Spoliation

In English Ecclesiastical Law. The name of a suit sued out in the spiritual court to recover for the fruits of the church, or for the church itself.

Fitzh. Nat. Brev. 85.

A waste of church property by an ecclesiastical person.

3 Bl. Comm. 90.

In Torts. Destruction of a thing by the act of a stranger; as, the erasure or alteration of a writing by the act of a stranger is called "spoliation;" as contradistinguished from "alteration."

5 Sneed (Tenn.) 344.

This has not the effect to destroy its character or legal effect.

1 Greenl. Ev. § 566.

In Admiralty Law. By spoliation is also understood the total destruction of a thing; as, the spoliation of papers by the captured party is generally regarded as a proof of guilt; but in America it is open to explanation except in certain cases, where there is a vehement presumption of bad faith.

2 Wheat. (U. S.) 227, 241; 1 Dods. Adm. 480, 486.

See "Alteration."

See Alteration.