CAPTIVE. By this term is understood one who has been taken; it
is usually applied to prisoners of war. (q.v.) Although he bas lost his
liberty, a captive does not by his captivity lose his civil rights.
CAPTOR, war. One who has talken property from an enemy; this term is also employed to designate one who has taken an enemy.
2.
Formerly, goods taken in war were adjudged to belong to the captor;
they are now considered to vest primarily, in the state or sovereign,
and belong to the individual captors only to the extent that the
municipal laws provide.
3.
Captors are responsible to the owners of the property for all losses
and damages, when the capture is tortious and without reasonable cause
in the exercise of belligerent rights. But if the capture is originally
justifiable, the captors will not be responsible, unless by subsequent
misconduct they become trespassers ab initio. i Rob. R. 93, 96. See 2
Gall. 374; 1 Gall. 274; 1 Pet. Adm. Dee. 116; 1 Mason, R. 14.
CAPTURE, war. The taking of property by one belligerent from another.
2.
To make a good capture of a ship, it must be subdued and taken by an
enemy in open war, or by way of reprisals, or by a pirate, and with
intent to deprive the owner of it.
3.
Capture may be with intent to possess both ship and cargo, or only to
seize the goods of the enemy, or contraband goods which are on board:
The former is the capture of the ship in the proper sense of the word;
the latter is only an arrest and detention, witbout any design to
deprive the owner of it. Capture is deemed lawful, when made by a
declared enemy, lawfully commissioned and according to the laws of war;
and unlawful, when it is against the rules established by the law of
nations. Marsh. Ins. B. 1, c. 12, s. 4.See, generally, Lee on Captures,
passim; 1 Chitty's Com. Law, 377 to 512; 2 Woddes. 435 to 457; 2 Caines'
C. Err 158; 7 Johns. R. 449; 3 Caines' R. 155; 11 Johns. R. 241; 13
Johns. R.161; 14 Johns. R. 227; 3 Wheat. 183; 4 Cranch, 436 Mass. 197;
Bouv. Inst. Index, h. t.
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