216

LAWS OF MARYLAND.

which day so appointed the owner or owners of said

land if resident in said county, shall have at least

Ten days

ten days' notice, to be given by the president of said

notice.

company, and if the owner be a non-resident, such

notice shall be given to his tenant, and if no tenant,

then to be set up on the land, and if the owner be

an infant, or non compos mentis, such notice shall

be given to the guardian or committee, if there be

one; and on the day at the place so appointed,

In case jurors

the said sheriff shall attend, and in case any of the

do not attend

jurors do not attend, the sheriff shall instanter

summon as many more jurors as shall be necessary,

with the jurors in attendance, to make a panel of

twenty ; and from the panel thus completed either

May strike of

party may strike off four, and in case they neglect

or refuse the sheriff shall strike off all names but

twelve, who shall constitute the jury of condemna-

tion, and hear and determine the cause. The sheriff

shall qualify such of said twelve jurors so selected

by an oath, which he shall administer to them, or

their affirmation, as the case may be, justly, truly

and impartially to try the cause and value the dam-

ages which may be sustained by the owner or owners

of the land or materials required as aforesaid.

May summon

Either party may summon witnesses and examine

witnesses.

them under oath, to be administered by the sheriff,

and after the evidence, if any shall be offered, and

the parties heard, if they desire to be, the jury shall

proceed to render their verdict and reduce the same

to writing " in the shape of an inquisition," and sign

and seal the same and deliver it to the said sheriff,

who shall return the same to the Clerk of the Circuit

Court for Dorchester county ; and unless good and

Cause be

sufficient cause shall be shown against such inquisi-

shown.

tion it shall be confirmed by said court at the term

next succeeding the time of the return of said inqui-

sition, but if it shall be set aside by said court it

shall direct another jury to be summoned, and an-

other inquisition to be taken in the manner before de-

scribed, and when any inquisition is confirmed by the

court aforesaid and the amount of damages therein

awarded is paid or tendered to the owner or owners,

or guardian, or committee, or paid into court, the

Shall be en-

said company shall be entitled to the estate and in-

titled.

terest of such owner in said land and materials so

far as may be necessary to vest in said company the

right of way over said land for the purposes of said