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Bloody hand

Defined in 5 dictionaries — Ballentine's (1916), Black's (1910), Kinney (1893), Stimson (1881), Burrill (1850)

Ballentine's Law Dictionary

James A. Ballentine · 1916

A hand stained with deer’s blood, evidence of trespass.

Black's Law Dictionary

Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910

In forest law. The having the hands or other parts bloody, which, in a person caught trespassing in the forest against venison, was one of the four kinds of circumstantial evidence of his having killed deer, although he was not found in the act of chasing or hunting. Manwood.

A Law Dictionary and Glossary

George C. Kinney · 1893

A hand stained with the blood of a deer, which in the old forest law of England was evidence, as was a like stain upon other parts, against a person caught trespassing in a forest, of the killing of deer.

Glossary of Technical Terms, Phrases, and Maxims of the Common Law

Frederic Jesup Stimson · 1881

When a person was caught was evidence of his having killed deer.

A New Law Dictionary and Glossary

Alexander M. Burrill · 1850

In forest law. The having the hands or other parts bloody, wlych, in a person. caught trespassing m the forest against venison was one of the four kinds of circumstantial evidence of his having killed deer; although he was not found in the act of chasing or hunting. Manwood. Cotoell. See Backbear. This corresponds with the phrase in the Scotch law, red hand, Blount.