settlers warned would turn out as jurors, through fear of the Select Encampment people, the master of Bridesdale chose a sufficient number of men for the purpose from the present sojourners at his house.  These, some time after the doctor’s departure, sauntered leisurely towards the most public place in the neighbourhood.  Arrived at the post office, they found a large unfinished room in an adjoining building prepared for the court.  This building had been begun as a boarding house, but, when almost completed, the conviction suddenly came to the post office people that there were no boarders to be had, all the transients of any financial value being given free quarters in the hospitable mansion of the Squire.  Hence the house was never finished.  The roof, however, was on, and the main room floored, so that it had been utilized for church and Sunday school purposes, for an Orange Lodge, for temperance and magic lantern itinerant lectures, and for local hops.  Now, with the dead body of Harding laid out upon an improvised table of rough boards on trestles, it assumed the most solemn aspect it had ever exhibited.  Three oldish men were there, whom people called Johnson, Newberry, and Pawkins; they were all the summoned jurors who had responded.  Soon, from the other side, the waggon came in sight, and when it came forward, the remains of Nagle, alias Nash, were lifted reverently out and into the hall, where they were placed beside those of one of his murderers.  The elder Richards accompanied the doctor, in order to give his testimony.  The mad woman and her son were also there, in charge of Sylvanus and Ben Toner.  Just as the party prepared to constitute the coroner’s court, a stumpy figure on a high stepping horse came riding along.  He was well disguised, but several persons recognized him.  “Seize him,” cried Squire Carruthers.  “It’s Grinstuns,” said the lawyer.  “Stop him!” shouted Bangs.  But, Rawdon, having seen what he wanted, wheeled his horse and galloped away.  There was neither saddled horse to pursue him, nor rifle to bring him down.  “All the better,” remarked Mr. Walker to his brother J.P.’s; “had he seen mounted men and fire-arms among us, he’d have smelt a rat.  As it is, he thinks we are on the defensive and moving slowly.”  It was evident, from what people heard of the presiding magistrate’s conversation, that the court had decided in favour of measures offensive.

It was easy to get twelve good men and true for the first inquest.  In addition to Johnson, Newberry, and Pawkins, there were the constable and Mr. Terry, Messrs. Hill and Hislop, Sylvanus, Timotheus, and Rufus, with Mr. Bangs and Maguffin.  The colonel was an alien, and Carruthers did not care to sit on the jury.  Dr. Halbert presided, flanked by his fellow justices, and Wilkinson, though a minor witness, was made clerk.  Several persons identified the slain Nagle or Nash, and gave evidence as to his relations with Rawdon’s gang.  Ben Toner’s information and Newcome’s attested confession were noted.