Breaking Doors
Defined in 4 dictionaries — Bouvier (1914), Black's (1910), Black's (1891), Bouvier (1839)
Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia
John Bouvier; revised by Francis Rawle · 1914
Forcibly removing the fastenings of a house so that a person may enter. See Arrest.
Black's Law Dictionary
Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910
Forcibly removing the fastenings of a house, so that a person may enter.
Defined under Breaking in Black's Law Dictionary.
A Dictionary of Law
Henry Campbell Black · 1891
Forcibly removing the fastenings of a house, so that a person may enter.
A Law Dictionary, Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States
John Bouvier · 1839
is the act of forcibly removing the fastenings of a house, so that a person may enter. It is a maxim that every man’s house is his castle, and it is protected from -every unlawful invasion. An officer having a lawful process of a criminal nature, authorising him to do so, may break an outer door, if upon making a demand of admittance it is refused. The house may also be broken open for the purpose of executing a writ of ‘ habere facias. 5 Co.93; Bac. Ab. Sheriff, N 3. The house protects the owner from the service of all civil process in the first instance, but not if he is once lawfully arrested, and he takes refuge in his own house; in that case the officer may pursue him, and break open any door for the purpose. Foster, 320; 1 Rolle’s R. 188; Cro. Jac. 555. V. Door, House.