Detinue

Fr. and Eng. [L. Lat. detentio, or breve vel actio de detentione.'\ In practice. A species of personal action ex delicto, which lies to recover the specific possession of a personal chattel wrongfully detained from another, where the original taking was lawful, (as where the possession was acquired by delivery, finding, <fec.,) or its value, and damages for its detention. 3 Bl. Com. 151. F. AT. B. 138. Co. Litt. 286 b. 1 Tidd^s Pr. 5. Brotvne on Actions, 358. 3 Steph. Com. 461. This was anciently a common remedy for the recovery of charters, deeds, and other title papers; but is now in a great measure superseded in English practice by the action of trover. Co. Litt. 286 b. 3 Bl. Com. 152. In some of the United States it has been abolished, and its place supplied by replevin. 2