The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-30
Some Beers Not Satisfied
With Communication.
Urge Kruger to Annul the
Sentences Altogether.
What Was Brought Out at the Trial
of the Reform Committee.

April 30.-The sensation caused by the
sentencing to death OF John Hays Ham
mond, Colonel Rhodes, Lionel Philips
and George Farrar and the subsequent
commutation OF their sentences has not
by any means worn itself out. Burghers
Of influence are fiocking into this city
from all sides and are begging the gov
ernment to totally abolish the sentence
imposed upon the reformers What infiu-
ence this will have upon President kru-
ger and his advisers is q matter which
time alone will demonstrate.
In any case, 1t Is currently reported this
morning that the executive council has
decided to substitute for the death pen
atty. commuted yesterday, sentences of
five years penal servitude, and at the ex.
piration OF that time. banishment for
life, for the four reform committee lead
ers.
In order to justify severe treatment of
the prisoners, IL Is said. the executive
council refers to the records of the trials
of the reformers. kilograms were put in
evidence. which from a cipher key discov-
cred in DIR. Jameson's baggage when he
was made a prisoner by the Beers, prove
beyond doubt, 1t Is claimed. the COM
plicity OF the British Chartered South
Africa Company with the Johnnesburg re-
form leaders and with D-. Jameson's raid.
The company, 1t seems, opened q credit
OF e40, 600 in the name of Colonel Fran
els Rhodes at johannes burg, the money
to be used to organize the raid and sent q
message saying that The Times of Lon
don had a cable dispatch from Cape
Town saying that to delay the Jameson
affair would be imprudent.
Tbs Times today denies the assertion
made by the chartered company, accord
ing to the prosecution, in the telegram
referred to.
1t is asserted here, however. that the
m m oaI ,Ax,t ta IL Nf
additional documents, not produced at
the trial, which compromise notable
personages and officers In South Africa
and elsewhere.
1t has been proved that the kilograms
in great number were exchanged between
the four reform committee leaders already
mentioned at johannesburg and Mr.. Cecil
Rhodes then premier of Cape Colony
and Mr.. Rutherford Harris secretary of
the Gyitlsh Chartered South Africa Com
pany at Cape Town and Dr. Jameson when
the latter was at Pitsani, between Decem-
ber and December 81, when the raiders
were being organized and actually in
movement. Their contents, although In
guarded language, evidently refer to
the intended invasion of the territory of
the Iransvaal. The raid was alluded to
under such expressions as shareholders
meeting" "hotation company" etc, etc.
MIR. Hammond, 1t Is clearly established,
played an active part in the preparations
for the TraDsvaal force although It is
diff cult to see how he could have done
otherwise, being the confidential en-
ploye and friend of Mr.. Cecil Rhodes and
4 apparently only attending possibly too
zealously to.the interests Of bis employer.
In one case, tor instance, 1t is shown
that Hammond was instructed by DR..
Jameson to "inform weak partners that
any delay would be Injurious"
Further telegrams submitted in evil
dence that DR.. jameson was urgently in
structed to start the raid at midnight,
Saturday, December 2s, and was enjoined
suspected that the fransyaai was "get-
ting windl of the affair.
Other ;elegrams produced in court
show that the British Chartered South
Africa Company was the actual authority
for the raid. They refer to getting arms
where they had been previously Sc
cretly sorted. At the last moment, how
ever, hitch seems to have occurred and
dispatches were sent to DIR. jameson tel
ling him to ''postpone the fiotation''
owing to the difficulties experienced in
getting Cecil Rhodes to absolutely pledge
that the authority OF the mperial gov
ernment need not be insisted upon in or
der TO cross the border.
Hammond, evidently, was among those
who were opposed to any breach of the
law for a telegram from him was produc-
ed, dated Decem ber q, in which he con-
demned any further developments of the
contemplated movement.
Subsequent dispatches exchanged be-
tween the various people interested in the
raid, show that II looks as il DIR. jameson
cut The telegraph wires SO as not 20 re-
ceive any further messages throwing
dampers on the scheme, that President
Kruger had really "got wind" OF the
affair and succeeded in intercepting the
messages or that "Dr. Jim.0 wilfully
diarpnardpd I'm Of pr -
POSTPONE the raid and crossed the border
on bis own responsibility.
Previous TO crossing the border the
raiders had been drilled with the Lee
Metford rifle, the weapon adopted by the
chartered company, and preparations were
made to support the raiders with other
forces from Cape Colony; but the hasty
action OF DIR. jameson upset the plans.
Additional testimony showed that on
December 2S the Uitlanders OF Johannes
burg were arming and Masking other
preparations to receive DIR. Jameson, all
steps being taken uuder the direction of
the reform committee. Colonel Rhodes
at the gold fields company's office on
December % curtiy told Representative
OF the Beers who called upon him for an
explanation as to what was going on,
that they, the Uitlanoers, had brought
the country into flourishing condition
by means OF their capital and enterprise
and that IL was "hard to be governed by
lot of stupid Boers."
The Colonel IL also said to have admit
ted that the reform committee had sskcd
DIR. jameson to come TO johannesburg to
protect them.
press representative was allowed TO
visit the reform leaders by special permis-
aon, yesterday evening. He found the
three English prisoners we'll In health.
but Hamomnd's health IL causing consid-
cradle anxiety 10 his friends. He col
lspsed utterly when sentence of death
was pronounced; not, however, through
fsar. IL was reaction after the great nerv-
gus strain that he has teen under for so
Tong. But this morning he IL said to be
rs we'll as possible under the circum-
stances and is being subjected TO the
prison fere. Today he will be allowed to
procure better food aud other comforts.