Booty

Personal property captured by a public enemy on land, in contradistinction to "prize," which is such property captured by such an enemy on the sea. After booty has been in complete possession of the enemy for twenty-four hours, it becomes absolutely his, without any right of postliminy in favor of the original owner, particularly when it has passed bona fide into the hands of a neutral.

1 Kent, Comm. 110.

The right to the booty, Pothier says, belongs to the sovereign; but sometimes the right of the sovereign, or of the public, is transferred to the soldiers, to encourage them. Poth. Dr. de Propriete, p.

1, c. 2, a. 1, § 2; 2 Burlam.

Nat. Law, pt.

4, c. 7, note 12.