Legal Definitions - fugitive's goods

Historically, fugitive's goods referred to the personal property or possessions that an individual lost or had confiscated by the government because they had fled to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences. It was a penalty for evading justice, meaning the act of fleeing itself resulted in the forfeiture of one's assets.

Here are some examples to illustrate this historical concept:

• Imagine a medieval serf accused of poaching on the lord's land. Instead of facing the lord's justice, the serf flees to another territory. In response, the lord's bailiffs might seize the serf's small plot of land, his few farm animals, and his meager tools.

  Explanation: The seized land, animals, and tools would be considered the "fugitive's goods" because they were forfeited as a direct consequence of the serf's flight from legal accountability for poaching.

• Consider a merchant in 17th-century England who is heavily indebted and facing a lawsuit from creditors. Rather than appear in court to settle the debt, the merchant secretly boards a ship and sails to the American colonies. Upon discovering his flight, the local authorities, acting on behalf of the court, might seize the merchant's shop, its inventory, and his personal residence.

  Explanation: The shop, inventory, and residence would be classified as "fugitive's goods" because they were confiscated due to the merchant's deliberate evasion of legal proceedings related to his debts.

• In a historical context, if a person was accused of a serious crime like treason and managed to escape before trial, the crown might issue an order to seize all their known assets, including their estate, jewels, and any money held in their name.

  Explanation: The estate, jewels, and money would be considered "fugitive's goods" because they were forfeited to the crown as a penalty for the accused individual's flight from justice to avoid prosecution for treason.