under the cognizance of the senses, such as stains of blood on 
the person of one accused of murder, indications of terror at being charged 
with the offence, and the like. 
     2. Signa, although not to be rejected as instruments of evidence, 
cannot always be relied upon as conclusive evidence, for they are frequently 
explained away; in the instance mentioned the blood may have been that of a 
beast, and expressions of terror have been frequently manifested by innocent 
persons who did not possess much firmness. See Best on Pres. 13, n. f.; 
Denisart, h.v.