Blacks Law Dict. 1st ed

POOR DEBTOR'S OATH

PORT OP ENTRY

911

POOB DEBTOR'S OATH. An oath al lowed, in some jurisdictions, to a person who Is arrested for debt. On swearing that he has not property enough to pay the debt, he is set at liberty. POOR LAW. That part of the law which relates to the public or compulsory relief of paupers. POOR-LAW BOARD. The English of ficial body appointed under St. 10 & 11 Viet. c. 109, passed in 1847, to take the place of the poor-law commissioners, under whose control the general management of the poor, and the funds for their relief throughout the country, had been for some years previously administered. The poor-law board is now superseded by the local government board, which was established in 1871 by St. 34 & 35 Viet. c. 70. 3 Steph. Comm. 49. POOR-LAW GUARDIANS. See GUARDIANS OF THE POOR. POOR RATE. In English law. A tax levied by parochial authorities for the relief of the poor. POPE. The bishop of Rome, and su preme head of the Boman Catholic Church. 4 Steph. Comm. (7th Ed.) 168-185. POPE NICHOLAS' TAXATION. The first fruits (primitice or annates) were the first year's profits of all the spiritual prefer ments in the kingdom, according to a rate made by Walter, bishop of Norwich, in the time of Pope Innocent II., and afterwards advanced in value in the time of Pope Nich olas IV. This last valuation was begun A. D. 1288, and finished 1292. and is still pre served in the exchequer. The taxes were regulated by it till the survey made in the twenty-sixth year of Henry VIII. 2 Steph. Comm. 567. POPERY. The religion of the Roman Catholic Church, comprehending doctrines and practices. POPULACE, or POPULACY. The vulgar; the multitude. POPULAR ACTION. An action for a statutory penalty or forfeiture, given to any such person or persons as will sue for it; an action given to the people in general. 3 Bl. Comm. 160. POPULAR SENSE. In reference to the construction of a statute, this term means that sense which people conversant with the subject-matter with which the statute is deal ing would attribute to it. 1 Exch. Div. 248.

POPULISCTTUM. Lat. In Roman law. A law enacted by the people; a law passed by an assembly of the Roman people, in the comitia centuriata, on the motion of a senator; differing from a plebiscitum, in that the latter was always proposed by one of the tribunes. POPULUS. Lat. In Roman law. The people; the whole body of Roman citizens, including as well the patricians as the ple beians. PORCION. In Spanish law. A part or portion; a lot or parcel; an allotment of land. See (Tex.) 16 S. W. Rep. 49. PORRECTING. Producing for exam ination or taxation, as porrecting a bill of costs, by a proctor. PORT. A place for the lading and un lading of the cargoes of vessels, and the col lection of duties or customs upon imports and exports. A place, either on the sea coast or on a river, where ships stop for the purpose of loading and unloading, from whence they depart, and where they finish their voyages. 7 Mart. (N. S.) 81. In French, maritime law. Burden, (of a vessel;) size and capacity. PORT CHARGES, DUES, or TOLLS. Pecuniary exactions upon vessels availing themselves of the commercial convenien ces and privileges of a port. PORT-GREVE. The chief magistrate of a sea-port town is sometimes so called. PORT OF DELIVERY. In maritime law. The port which is to be the terminus of any particular voyage, and where the ves sel is to unlade or deliver her caigo, as dis tinguished from any port at which she may touch, during the voyage, for other purposes. PORT OF DESTINATION. In mari time law and marine insurance, the term in cludes both ports which constitute the ter mini of the voyage, the home-port and the foreign port to which the vessel is consigned, as well as any usual stopping places for the receipt or discharge of cargo. 12 Gray, 501. PORT OF DISCHARGE, in a policy of marine insurance, means the place where the substantial part of the cargo is discharged, although there is an intent to complete the discharge at another basin. 104 Mass. 510. PORT OF ENTRY. One of the ports designated by law, at which a custom-house or revenue office is established for the execu*

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