Conspiracy
a secret agreement or combination between two or more persons to commit any unlawful act that may injure any third person or persons.
Every act of conspiracy is a misdemeanor at common law. In June, 1900, the House Committee on the Judiciary of the United States Congress, reported a bill that aroused widespread interest in the labor and business world because it contained a definition of the word conspiracy. The bill provided "That no agreement, combination or contract by or between two or more persons to or procure to be done, or not to do or procure not to be done, any act in contemplation or furtherance of any trade dispute between employers and employees in the District of Columbia or any Territory of the United States, or who may be engaged in interstate or foreign trade or commerce, shall be deemed criminal, nor shall those engaged therein be indictable or otherwise punishable for the crime of conspiracy if such act committed by one person would not be punishable as a crime, nor shall any restraining order or injunction be issued with relation thereto. Provided, that the provisions of this act shall not apply to threats to injure the person or the property, business or occupation of any person, firm, association or corporation, to intimidation or coercion, or to any acts causing or intended to cause an illegal interference by overt acts with the rights of others. "Nothing in this act shall exempt from punishment, otherwise than as herein excepted, any persons guilty of conspiracy for which punishment is now provided by any act of Congress, but CONSTABLE such act of Congress shall, as to the agreements, combinations and contracts hereinbefore referred to, be construed as if this act were therein contained."