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Legal Term Dictionary

Search our free database of thousands of legal terms. The easiest-to-read, most user-friendly guide to legal terms.This dictionary is from the early 20th century and is not to be construed as legal advice.

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RANSOM
In international law. The redemption of captured property from the hands of an enemy, particularly of property captured at sea. 1 Kent, Comm. 104. A sum paid or agreed to be paid for the redemption of captured property. 1 Kent, Comm. 105. A "ransom," strictly speaking, is not a recapture More...

In international law. The redemption of captured property from the hands of an enemy, particularly of property captured at sea. 1 Kent, Comm. 104. A sum paid or agreed to be paid for the redemption of captured property. 1 Kent, Comm. 105. A "ransom," strictly speaking, is not a recapture of the captured property. It is'rather a purchase of the right of the captors at the time, be it what it may; or, more properly, it is a relinquishment of all the interest and benefit which the captors might acquire or consummate in the property, by a regular adjudication of a prize tribunal, whether it be an interest in rem. a lien, or a mere title to expenses. In this respect, there seems to be no difference between the case of a ransom of an enemy or a neutral. Maisonnaire v. Keating, 2 Gall. 325, Fed. Cas. No. 8,978. In old English law. A sum of money paid for the pardoning of some great offense. The distinction between ransom and amerciament is said to be that ransom was the redemption of a corporal punishment, while amerciament was a fine or penalty directly imposed, and not in lieu of another punishment Cowell; 4 Bl. Comm. 380; U. S. v. Griffin, 6 D. C. 57. Ransom was also a sum of money paid for the redemption of a person from captivity or imprisonment. Thus one of the feudal "aids'* was to ransom the lord's person if taken prisoner. 2 Bl. Comm. 63. -Ransom bill. A contract by which a captured vessel, in consideration of her release and of safe-conduct for a stipulated course and time, agrees to pay a certain sum as ransom. Less...
RAPE
In criminal law. The unlawful carnal knowledge of a woman by a man forcibly and against her will. Code Ga. f 4349; Gore v. State, 119 Ga. 418, 46 S. E. 671, 100 Am. St. Rep. 182; Maxey v. State, 66 Ark. 523, 52 S. W. 2; Croghan v. State, More...

In criminal law. The unlawful carnal knowledge of a woman by a man forcibly and against her will. Code Ga. f 4349; Gore v. State, 119 Ga. 418, 46 S. E. 671, 100 Am. St. Rep. 182; Maxey v. State, 66 Ark. 523, 52 S. W. 2; Croghan v. State, 22 Wis. 444; State v. Montgomery, 63 Mo. 298; People v. Crego, 70 Mich. 319, 38 N. W. 281; Felton v. State, 139 Ind. 531, 39 N. B. 231. In English law. An intermediate division between a shire and a hundred; or a division of a county, containing several hundreds. 1 Bl. Comm. 116; Cowell. Apparently peculiar to the county of Sussex. -Rape of the forest. In old English law. Trespass committed in a forest by violence. Cowell.-Rape-reeve. In English law. The chief officer of a rape, (g. v.) 1 Bl. Comm. 116. Less...
RAPINE
In criminal law. Plunder; pillage; robbery. In the civil law, rapina is defined as the forcible and violent taking ot another man's movable property with the criminal intent to appropriate it to the robber's own use. A praetorian action lay for this offense, in which quadruple damages were recoverable. Galus, More...

In criminal law. Plunder; pillage; robbery. In the civil law, rapina is defined as the forcible and violent taking ot another man's movable property with the criminal intent to appropriate it to the robber's own use. A praetorian action lay for this offense, in which quadruple damages were recoverable. Galus, lib. 3, ? 209; Inst. 4, 2; Mackeld. Rom. Law, f 481; Heinecc. Elem. * 1071. Less...
RAPPORT A SUCCESSION
In French law and in Louisiana. A proceeding similar to hotchpot; the restoration to the succession of such property as the heir may have received by way of advancement from the decedent, in order that an even division may be made among all the co-heirs. Civ. Code La. art. 1305.

In French law and in Louisiana. A proceeding similar to hotchpot; the restoration to the succession of such property as the heir may have received by way of advancement from the decedent, in order that an even division may be made among all the co-heirs. Civ. Code La. art. 1305. Less...
RAPTOR
In old English law. A ravisher. Fleta, lib. 2, c. 52, ? 12.

In old English law. A ravisher. Fleta, lib. 2, c. 52, ? 12. Less...
RAPTU HAEREDIS
In old English law. A writ for taking away an heir holding in socage, of which there were two sorts: One when the heir was married; the other when he was not. Reg. Orig. 163.

In old English law. A writ for taking away an heir holding in socage, of which there were two sorts: One when the heir was married; the other when he was not. Reg. Orig. 163. Less...
RAPUIT
Lat. In old English law. Ravished. A technical word in old indictments. 2 East, 30.

Lat. In old English law. Ravished. A technical word in old indictments. 2 East, 30. Less...
RASTURE
The act of scraping, scratching, or shaving the surface of a written instrument, for the purpose of removing certain letters or words from it It is to be distinguished from "obliteration," as the latter word properly denotes the crossing out of a word or letter by drawing a line through More...

The act of scraping, scratching, or shaving the surface of a written instrument, for the purpose of removing certain letters or words from it It is to be distinguished from "obliteration," as the latter word properly denotes the crossing out of a word or letter by drawing a line through it with ink. But the two expressions are often used interchangeably. See Penny v. Corwithe, 18 Johns. (N. Y.) 499. Less...
RASTUS
In old English law. A rase; a measure of onions, containing twenty Hones, and each flonis twenty-five heads. Fleta, lib. 2, c 12, | 12.

In old English law. A rase; a measure of onions, containing twenty Hones, and each flonis twenty-five heads. Fleta, lib. 2, c 12, | 12. Less...
RATABLE ESTATE
Within the meaning of a tax law, this term means "taxable estate;" the real and personal property which the legislature designates as "taxable." Marshfleld v. Middlesex, 55 Vt 546.

Within the meaning of a tax law, this term means "taxable estate;" the real and personal property which the legislature designates as "taxable." Marshfleld v. Middlesex, 55 Vt 546. Less...

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