allowance to a prisoner

from Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)
ALLOWANCE TO A PRISONER. By the laws of, it is believed, all the states,
when a poor debtor is in arrest in a civil suit, the plaintiff is compelled
to pay an allowance regulated by law, for his maintenance and support, and
in default of such payment at the time required, the prisoner is discharged.
Notice must be given to the plaintiff before the defendant can be
discharged.
    

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