Legal Definitions - bane

In historical legal contexts, a bane referred to an individual who had committed a grave criminal act, such as murder or another serious felony. Their offense was considered so severe that it would traditionally prompt an immediate public response, like the 'hue and cry,' where the community would actively pursue and attempt to apprehend the perpetrator.

• Example 1: A person commits a murder in a small, isolated village and attempts to flee into the surrounding wilderness.

  Explanation: The act of murder is a profoundly serious crime. Historically, such an individual would be considered a "bane" because their actions would necessitate an immediate and collective community pursuit to prevent further harm and ensure justice, often involving the entire village raising the 'hue and cry' to track them down.

• Example 2: A notorious bandit leader and their gang repeatedly ambush merchant caravans and raid local farms, causing widespread fear and economic disruption across a region.

  Explanation: While not every act might be murder, the bandit's sustained pattern of violent robbery and intimidation constitutes a significant threat to public safety and order. Their actions would historically warrant a collective effort by local authorities and communities to capture them, fitting the description of a "bane" whose criminal acts demand immediate apprehension to restore peace.

• Example 3: An individual deliberately sets fire to the community's only grain mill, a vital resource for the survival of everyone in the area, causing immense damage and hardship.

  Explanation: This act, while not murder, is a serious felony that directly harms the entire community by destroying essential infrastructure. The perpetrator would be considered a "bane" because their destructive act would provoke an urgent communal response to identify and capture them, preventing further devastation and ensuring accountability for such a grave offense against the public good.