Mincing Lane.
The old custom of taking the judicial oath by merely laying the right hand
upon the book, is undoubtedly, thinks ERICA, of Pagan origin. In my humble
opinion it is far too common with us to ascribe things to Pagan origin. I
would venture to assert that the origin of this form of judicial oath may
be traced to Deuteronomy xxi. 1-8., where at the sacrifice offered up in
expiation of secret murder, the rulers of the city nearest the spot where
the corpse was found were in presence of the corpse to wash their hands
_over_ the victim, and say, "Our hands did not shed this blood, nor did our
eyes see it."