The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-29
Sentences of Reform Com
mittee COmmuted.
PreSidentKruger Extends Ex-
ecutive Clemency.
John Hays Hammond and Confreres
Will Not Be Executed.

Copyrighted. 1905, by The Associated Press.)
CAPE TowN, April 20. Further advices
received here from Pretoria say that at the
close OF the trial of the leading members
of the Johannesburg reform committee
yesterday the presiding judge, after sum-
ming up, said that ii was his painful
duty to pass sentence upon the prisoners
who had pleaded guilty of high treason;
but he expressed the, hope that the execu-
tive would show the same clemency 1t had
exhibited during the crisis which marked
the beginning OF the year.
Then, amid the most intense, painful
silence throughout the courtroom the
judge solemnly passed the sentence OF
death, Individually upon Lionel Philips,
president of the Chamber of Mines OF
johannesburg, George Farrar, proprietor
and publisher of Country Life OF Johan-
nesburg, Colonel Francis Rhodes, brother
Of the former premier of Cape Colony and
John Hays Hammond. the American en-
gineer, manager of the DE Bers' mines.
A few minutes later the remaining 90
prisoners, including Joel Barnato,
nephew OF Barney Barnato; Mr. Bettls-
helm, the Turkish consul and formerly
attorney general OF Cape Colony; j. W.
Leonard and Captain Mein, J. 5. Curtis,
| V. L. Clement, j. Lawley, p. j. King
sentenced to TWO years imprisonment,
three years Punishment and to pay a tine
| of G2000 in default Of which they viii
undergo another years imprisonment.
| The news of the sentences was received
| with the greatest amazement here, at
Johannesburg and even ut Pretoria caused
| the greatest excitement even though IL
| was generally understood that the four
| men sentened TO death would not be exc
| cuted. J he Telegraph wires to Cape Coli
| ony and the Transvaal were blocked win
messages TO and from Pretoria, business
| was at standstin everywhere and every
! man had "what next" expression on his
| face.
The attitude of the British population
| was one of angry resentment, the Boers
| were sullenly denant. A message from the
| secretary OF state for the colonies, Mr..
| Joseph Chamberlain, was communicated
| TO President Kruger last evening by Sir
| j. A. Dew lit, the British agent at Pre-
| toria. The president was calm; but 1t
| was evident to all that be felt the gravity
| OF the situation most acutely.
| Late last night, rumor obtained cir
| culation that the president was carefully
| gong over the records of The trial and
consulting with the legal authorities OF
| Pretoria, with the result that he had de-
cidtd to commute the death sentences
| to heavy fines and terms OF imprisonment,
! to be followed by Punishment. This re-
port caused decided feeling OF relief,
| which was intensified when a dispatch
from Pretoria, this morning. from an
| official source, announces that the SEN
tences of death had indeed been COM
| muted.
The president, In exercising elem.
ency, has only followed the course which
he was expected to adopt under the CIR
| cumstances, but his impulse In the mat
ter was dictated by his sense OF justice
| al nd m fpar n re Qe-
quences which might have followed the
execution of the prisoners. Inceed, II Is
stated upon high authority that he had
| decided days ago upon the step just
taken and that the firm stand taken in
his letter declining MIR. Cham berlain's in-
vitation TO visit England was assumed
in order that there might be no mistake
| as to the actual attitude OF the lransvaal
I towards Great Britain.
The presidents concluding rcmarks, It
| is pointed out here, distinctly outline the
future policy OF the Transvaal. He taid:
"Under existing circumstances the South
African Republic will not at present rress
a reconsideration Of the London conven-
| tion and n substitution for II OF treaty
OF amity and commerce but will rest satis-
| fled with pecuniary compensation. and
with the assuran that no violation OF It's
| territory will bs repeated
Later in the day the report that Presi-
dent Kruger had commuted the death
sentences was confirmed and there was
still further relief on all sides and rejoic-
| ing in many quarters The step, IL IL ad-
ded, will have a decidedly beneficial effect
upon the relations between the Rritish
and the Beers, even though IL was apttci-
| pated and to great extent desired. But
| the strain will be resumed when the ques-
tion OF Great Britain paying an Indemnify
| to the Transvaal comes up