I at once challenged him.

He was then put into the witness-box, and on examination he admitted that he "had expressed an opinion adverse to the defendants in this case." Then ensued a bit of comedy between Judge North and Sir Hardinge Giffard, who both assumed a wonderful air of impartiality.
"Judge North: Sir Hardinge, is it not better to withdraw this juryman at once?
Whatever the verdict of the jury, I should be sorry to have a man among them who had expressed himself as prejudiced.
Sir Hardinge Giffard: Oh yes, my lord; I withdraw him.

It will be much more satisfactory to the Crown and everybody else concerned." "I withdraw him," says Sir Hardinge; "I should be sorry to have him," says the Judge; both evidently feeling that they were making a generous concession in the interests of justice.

But as a matter of fact they had no choice.

Mr.Thomas Jackson could no more sit on that jury after my challenge than he could fly over the moon.