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Simple English definitions for legal terms
theftbote
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A quick definition of theftbote:
Theftbote is a word that refers to a payment made by a thief to avoid being prosecuted for their crime. This payment could be a bribe or the return of the stolen goods. It is considered a form of compounding a felony and is punishable by fine and imprisonment. The word bote can also refer to other compensatory payments, such as an allowance of wood for repairs or a tenant's right to use wood from an estate for agricultural purposes. It can also refer to the repair of public works and the assessment levied to fund those repairs.
A more thorough explanation:
Theftbote (pronounced theft-boht) is a term used in history to describe a compensation or profit given to someone who has been a victim of theft. It could be in the form of a bribe or a return of the stolen goods themselves. This was a way of avoiding prosecution and was considered a form of compounding a crime.
For example, if someone stole a cow from a farmer, the thief could offer to return the cow in exchange for not being prosecuted. The farmer could accept this offer and receive the stolen cow back, but this was illegal and punishable by fine and imprisonment.
Theftbote was just one type of bote, which was a compensation or allowance given for various purposes. For instance, a tenant had the right to use wood from the estate for fuel, fences, and other agricultural operations. This was also called bote.
Another example of bote was housebote, which was an allowance of wood from the estate used to repair a house or to burn in the fireplace. Plowbote was an allowance of wood for the construction and repair of farm equipment, while wainbote was an allowance of wood for the repair of wagons.
Overall, theftbote was a way of settling a theft case without involving the legal system. However, it was illegal and could result in punishment for both the thief and the victim who accepted the bribe or return of stolen goods.