Page:Bradlaugh, The Right to Affirm.djvu/6

 the coroner should—as has already happened—refuse to take the evidence of a witness so claiming to affirm such coroner should be asked: "On what ground do you decline to take my evidence?" and the answer should be carefully noted down. It is not anticipated that any judge of the High Court would so refuse. It is, however, possible that some justice of the peace might refuse, in which case he should be asked the like question. A most careful note in case of any difficulty of any kind arising should be at once sent to Mr. Bradlaugh, so that, if necessary and advisable, immediate legal or Parliamentary action may be taken. In the case of a person summoned as juror he should make the same statement—"I object to be sworn, on the ground that I have no religious belief"—when he is called on to take the book in order to be sworn. The same observation applies, that he is not bound to answer any question.

Should it happen that the judge or coroner should, instead of allowing the affirmation, say "You can leave the box", or any equivalent words dispensing with the juror's service in the suit or inquest, no answer or remark should be made, because it is probably within the competence of the judge and in his discretion to dispense with the services of any juror, and the Freethinker should at once quietly leave the court, and send to Mr. Bradlaugh exact details of what has taken place. Should the judge or coroner say, "Leave the box but do not leave the court", the juror should say: "My lord, I am ready and willing now to perform my duty as juryman in the case in which my name has been called; but if your lordship dispenses with my services as juror I respectfully deny your jurisdiction to detain me in court". The dispensed-with juror should