He looked over the twelve good men and true thus segregated, and remarked briefly: "They're his peers, all right.

The trile will now proceed." Whereupon he swore them solemnly and made a record in his fee book, to the later consternation of his jurors.

"Ain't this court a notary, too ?" said Blackman later.

"And ain't a notary entitled to so much fee for administerin' a oath?
And didn't I administer twelve oaths ?" There was small answer to this, after all.

The laborer is worthy of his hire; and Blackman really labored in this case as in all likelihood few justices have before or since.
The prosecuting attorney, who, it may be seen, held his office much as did the justice of the peace, by the doctrine of _nemine contradicente_, now arose and made the opening statement.