, 1896-04-30
THE CLEMENT
Kruger Has.D ecided
hict the Death 2
DOES NOT FEARy
Justice Satisfied ~ aht
the Men-JOhn HULL
cred Company MlNj
the Money DemAaI

dis patch dated To-Day, at frd
Sir j. A. Dewett, the BritM
there:
Or. w. J. Leyds. secretary of state
for the Transvaal, has just told me that
the sentence of death has been taken
off the four prisoners. Hammond,
Rhodes. Farrar and Phillips. 1t is un-
decided what punishment will be sub
stituted. The executive council is now
engaged in considering the sentences
of all the prisoners"
Cape Town, April 29.-Further ad-
vices received from Pretoria say that
at the close of the trial Of the leading
members Of the Johannesburg reform
committee yesterday. the presiding
Judge, after summing up. said 1t was his
painful duty to pass sentence upon the
prisoners who had pleaded guilty of
high treason. but he expressed the hope
that the executive would show the same
clemency it had exhibited during the cri-
sis which had marked the beginning of
the year.
Then, amid most intense, painful 81
lence throughout the courtroom, the
judge solemnly passed the sentence of
death individually upon Lionel Phil
lips. president of the chamber of mines
of Johannesburg; George Farrar. pro-
prietor and publisher Of Country Life
of Johannesburg; Colonel Francis
Rhodes. brother Of the Hon. Cecil
Rhodes, and John Hays Hammond, the
American engineer. manager Of the De
Beers mine.
A few minutes later the remaining So
prisoners. including Joel Barnato. a
nephew of Barney Barnato; Mr.. Petite
helm the Turkish consul. and formerly
attorney general q Cape essssonyiI;. W
Lofard and Captain Aein. j. 8. Curtis.
v. B. Clement, J. LAwley, H. ]. King,
and Mr.. Bingham. all Americans, were
sentenced to two years imprisonment,
three years Punishment and to pay a
fine Of $4,000, in default Of which they
will undergo another years imprison-
ment.
The news of the sentences was re-
ceived with the greatest amaxement
here, at Johannesburg, and even at Pre-
toria, and caused the greatest excite
ment everywhere, even though it was
gnerally understood that the four men
sentenced to death would not be exc
cuted. The telegraph wires throughout
the colony and the Transvaal were
blocked with messages to and from
Pretoria; business was at a standstill
everywhere. and every man had a
What next?" expression on his face.
The attitude of the British popula-
ton was one Of angry resentment; the
Beers were sullenly defiant.
A message from the secretary Of
state for the colonies, Mr.. Joseph Cham
b~erlain, was communicated to Presi-
dent Kruger last evening by Sir ]. A..
Dewett, the British agent at Pretoria.
The president was calm, but it was evil
dent to all that he felt the gravity of
the situation most acutely.
Late last night a rumor obtained cir
culation that the president "a careful
ly going over the records Of the trial.
and consulting with the legal authori-
ties Of Pretoria. with the result that he
had decided to commute the death SEN
fences to heavy fines and long terms of
imprisonment. to be followed by ban
ishment.
This report caused a decided feeling
Of relief, which was intensified when q
dispatch from Pretoria this morning
from an oficial source announced that
the sentences of death had indeed been
commuted.
The president. in exercising Glenn
ency. has only followed the course
which he was expected to ADOPT under
the circumstances, but his impulse in
the matter was dictated by his sense Of
Justice alone, and not from any fear of
the consequences which might have
followed the execution Of the prison.
ers. Indeed, It II stated upon high au-
thority that he had decided days ago
upon the step just taken. and that the
nrm stand he took in his letter de-
ciining Mr.. Chamberlain's invitation to
visit England wa assumed In order
that there might b no mistake - TO