_Q._ Have you read the account in the newspapers of the capture of the Savannah privateers? _A._ Yes, sir. _Q._ Have you ever formed or expressed any opinion as to the guilt or innocence of these prisoners? _A._ No, sir. _Q._ Have you ever formed or expressed any opinion as to whether they were guilty of piracy, if the facts were as alleged? _A._ No, sir. Challenge withdrawn. _Juror sworn._ _William H. Marshall_ called, and challenged for principal cause: _Q._ Have you any conscientious scruples that would prevent your finding a verdict of guilty in a capital case, where the evidence was sufficient to convince you that the prisoner was guilty? _A._ No, sir. _By Mr. Larocque_, for the prisoners: _Q._ You read the account of the privateer Savannah? _A._ I believe I have. _Q._ Have you formed or expressed any opinion as to the guilt or innocence of the prisoners? _A._ No, sir. _Q._ Have you ever formed or expressed any opinion as to whether they were guilty of piracy, if the facts were as alleged? _A._ I have not formed any opinion as to these men. _Q._ As to the general question, whether cruising under a commission from the Confederate States is piracy? _A._ I do not think I have formed any opinion, or expressed one. Challenge withdrawn. _Juror sworn._ _William Powell_ called, and challenged for principal cause by Mr. Smith: _Q._ Have you any conscientious scruples that would prevent your finding a verdict of guilty, in a capital case, where the evidence was sufficient to convince you that the prisoner was guilty? _A._ No, sir. _By Mr. Larocque_, for the prisoners: _Q._ Have you formed or expressed any opinion as to the guilt or innocence of these prisoners? _A._ I have not formed any opinion that would prevent me from giving a verdict according to the facts of the case. I have read the account, and I presume have formed such an opinion as most men do from reading an account, if the facts be so and so. _Q._ Have you formed any opinion as to whether cruising, under a commission from the Confederate States, is piracy? _A._ Yes, sir, I have. _Mr. Evarts_ objected that this was purely a question of law, and one jurors should not be inquired of. _The Court_ sustained the objection. _Q._ Did you believe the accounts which you read of this transaction? _A._ Well, it is difficult to say. There is so much published in the papers now-a-days that is not correct, that I am hardly prepared to say I believe anything I see, without palpable evidence. I believe the fact of the capture of the Savannah. _Q._ Did you read what had been done by the Savannah before she was captured? _A._ Well, I formed no opinion with regard to that. _Q._ Did you form an opinion of the character of the act with which the defendants were charged? _A._ No, sir. _Q._ Do you entertain the settled opinion that acting under a commission from President Davis, or the Confederate Government, constitutes piracy?