It was just 9:40 o'clock, April, 7., when Judge Helm entered the
court-room. Immediately the hum of conversation which had been going on
at a lively rate stopped, as, with hardly a pause after sitting down,
the Judge ordered the Sheriff to open the court. Every seat in the
spectators gallery by this time was taken. Judge Helm at once went to
the business of the day, calling "Case 2,296, the Commonwealth vs. Scott
Jackson," and directing the Sheriff to bring in the prisoner.
There was a perceptible movement on the part of the assemblage as
Jackson followed Jailer Bitzer and the Sheriff into the court-room and
took his place on the left of the witness box and slightly in its rear.
His chair was next to that of Attorney Andrews, of Hamilton, Walling's
counsels, and the narrow table seperated the prisoner from Hon. L. J.
Crawford and Colonel George Washington. As on his former visit to the
court-room, Jackson flushed slightly after taking his seat. He paid
close attention throughout to every thing that was said by the Judge and
the lawyers.
Around the table to the right of the witness box were seated
Commonwealth's Attorney M. R. Lockhart, Colonel R. W. Nelson and
Attorney Silas Hayes, of Greencastle, all representing the prosecution.
The Sheriff called the names of the jurors summoned for duty, and these
having been disposed of the Judge asked:
"Is the Commonwealth ready?"