798

LAWS OF MARYLAND.

Sheriff to
summon jury.

enlargement or repair of any of its works; or if
the owner be a married woman, infants, non compos
mentis, or out of the county, the corporation may
apply to a Justice of the Peace of the county in
which such property is situated, and he shall issue
his warrant to the Sheriff of the county, requiring
him to summon a jury, to meet on the land at a
day therein specified, and being not more than
ten nor less than five days thereafter.

Continue to
summon.

Sec. 15. And be it enacted, That the said Sher-
iff shall accordingly summon twenty disinterested
men, who shall be freeholders and residents of the
County, not related to either party, and if any of
them do not attend he may summon or call others
immediately to make up the number of twenty;

each party shall have a right, in person, by agent
or attorney, if present at the time, to strike off
four, and the Sheriff shall strike off such as shall
not be stricken off by the parties, until the number
shall be reduced to twelve, who shall be a jury.

Oath.

Sec. 16. And be it enacted, That the Sheriff shall
then administer an oath or affirmation to every
person of the jury, that he will impartially and to
the best of his skill and judgment, value the land
or other property required by the corporation,
and also (if the same be land required for the con-
struction of road or works) the damage which the
owner will sustain, if any, by the taking of the
land for such use, the jury shall accordingly in-

Value dama-
ges.

quire of such value and damage and make report
thereof in writing, to be signed by them all, and
setting forth (in case of land) the boundaries of the
land and the estate, interest or use to be taken by
the corporation. Such inquisition and report shall
be returned by the Sheriff to the Clerk of the Cir-
cuit Court of the County in which said condemna-
tion shall occur.

Inquisition.

Sec. 17. And be it enacted, That such inquisi-
tion and report shall be confirmed by such Court,
unless good cause be shown to the contrary, and
when confirmed, shall be recorded by the Clerk;
but for cause the Court may set it aside and order
another inquisition, or more than one, from time

Confirmed by
Court.

to time, to be conducted in like manner as the first,
and with like effect, until an inquisition and report
shall he confirmed by the Court; upon such con-