688

LAWS OF MARYLAND.

agents and officers, and to take such bonds from
them for the faithful performance of their duties as
may be deemed necessary.

Issue war-
rant.

Sec. 6. And be it enacted. That in case the said
Company shall not be able to agree with the owner
or owners of any land or water rights required for
the purposes aforesaid, or in case the owner or
owners as aforesaid shall be a feme covert, under
age, non compos mentis, or absent, on application
to a Justice of the Peace for Worcester County, he
shall issue his warrant under his hand and seal,
directed to the Sheriff of said county, requiring
him to summon a jury of twenty disinterested and
competent men, inhabitants of Worcester County,
to meet on the land, or at the water to be valued,
on a day that shall be named .in said warrant, not
less than ten and not more than thirty days after
issuing the same, and in case any of the said jurors
do not attend, the Sheriff shall instanter summon
as jurors as may be necessary with those in atten-
dance to furnish a panel of twenty jurors, and

Summons
jurors.

from them each party, his, her or their agent,
guardian or trustee, and if either be not present in
person, or by agent, guardian or trustee, as the
case may be, the Sheriff shall strike off four jurors
for each of the absent parties, or for either of the
parties failing to act, and the remaining twelve
shall constitute the jury ; and the Sheriff shall
qualify the said twelve jurors either by oath or af-
firmation, as the case may be, justly, truly and
impartially, to estimate the value of the damages
which may be sustained by the owner or owners of
the land or water right required, and the said jury
in estimating the damages supposed to be sustained
by the said owner or owners, shall take into the
estimate the benefit resulting to said owner or
owners, but only in lessening or extinguishing the
claim for damages, and the said jury shall reduce
their verdict to writing, and sign and seal the
same, and it shall then be returned by the Sheriff
to the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Worcester
County, and if no good or sufficient reason shall

Verdict.

be shown against said verdict it shall be confirmed
by said Court at the next term succeeding the re-
turns of said verdict, but if the said verdict shall
be set aside by said Court, the said Court shall
then direct another inquisition to be held in the