from
Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)
MAINOUR, crim. law. The thing stolen found in the hands of the thief who has
stolen it; hence when a man is found with property which he has stolen, he
is said to be taken with the mainour, that is, it is found in his hands.
2. Formerly there was a distinction made between a larceny, when the
thing stolen was found in the hands of the criminal, and when the proof
depended upon other circumstances not quite so irrefragable; the former
properly was termed pris ove maynovere, or ove mainer, or mainour, as it is
generally written. Barr. on the Stat. 315, 316, note: