Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1896-05-07
Evidence That It Was Eathered
by the South Africa Char.
tered Company.
MANY CIPHER TeiEGRAMs.
Hammond Opposed Breach OF
the I4aw-Many Prominent
People Involved.

any means worn itself out. Burghers
of influence are fiocking into this city
from all sides, and are begging the
government to totally abolish the SEN
fences imposed upon the so.called
reformers. What influence this will
have on President Kruger and his ad.
visers remains to be seen. though it is
currently reported that the executive
court has decided to impose sentences
of five years penal servitude, and at the
expiration of that time Punishment for
life for the four men. In order to jus.
tify severe treatment of the prisoners.
it is said the executive council refers to
the records Of the trial of the reformers.
kilograms were put in evidence
which. from cipher key discovered in
DIR. Jameson's baggage, when he was
made prisoner by the Beers, after the
fight at Dorrnkop, prove beyond doubt,
it was claimed, the completely Of the
British Chartered South Africa COM
p.ny, with the johannesburg reform
leaders, and with DIR. Jameson's raid.
The company, it il alleged, opened q
credit of 90, 900 in the name Of Colonel
Francis Rhodes, at Johannesburg. the
money to be used to organize the raid.
It is also alleged that the Transvaal
government is in possession Of add.
tional documents, not produced 1T tho
trial, which compromise notable per.
sonages, and officers in South Africa,
and elsewhere.
It has been proved that kilograms in
great numbers were exchanged between
the four reform committee leaders
mentioned, at johannesburg, and Cecil
Rhodes, then premier Of Cape Colony,
and Rutherford Harris, secretary of the
British Chartered South Africa com.
pany at Cape Town. and DR.. Jameson,
when the latter was at Pitsani, between
Dec. z and Dec. 81, when the raiders
were being organized and actually in
movement.
These messages alluded to the intend.
ed invasion of the territory Of the
Transvaal under such expressions as
shareholders meeting" ''loatation
company" etc.
Mr.. Hammond, it seems to be clearly
established, took an active part in the
preparations for the Transvaal force.
and he was the confidential employe
and friend Of Cecil Rhodes.
In one case, for instance, it is shown
that Hammond was instructed by DR..
Jameson to Inform weak partners'
that "any delay would be injurious. !"
Other kilograms produced in court
show that the British Chartered South
Africa company was tho actual author.
ity for the raid. They refer to getting
arms and ammunition from the De
Beers mines, where they had been pre-
viously secretly stored. At the last
moment, however, q hitch seems ia
have occurred, and dispatches were
sent to DIR. Jameson telling him to
postpone the floatation" owing to the
difficulties experienced in getting the
assurance Of Cecil Rhodes that the an.
thority Of the imperial government wa
needed to cross the border. Hammond
evidently was among those who were
opposed to any breach Of law. for q tel.
egram from him was produced. dated
Dec. ", in which he condemned any
further prosecution Of the contem.
plated movement.
Jameson cut the telegraph wires "a
as not to receive any further messages
adverse to the scheme. that President
Kruger had really ''got wind" Of the
affair and succeeded in interceptine
the messages or that .'Dr. Jim vii.
fully disregarded the instructions sent
him to postpone the raid and crossed
the border on his own responsibility.