CHASE, Eng. law. The liberty of keeping beasts of chase, or royal gaine, on another man's ground as well as on one's own ground, protected even from the owner of the land, with a power of hunting them thereon. It differs from a park, because it may be on another's ground, and because it is not enclosed. 2 Bl. Com. 38.
CHASE, property. The act of acquiring possession of animals ferae naturae by
force, cunning or address. The hunter acquires a right to such animals by
occupancy, and they become his property. 4 Toull. n. 7. No man has a right
to enter on the lands of another for the purpose of hunting, without his
consent. Vide 14 East, R. 249 Poth. Tr. du Dr. de Propriete, part 1, c. 2,
art. 2. CHASTITY. That virtue which prevents the unlawful commerce of the
sexes.
2. A woman may defend her chastity by killing her assailant. See Self
Defence. And even the solicitation of her chastity is indictable in some of
the states; 7 Conn. 267; though in England, and perhaps elsewhere, such act
is not indictable. 2 Chit. Pr. 478. Words charging a woman with a violation
of chastity are actionable in themselves. 2 Conn. 707.