Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-04-29
ON ENGLISH ADVICE.
Reports as TO How the Men Surrendered and
Plead Guilty.

London. April 2S.-The report has been
circulated and generally credited in the
iohpy OF thr Rouse Of Commons that
Colonial Secretary Chamberlain advised
the surrender of Col. Rhodes and com
rties TO tn" legal authorities at Pre-
troid. and advised them TO enter Il plea
OF guilty, upon the assurance that the
Pretoria authorities would treat them
with leniency. The opposition is framing
series of questions to be propounded
10 the government, with the object of
forcing them to make revelations show
ing precisely what part the English gov
eminent played in the affair.
Tn" Globe. i'll an article on the con-
demnation of Rhodes. Hammond and
others to death. says: THE news abb
serbs the entire interest of the House of
Commons. The concensuS of opinion is
that the condemned men are in no real
danger. but the feeling is unanimous in
the event of the contrary there must be
instant war. 1t would be impossible for
even the present government to hold
office for a day If any other course was
taken
Though the news of the death SEN
tence passed on the five leaders OF the
Johannesburg movement was a sur
prise and shock to those here who have
watched the case. the politicians inside
and outside of Parliament admit that
the sentence is natural complement
of the plea of guilty. Nobody here be-
ieves that the sentences will be exc
cuted. 1t is thought that under the law
under which the accused were tried
there was no course open to the court
but To impose the death penalty.
1t is believed now that the arrange
ment between the prisoners and Trans
vaal authorities provided for the pass
ing of the death sentence. while at the
same time the five men knew that the
President would exercise the power
with he is invested, and later commute
the sentences.
What the general feeling among the
Beers is toward the prisoners is a mat
ter of doubt. Before the trouble at
Johannesburg they We're all very popu-
lar. but there was a significant incident
in connection with their arrest that is
not generally known. Shortly after
they were lodged in the Jail at Pretoria,
a number of Beers took to that city a
beam on which some years previously.
the British hanged several Beers for
treason.
When the attention of the govern
ment was called To this fact. a prompt
disclaimer of any implied threat to hang
AtiN ~ iSoiiNtS W Hiatt. ana IL MAS as
serted that the beam was taken to Pre-
toria to be used for building purposes.
Sir. Charles Dix. NJ p and Sir DON
aid Carrie. NJ. F.. the we'll known owner
of steamships plying to South Africa
both of whom are personally ac-
quainted with President Kruger. Henry
Labouchere. NJ. p. and Henry NJ. Stan
ley, NJ. p, the African explorer. ex-
press the opinion that President Kur-
ger would exercise clemency and abro
gate The sentence of death
Ex-Prime Minister Lord Roseberrv
in a speech nj Rosedale. tonight. mad,
an attack on Mr. Chamberlain for his
treatment of the Transvaal difficulty
A greater diplomatic comedy of errors
he said. had never been performed He
hoped that the secretary of state for th,,
colonies would now exercise patience
ana discretion and curb his tonrue
Then negotiations might be satisfac-
torily concluded.