Handhabend

In Saxon law, handhabend (also spelled hand-habend or hand-habende) was a term applied to a thief who was found having the stolen goods in his possession; the thief himself was a hontfongenethef. "Handhabend" is derived from "having [a thing] in his hand".[1][2]

By extension, the term also means the jurisdiction to try a thief caught with the property in question.[1] A thief so caught could be given a trial of a more summary nature.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b Henry C. Black, Black's Law Dictionary, rev. 4th ed. 1968.
  2. ^ John Bouvier, A Law Dictionary, Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States of America, J.B. Lippincott & Co., Philadelphia, 15th ed., 1883.
  3. ^ See Laws of Henry I, chap. 59; Laws of Aethelstane, § 6; Fleta, lib. 1, chap. 38, § 1; Britton p. 72; DuCange, Handhabenda.

See also