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 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.