Search

In international law. The right of search ls the right on the part of ships of war to visit and search merchant vessels during war, in order to ascertain whether the ship or cargo ls liable to seizure. Resistance to visitation and search by a neu' tral vessel makes the vessel and cargo liable to confiscation. Numerous treaties regulate the manner in which the right of search must be exercised. Man. Int. Law, 433; Sweet. In criminal law. An examination of a man's house or other buildings or premises, or of his person, with a view to the discovery of contraband or illicit or stolen property, or some evidence of guilt to be used in the prosecution of a criminal action for som crime or offense with which he is charged.

In practice

An examination of the official books and dockets, made in the pro-coss of investigating a title to land, for the purpose of discovering if there are any mortgages, judgments, tax-liens, or other incumbrances upon it.