The record-union., 1896-04-29
Report, However, That It VIII Not be
Carried Into Effect.
VIII Likely Only be Subjected to a
Nominal Fine or a Short Term of
Imprisonment, in Consideration of
His Pleading Guilty of Treason
Four Other Americans Sentenced
to Pay Fine and Serve a Term in
Prison.
Prison..


PRETORIA, April 2S.-Five of the
leaders of the National Reform Com
mittee who pleaded guilty of high trea-
son yesterday were condemned to death
to-day at the sitting of the court. They
are Colonel Francis Rhodes. brother of
Cecil Rhodes, ,ex-Premier fCape Colony,
John Hays Hammond, Lionel Phillips.
George Farrar and Colonel Francis
Rhodes, the leaders of the Reform Com
mittee, who have pleaded guilty of
high treason.
Phillips, Rhodes and Farrar pleaded
guilty of high treason on Friday last,
and Hammond, who was i'll and not in
court on that day, made a similar plea.
This course, it was thought, would
have an effect to mitigate severity of
their sentence, but it turns out that it
did not.
This statement reviews the recent his
tory of the futile agitation for redress
of the alleged Uitlander grievances in
the Transvaal. The statement admits
that in the face of rumors current that
the Beers were going to attack johann
nesburg the signers had asked DIR.
Jameson to come. but that they de-
plored the mistake he had made in COM
ing when there was no urgent need for
his presence. They maintained that
their action had not been hostile to the
republic, it's officials having been pro-
tected and life and property having
been generally preserved. They sent
officers on December 9th, the state
ment says, to forbid the movement on
DR.. Jameson's part.
In addition to this signed statement.
kilograms were read which passed be-
tween Mr.. Belt of the Chartered South
African Company and DR.. jameson,
Colonel Francis Rhodes and others, but
not Cecil Rhodes, the then Premier of
Cape Colony.
Following the presentation of the
documents counsel made a speech of
two hours duration in behalf of the
defense, concluding as follows:
If the edge Of the SWORD is to be used
III will cause eternal misery in the re-
public, but should the fiat side be en-
ployed it would usher in peace and
good Will
Among other members of the Reform
Committee who We're sentenced to-day
are four Americans-Captain Meme.
Chief Engineer of the Robinson Gold
Mining Company; Victoria 3. Clement,
Assistant Consulting Engineer of the
Consolidated Gold Fields Mining Cont
pany; J. S. Curtis, a wealthy mining
engineer. who is well known in New
York, and a Mr.. Lawley. They We're
each sentenced to pay a fine of $4,000,
TO undergo two years Imprisonment,
and then be banished from the Trans
vaal for three years.
CHAMBERLAIN'S CABLEGRAM
LONDON, April 2S.--In the House of
Commons to-day Chamberlain. Secre-
tary of State for the Colonies, said: 81
have received a private telegram say
ing that five of the leaders of the So
called National Reform Committee al
johannesburg have been condemned 10
death. ] thereupon cabled to Sir Her
cules Robinson, at Cape Town, instruc-
tons to communicate the following tc
President Kruger: The Government
has just learned that sentence of death
has been imposed upon the chief leaders
of the Reform Committee. The Gov
ernment has no doubt that your honor
will commute the sentences. Indeed
the Government has assured Parlia-
ment that this is your honor's inten-
1ion,'
HAMMOND'S CAREER.
SAN FRANCISCO, April 2S.-John
Hays Hammond although only 80 years
of age, is one of the most eminent OF
rising engineers of the present age. He
is a native of California, son Of the
late General Hammond, and brother
of Major r. P. Hammond of this city.
He was educated at the Sheffield Sci
entific School connected with Yale Col
lege for the profession of mining engi-
neer. and completed his education at
the great mining college at Freiburg, in
Germany, where he took high honors.
When Mr.. Hammond returned to this
State from Freiburg he was appointed
an assistan to Dr. George Becker, who
had charge of the gathering OF mining
and mineral statistics for the census OF
1880 in California.
Then Mr. Hammond formed a part
nership with Luther Wagner as min
ing engineering firm. and worked up a
large business. Afterward he was APP
pointed Superintendent of a large silver
mine in Sonora, Mexico, which position
NE gave up to become mining engineer
on his own account
He went to South Africa and expert
ed valuable mining properties for New
York parties, and next was engaged as
consulting engineer Of the Bunker Hill
and Sullivan mines in the Coeur d 'Alent
country, in which property d. Q. Mills
w. H Crocker and other capitalists
were large owners. Labor troubles
caused the closing down of these mines
and Mr.. Hammond received an offer tC
go to South Africa and expert golc
mines there for a powerful London syn
dicate.
When in South Africa he became ac-
quained with Hon. Cecil Rhodes, anc
was engaged by him at a big salary t6
take charge of valuable property. Mr.
Hamnond's success in South Africs
was marked, and to-day he represent!
to large extent the mining interests o
both Rhodes and Barney Barnato- Mr.
Hamnond's present salary is said to b'
about $4,000 per annum, and he is als'
reported to have accumulated fortune
of about 81 ,000,000.
SENTENCE WILL BE COMMITTED
WASHINGTON, April 2S.-The sen
tence Of death pronounced on Johi