Rennie was directed to stand up, and the district attorney read, in a clear voice, the indictment, which charged that the defendant “did, on the eighteenth day of November last passed, feloniously, wilfully and maliciously set fire to, burn and consume, a certain building, to wit: a coal-breaker, the same being the property of a certain body corporate known by the style and title of ‘The Valley Coal Company;’ by reason of which setting fire to, burning and consuming, a certain dwelling-house, also the property of the said Valley Coal Company, and being within the curtilage of said coal-breaker, was also burned and consumed; contrary to the form of the act of the General Assembly, in such case made and provided, and against the peace and dignity of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.”
Rennie stood, listening intently to the reading of the indictment. When the question was put:
“What say you,—guilty, or not guilty?” he replied, in a deep, chest voice,—
“If I be guilty, ye ha’ but to prove it.”
“Make your plea, sir!” said the judge severely. “Guilty, or not guilty?”
“Then I’ll plead no’ guilty. No mon’s guilty till he’s proved guilty.”
Rennie resumed his seat, and the court was soon afterward adjourned for the noon recess.
In the afternoon the selecting of jurors in the case against Rennie began.
The first one called was a miner. One could tell that by the blue powder-marks on his face, and that he was of Irish nativity could be detected by the rich brogue that escaped his lips. He was “passed” by the Commonwealth, and the clerk of the court recited the formula:
“Juror, look upon the prisoner. Prisoner, look upon the juror. What say you,—challenge, or no challenge?”