Evening journal., 1896-04-29
prIannora ArnIn In Lnll.

PRETORIA, April s9.-The mon who
were sontonced 10 death by the high court
Of Pretoria are again In jail awaiting fur
fbef developments In tho case.
-' Tho political atmosphere Is sultry, and
it "a felt that immensely important issues
depend upon the immediate action by the
president Monster petitions 20 the exec
utive asking for commutation and par
don are now being generally signed here
Excitement Is still simmoring and Is
awaiting developments. trs.
The Boer jurors have signed a memori.
nj TO the government the contents Of which
have not transpired.
The states attorney says that under the
Roman Dutch law there IS no other pun
ishment Tor high treason than the capital
sentence.
The general public Is astoundcd at the
heavy sentences inflicted upon all of the
prisoners. All who are now IN jail are
treated with special privilege.
Tho press correspondent had an inter-
Wow with President Kruger In regard to
tho situation.
The president said that he was earnest
ly weighing In his mind the days devel-
opments His honor trusted that Johan-
nesburg would calmly await the decision
OF tho government The written iudg-
Inent, hgsaid, could not bo submitted to
the executive until Thursday, when tho
matter would be promptly dealt with.
John Hays Hammond Is 38 years old
and is a son OF General Hammond. He
was educated at Sheffield Scientific school,
connected with Yale college, for the pro
fossion Of mining engineer and completed
his education at tho mining school at
Frmdburg, Germany, where he took high
honors.
Hammond has a splendid reputation as
q mining engineer, earned as a result of
the display Of his ability in the California
mines He was engaged at a salary Of
s25, 600 year few years ago TO go TO
South Africa and take charge Of the De
Beers diamond mines His salary was
subsequently increased to 500, 600 year.
Trouble Imminent In Johannesburg.
JOHANNESBURG. April 90 1t Is stated
that in addition TO the sentence OF death
passed upon the leaders Of the reform COM
mittoe by tho high court at Pretoria 60
other members hrTe been sentenced to
two years imprisonment fine OF e2, 900
and three years subsequent banishment.
There is great excitement here, and un-
less the sentences arc speedily commuted
trouble is expected
The trial Of the reform committee which
has been going on in Pretoria is proha-
bly, of more interest in this place than
anywhere else IN the world Its outcome
has been awaited with an interest which
was almost a suspense.
The sentences have been a great shock
here, and the news spread almost in an in
slant through the whole place. The CEN
ter of the town was thronged with excited
groups, and every person in the communi-
" was engaged In eager discussion Of the
news. Apparently no one can bring him.
self to believe that tho sentences viii be
carried out, and It Is the very general
opinion that they Will be at least COM
muted.
Notwithstanding these expressions OF
assurance, however, everybod shows the
utmost anxiety as to the decision Of the
executive, IN whose hands the fate Of the
prisoners now lies Tho sentiment OF this
place Is ALMOST wholly with the men who
have been on trial, but the greatest sym
pathy is expressed for those prisoners who
took an inactive part in the movement,
bat who have still been condemned to SUI
fer equally with the others.
The theaters and all other places G
amusement here and most Of the store
have been closed, as no one found time Q
ipclination for anything but to discus
the startling intelligence from Pretoria