Public Enemy
Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia · John Bouvier; revised by Francis Rawle · 1914
Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia
This word, used in the singular number, designates a nation at war with the United States, and includes every member of such nation.
Vattel 3, c. 5, § 70.
To make a public enemy, the government of the foreign country must be at war with the United Stales; fora mob, how numerous soever it may be, or robbers, whoever they may be, are never considered as a public enemy; 2 Marsh. Ins. 508; 3 Esp. 131, 132; State v. Moore, 74 Mo. 413, 41 Am. Hep. 322. A common carrier is exempt from responsibility whenever a loss has been occasioned to the goods in his charge by the act of a sioned; Murphy v. Staton, 3 Munf. (Va.) 239; Bell v. Reed, 4 Binn. (Pa.) 127, 5 Am. Dec. 398; Edw. Bailm. 547; 2 Bail. 157. See Common Carrier. In the late rebellion, the federal troops were a public enemy, against whose acts a common carrier within the confederate lines did not insure.
Southern Exp. Co. v. Womack, 1 Heisk. (Tenn.) 256.