330

LAWS OF MARYLAND.

same, and if at the time and place named in said writ

any of the said jurors summoned do not attend, the

sheriff shall immediately summon as many persons

qualified to act as jurors as may be necessary, with the

jurors in attendance, to make a panel of twenty jurors,

and from these each party, or his agent, or if either

party be not present in person or by agent, the sheriff

for such party shall strike off four jurors, and the re-

maining persons shall act as the jury for the inquest

of damages; and before the said jury shall proceed

Administer

to act, the sheriff shall administer to each of them

oath.

an oath or affirmation as the case may be, that

he will justly and impartially value the damages

which the owner or owners shall sustain by the con-

demnation of said property required by the said

county commissioners, and in case said property shall

be subject to a lease, or an estate for life, the jury

shall ascertain and return in their inquisition the value

of such lease or estate for life, and also the value

of the estate in remainder or reversion; the said jury

Summon wit-
nesses.

shall summon such witnesses as either party may re-

quire, and examine them on oath in relation to the

property to be condemned, and shall reduce their testi-

mony to writing, and return the same with the inquisi-

tion; and as soon as the testimony is closed, they shall

ascertain and determine the compensation which

ought to be made by the said .county commissioners

to the parties owning said property, according to their

respective interest in the property to be condemned;

Reduce to writ-

and the said jury shall reduce their inquisition to

ing.

writing, and shall sign and seal the same, and it shall

be returned by the sheriff to the circuit court afore-

said, within five days after the finding, and shall be

filed by the clerk of said court, and shall be confirmed

by the court at its next session, if no sufficient cause

to the contrary be shown, and when confirmed shall

be recorded by the said clerk at the expense of said

county; but if set aside, the court may order another

inquisition to be taken in the manner above pre-

Describe prop-

scribed; and every such inquisition, shall describe the

erty taken.

property taken, and the bounds of the lands or lots

condemned, and the quality or duration of interest in

the same condemned, for the use of said county com-

missioners; and such valuation, when paid or tendered

to the owners of property, his agent or attorney, shall

entitle the said county commissioners to the estate and