JOHN WALTER SMITH, ESQ., GOVERNOR.

549

Having reached a decision, the sheriff and the jurors shall
sign and seal the inquisition, and the sheriff shall make a
report of his proceedings to the Commissioners, and with the
said report he shall return the inquisition to them, and they
shall have it recorded among the Land Records in the office
of the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Dorchester County, and
the said condemnation upon the tender or payment to the owner
of the land condemned, or to his legal guardian, if an infant,
or to his committee or trustee, if a non compos mentis or luna-

Shall sign and
seal the
inquisition
and report to
the
Commission'rs

tic, and his legal costs shall vest the legal title in fee to
the property condemned in the Commissioners of Cambridge.
But if before issuing the warrant the Commissioners made an
offer and tender in writing to the owner of the land condemned
of any sum to be paid as the price which they were willing to
pay therefor, or if the owner was an infant or a non compos
mentis or lunatic, then if such offer or tender was made to
the legal guardian of the infant, or to the committee of the
non compos mentis or lunatic, and if the damages assessed by
the inquisition does not exceed in amount the sum which the
Commissioners tendered in writing to the owner, or if an
infant, to his guardian, or if non compos mentis or a lunatic, to
his committee or trustee, then the payment or tender of the
damages assessed in the inquisition as aforesaid, less the
entire costs of the Commissioners, shall likewise vest the
property in the Commissioners.

Manner of
settlement.

Seventh. In his report to the Commissioners concerning
the proceedings the sheriff shall set forth the names of the
owners or persons interested in the property summoned by
himself, and the names of the owners or persons interested
summoned by the sheriff of any other comity at his direction,
and the names of any non-residents, and to state whether they
were notified by summons or order of publication, and his
statement in such report shall be entitled to the same credence
and have the same force and effect as the returns made by a
sheriff to process in the Circuit Courts. The records of pro-
ceedings to be delivered to the Clerk of the Circuit Court, to
be recorded, shall consist of the warrant to the sheriff, the
inquisition, and the report of the sheriff, and an affidavit of

Sheriff shall
make state-
ment of
proceedings to
Commissiun'rs

the Mayor, or of the Town Clerk and Treasurer, made
before a justice of the peace, that the damages awarded to
the owners or persons interested in the property have been
paid or been tendered, or have been paid into the Circuit
Court for distribution, a copy of said record shall be receive-
able in any of the courts of the State or before any justice of the
peace thereof, to show the title in fee of the Commissioners of

Damages
awarded.