Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-04-29
STARTLING NEWS.
Beers Sentence Four Uitiander
.Reformers to Death.
BROUGHT HoUsE

lGahasy Wants the State Department sEx.
vsdited' for Fear John Buii VIII Make .
scapegoas Of the American, hammond
On3oial Circles i'm England Not Worried,
Is the Sentence Il Believed To he
"Graad Stand Play"
WAsHINGTOE, April 29-Uncle Sam
same in collision. as it were, with this
Boer republic yesterday; or perhaps it was
the Boer republic came in collision with
Uncle Sam, and the excitement was great
in congressional circles. The news was
that John Hays Hammond, a noted
American mining engineer. and one Of
the men living at Johannesburg who
dared to protest against paying all the
taxes and having no voice in the govern
men., had been condemned to death on
his plea Of guilty of high treason in con.
nection with the Jameson raid. There
was much hurrying to and fro for awhile
in the two chambers.
Prays to Kruger for Mercy.
In the senate Stewart, who knows Ham
mond personally. got up petition to
M ee'As thS A/oSA PAVSiAChu, th0 tSAOH Ok
which Is ''peccavi." and plea for mercy.
It sets forth the high character Of the &C
cused and states that his family and as
sociations here were of the best, and while
1t is conceded by the petitioners that the
crime to which he has pleaded guilty Is a
most serious one and directed against a
government for which the signers have a
high regard, they still ask as an act of
clemeucy Tint tho offense be cond oncti
and the prisoner liberated. This petition
was circulated in both houses and signed
10y all who were given an opportunity.
The News in tho House.
Mahany OF New York started the hall
in the house. He smcllcd ''perfldious
Albion" rat He was fearful, it seemed,
that tho willy Briton who, he said had to
find a scapcgoat would hail with delight
the fact that there was an American on
the list who would do for the role. Ma
hany offered resolution asking the sec.
rotary of state to take Immediate action
70 safeguard the interests Of said Ham,
mond and exert the friendly offices of that
department in his behalf. If the secretary
of state in his Judgment deems such in.
terposition advisable" Mnhany explained
the urgency Of the case. 1t was a matter
Of life and death. Hammond might be
executed under the sentence at any time,
md any delay might be fatal.
That Rascauy Cid John Bull
rs not the secretary of state competent
to deal with the situationf" asked Bart
lett. Certainly" replied Mahany 'But
the case might escape his attention With
the house OF representatives behind him
he can proceed vigorously. desire tosuy
l. 4, A.
of English diplomacy is being employed
!, to safeguard the interests Of tho subjects
of the queen who are being tried at Pre-
toria. Some one will be made the scape.
goat Of this affair do not propose to
attempt to shield pny American from the
just conquences of his act, but am dc.
termined that an American shall not be
made the scapegoae-"
Sentence aud Execution Twb Thinga,
Tho resolution was finally referred to
the foreign affairs committee And later,
came the news from London that more
than likely the sentence TO death of the
Uitlandcr reformers is purely Pickwicki
IN. A cable from London says: 1.-THE
sentencing Of the members OF the reform
committee to death at Pretoria has pro
dUced great sensation In London
especially in the streets, where the cxtra
editions of the afternoon newspapers, with
sensational headlines, find quick sale. In
we'll informed circles, however, the sen
tonce has caused little surprise, as the
laws Of the Transvaal prescribe death fol
high trenson, and tho prisoners having
pleaded guilty the judga could only pro
nounce the sentence which the law pro
vidcs.
Chamberlain IMAGES . Fiuke.
at hns also been long understood tina,
very severe sentences would be pissed IL
order that the c!emcncy which President
Kruger 10 certain to exercise might appear
greater 1t is thought probable that the
sentence Of death will be committed to a
short term Of Imprisonment and big fine
unless Chamberiain's dispatch to Presi
dent Kruger. read in the house of com
mons. should irritatc the chief magistrate
OF the Transvaal into greater severity
than he would otherwise exercise. Cham
berlain's telegram Is regarded here rs be
ing prccipitatc, and as leaving President
Kruger no time to act on his own account
and rs having, moreover, the ring of die.
tation."
The Dispatch That Is Referred To.
Following h what Chamberiaing cablet
to Kruger: 1.-THE government has just
learned that the sentence OF death has
been passed. upon the four leaders OF the
reform committee. 1t can feel no doubt
that your honor will commute the sen
tcnce and has assured parliament of its
conviction that this Is your honor's In
tention."
TALKED OF BIZ THE CABINET.