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Webster 1913 Edition


Capias

‖

Ca′pi-as

,
Noun.
[L. thou mayst take.]
(Low)
A writ or process commanding the officer to take the body of the person named in it, that is, to arrest him; – also called
writ of capias
.
☞ One principal kind of capias is a writ by which actions at law are frequently commenced; another is a writ of execution issued after judgment to satisfy damages recovered; a capias in criminal law is the process to take a person charged on an indictment, when he is not in custody.
Burrill. Wharton.

Webster 1828 Edition


Capias

CAPIAS

,
Noun.
In law, a writ of two sorts; one before judgment, called a capias ad respondendum, where an original is issued, to take the defendant, and make him answer to the plaintiff; the other, which issues after judgment, is of divers kinds; as a capias ad satisfaciendum, or writ of execution; a capias pro fine; a capias utlagatum; a capias in withernam.