10:30
In the absence of the United States Marshal , the warrant had been placed in the hands of the sheriff , returnable at ten o'clock on the morning fixed for the trial . The new sheriff of Ulster was no less a personage than Uncle Aleck , who had resigned his seat in the House to accept the more profitable one of High Sheriff of the County . There was a long delay in beginning the trial . At 10:30 not a single witness summoned had appeared , nor had the prisoner seen fit to honour the court with his presence . Old Stoneman sat fumbling his hands in nervous , sullen rage , while Phil looked on with amusement . `` Send for the sheriff , '' he growled to the Commissioner . In a moment Aleck appeared bowing humbly and politely to every white man he passed .