The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-07-30
THE PROUD CAPT. JAM|SON
HE AND HIS ABETTORS IN THE
RAID MUST LANGUISH Be
HIND PRISON BARS.
The raid ROBBED OF ITS ROMANCE
The Erstwhle Idols Are Now Common
Convicts-Sentences Ranged From
Fifteen Months Down-Lord
Russell Bitterly Arraigned
the Raiders.

bench division of the higher court of JUS
tice today the trial of DR.. Jameson. Mai.
Sir John Willoughby, Col r. Gray. Col.
Ii. f. White. Maj. X. White and Capt.
Henry f. Coventry, charged with viola
ton of the neutrality laws in invading
the territory of the South African re-
public, was resumed. The court was
packed with people in anticipation of the
conclusion of the celebrated case.
Arguments having been concluded yes
terday, the chief justice began his sum
ming up today.
Lord Russell's remarks were distinct
ly hostile to the defendants. He be-
gan by pointing out that none of the es-
sential facts in the case against the pris-
oners had been contested, and that there
was no doubt in regard to their having
taken part in or abetting the proceed
ings at Pitsani and Mafeking, where the
invading forces were mustered preparato-
ny to enter the Transvaal. 1t was en-
tirely unimportant in the opinion of Lord
Russell, whether the foreign enlistment
act had been proclaimed at the places
named in 1895. There was no doubt, he
said, that the expedition was of militia
ry character, and whether it was aimed
to overthrow the Transvaal government
or to force Il change in the laws of the
republic in the interest of others it was
equally an expedition against Il friendly
state.
Lord Russell throughout summed up
most adversely to the raiders, and con-
Guided with submitting to the jury Sc
ries of questions difficult to answer any
way but affirmatively.
After an hours absence the jury re-
turned and answered all the questions in
the affirmative. Thereupon the chief
justice said that this finding amounted to
a verdict of guilty, and he directed the
jury to so find.
DR.. Jameson was sentenced to fifteen
months Imprisonment without labor,
Maj. Sir John Wiloughby was sentenced
to ten months Imprisonment, Maj. II.
White was sentenced to seven months
Imprisonment, and Capt. Henry f. Gov
l.
were sentenced to five months imprison-
ment
The attendance at the trial of Dr.
Jameson and his associates was never so
large as today, and the greatest inter
est was manifested in their case
Sir Edward Clarke alone showed any
signs of nervousness. As for the jury.
composed, with two exceptions, of elder
ly men, there was no doubling they were
bored. The ladies. of whom there were
a great number in the court room. famed
themselves YEARLY while trying to catch
glimpses of the defendants. The latter
while the jury was out retired to the tea
room, where they held reception with
their lady friends and relatives. all of
whom had hopes of acquittal of the pris-
oners. The jury, after having retired
at about 1 o'clock. returned at 5:24. and
defendants were hastily summoned to
take their places. The judges came in
five minutes later and the jurymen gave
an affirmative answer to all the questions
which had been prOpOunded by the JUS
tice. but they added rider to the effect
that the disturbances at Johannesburg
was provocative.
Lord Russell then directed that their
answers were equivalent to verdict of
guilty. The foreman said that they
were not unanimous upon that point but
his lordship repeated his explanation and
the jury then consulted together for
about three minutes and rendered a YER
dict of guilty.
Dr. Jameson and his co-defendants
were apparently unmoved.
Sir Edward Clarke asked the courts
disposition for new trial. When the
judges returned Sir Edward Clarke said
that in view of the verdict rendered the
defendants refused to instruct for Il new
trial and expressed IA desire to settle the
case now.
In passing sentence Lord Russell said
that the verdict was given on evidence of
which no reasonable man would be able
to disregard. All the defendants, he
added. were men of position and intelli
gence. holding positions under the queen.
and their crime had the gravest conse-
quences. including death to some and in
Jury to others. while the future conse
quences of their crime no one was yet
able to foresee.
Continuing, the lord chief justice said
that although all took part in the raid,
the court must distinguish between them
in the punishment awarded for the guilt
His lordship then passed sentence upon
the prisoners.
DR.. Jameson, who had hitherto hung
down his head, looked up proudly when
the sentence had been passed. and the
other defendants stared hard at the lord
chief Justice. Very soon after the sen
fencing formalities had been completed
the wardens of Holloway prison appeared
and took up positions on each side of the
prisoners. This was the bitterest mo-
ment of all for the raiders, as up TO that
time they had been treated with the
greatest courtesy and had in fact been
made heroes of to certain degree. But
when the elbows of the prison wardens
touched those of the aristocratic free
hooters they seemed to realize that the