New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-29
COM.NENT'S on THE SENTENCES
GENERAL BELIEF THAT THE DEATH
PENALTY WILL NOT BE EXECUTED.
ARGUMENTS THAT THE CONDEMNED MEN ARE
VICTIMS OF UNJUST SEvERlTY--PI-EAS
Holm HAYS HAMMOND

ANtSC MENTS THAT TIE toNDFMNtD MIN AHS
VICTIMS OF UNJUST sEvERITY--pLEAs
FOR JOHN HAYS HAMMOND.
The report that sentence of death had been pro-
rounced against :he five leaders OF the Reform
Committee the subject Of conversation In al
local circles yesterday. ard on all hands one cou.l
hear expressions OF sympathy with the condemned
men. and Of condemnation of the finding OF ,he
court Most peop:e believe that the death sentence
will be carried out. and that the spirit Of the
age Is directly against any such action. but until
steps toward Communication are reported. there
will be feeling of deep anxiety on the part Of all
people who ar, especially interested. The severity
OF the sentence becomes more conspicuous. one
man said In discussing the matter when one con-
sders that Hammond and his friends entered a
plea Of guilty. II is very evident that they were
convinced that the movement In which they had
taken part was d mistake. but. irasmuch az small
damage had been done. they doubtless believed
that a plea Of guilty would result in a nominal pun
ishment A death sentence could not have been
dreamed Of"
II was also urged that the punishment which the
High Court Of Pretoria intends 10 nnict is out Ct
keeping and In line with the action against Dr..
Jameson The comm ttee. representing the dissatis-
fed part OF the population had simply invited Or.
Jameson to come the relief Of the Uitlanders Of
johannesburg IA their extreme peril" This act"
II was said was construed high treason for
which the five men should die. while DIR. James m.
the real cuipTlt, VIII PROBABLY escape Win
punishment"
Peope who Yesterday discussed the situation in
Johannesburg. and who argued that the Beer Gov
eminent would not dare TO execute the five men
who have been sentenced brought as an argument
the fact that hundreds OF cases have occurred in
various countries IN .ecent years which were Of a
graver and more serious nature than the Jameson
episode but that in 40 instance were the ringIedi-
put to death.
The case Of the condemned men has special in
terest for man. people in New York, because John
Hays Hammond. the only American OF the num-
ber formerly lived n New-iork, and has many
stanch friends here.
A c.assmate of Mr.. Hammond described him rs 4
short stocky man. who possesses all the requisites
for popularity. Wherever he went. he sad.
Jack Hammond made friends and kept them.
That he Possesses the grl; and the courage OF Il
strong man ne demonstrated In Idaho lie was In
charge Of a large mining pant there when he
great strike riots took place Ills determined stand
against the strikers did much to Gueli the disturb
ance and demonstrat ID his pluck
1t was SAID tina; ii only natural that a man
Of his stamp should have become prominent MEM
her Of .he Committee Of sixty. The last .etter re-
ceived in Ncw-Yoik from Mr.. IIammonds HON
was dated March g. II written by his sister.
who with his wife and two sons constitute tho
Hammond household. lie was III then. and had
been III for some time. The trouble growing out
Of the Jameson matter Is the chief topic OF the 'e'-
ter but nothing In the communication ihdca"S
that Mr. Hammond had any idea that a death SEN
tence would be the result OF the trial
I'm his capacity manager OF great mining
p,ants" II was said Hammond had from 1900 to
IL on men under his control but he never nhu-
encel them against the Government or in favor OF
/ England | know that he never expressed hmsei,
in favor OF changing tine Government; Hammond
was in favor Of certain reforms, ard he made no
secret of It, lie Joined the Reform party ana be-
came leader Of the Reform Committee. put ne
never had any leaning toward RI gland lie mao
large interests IN the Boer country, the speaker
CONTINUED but he wrote 10 me some time ago, say
ing that as soon as his dutiei would permit he
would return TO the United States. lie always
spoke In the highest OF President Kruger and
on several occasions wrote about the President
( tact and diplomatic ability.
Some OF Mr. Hammonds friends here fear that
President Kruger will be unable TO control the peo-
ple OF Pretoria and that they will demand the exc
cution OF the American because OF his friendship
with Cecil Rhodes. 81,
friendc believe that II the death sentence is
c,mmuted TO imprisonment II will mean death 10
him. -, ,. a,
The case Of Mr. Hammond was laid before the
Government at Washington by Charles W. Trusow
OF Nc IS Wall-st. VINO said TO a Tribune reporter
Yesterday that the Government had done all In It's
power in the matter. lie went TO Washington again
last night however. to make further efforts IN be-
half OF Mr. Hammond. Mr. Truslow will be at the
/ Shoreham Hotel for several days.
No Official notice n the action OF the Boer court Is
in the Hammond received at the British
I or Netherlands consulates yesterday.