New-York tribune., 1896-05-01
IMPRISONMENT AND EXILE.
A REPORT REGARDING THE PUNISH
MENT OF THE REFORMERs.
JOHN HAYS HAMMOND's FAILING HEALTH-iM-
PORTING JUDGE TO TRY THE

JOHN HAYS HAMMoNDs FAILING HEAITH-IM-
PORTING JUDGE TO TRY THE
UITLANDERs.
London, April Ca rumor is in circulation on
the Stock Exchange that the Transvaal execu-
tive has imposed the punishment of five years
PENAL servitude with banishment at the END OF
that term Of Imprisonment, upon Hammond
Rhodes and the other Reform Committee
leaders whose sentence of death was RENTED
yesterday.
THE Telegraph" will Tomorrow publish an
interview had by its Pretoria correspondent with
President Kriiger, in which the latter said that
he had cancelled the death sentences of the four
leaders Of the Reform Committee as soon as they
. had been pronounced. neither himself nor the
Transvaal Government having any vindictNe
feeling toward the prisoners The latter ne
added had manfully admitted their fault ana
submitted Loyalty to their trial and punishment
They had behaved throughout with exceptional
and excellent good faith.
A dispatch to THE Times from Pretoria
dated April 20. says that the health OF Johh
HAYS Hammond Is in such a state as to cause
great anxiety to his friends j. 3 GURUS the
mining engineer, of NewYork is confined to his
room with an affection of the brain. MIS-
Kruger, wife of the President. has expressed her
sympathy with the wives and children OF all
the condemned men.
THE Times correspondent at Pretoria visited
the prisoners yesterday afternoon and reports
them all well except Hammond. who. however
is as we'll can be expected. seeing that ne is
Obliged to eat the ordinary prison fare. which In
the state Of his health Is anything but beneficial
to him. New rules go into operation to-day, the
correspondent says which permit the prisoners
to have better food and to enjoy many comforts
which are denied them.
s. The four leaders who condemned 10
death are confined in small room, where
they are visited by crowds of their relatives
and friends. In view of the circumstances, the
correspondent adds. the prisoners are we'll
treated.
In the House of Commons to-day Mr.. Cham
berlain said that he had received a cable dis
patch from Sir Hercules Robinson. Governor of
Cape Colony saying that the Executive Council
of the Transvaal Republic met at Pretoria yes
terday for the purpose of considering what pun
'ishment should be inflicted upon the leaders OF
the Reform Committee whose death sentences
had been revoked and that the matter was stlll
under discussion. The Transvaal Beers them
selves, Sir Hercules said. were strong In their
condemnation Of the severity Of the sentences
l which had been imposed upon the leaders of the
reform movement. and upon the minor prisoners
as we'll, and prominent Beers were actively at
work obtaining signatures to petitions asking
the Government to mitigate the punishment or
the prisoners, or to grant them free pardon
Mr. Chamberlain, continuing said he was In
formed that the presiding judge who imposed the
sentence upon Rhodes Hammond Farrar, Phil
lips and the other members of the Reform Com
mittee in the High Court at Pretoria. had been
borrowed from the Orange Free State. His
name. he said, was Gregorowsk and he was OF
Polish nationality.
Reginald McKenna Liberal asked what truth
there was in the report that one OF the prisoners
John Hays Hammond, an American, had been
released.
Mr. Chamberlain said he had no information
on the subject.
j. H. Dalziel. Liberal. asked whether the selec-
tion of Judge Gregorowski was an indication
of impartiality or of corruption.
Mr. Chamberlain made no reply, ana MT.
Dalziel gave notice that he would ask the ques-
ton again in formal way; >,.,
save that influential burghers from all parts Of
the Transvaal are fiockng to Pretoria TO petit
ton the Government for total abolition Of the
sentences Of imprisonment imposed upon the
members Of the Reform Committee. condemned
by the High Court at Pretoria
ENERGY TO TAKE THE PLACE OF JUSTICE"
washington. April so-secretary Olney. on April %
telegraphed to the Secretary OF State of the South
African Republic that It was assumed that the death
sentences of Hammond and other American citizens
were imposed with the understanding that they
cOmmuteu,
surance on that point. The answer came this morn
ing from the Transvaa Secretary as follows;
Judge and Government before the sentence OF death
but before the na 1esoYeS Si TO M
mercy take the place Of justice and not to enforce
the death penalty"
AN AGRICULTURAL BILL FORWARDED
London. April 90 The Houss this evening passed
on its second reading the bill TO amend the law
With respect TO the rating Of occupiers Of agr-
cultural land In England. This is the bill that was
introduced April by Henry Chaplin president
after March 81 1897. agricultural land II TO be as
ssSe nsead p the whole
The effect of the bill will be to M take from the In
vote stood 333 to l56
sAIIsBURYs HEALTH IS EXCELLENT.
-, London April SO.-"The Pail Mall Gazette" says
that 1t has authority to deny the prevalent ru-
mors that Lord Salisbury is about to retire from
che Foreign Ofice. owing to failing health. He was
never in better health the paper says. and never
more eager for work
NEW TRANSATLANTIC LINE.
Ottawa, Ont, April s-A contract has been closed
between the Dominion Government and the Franco
Beige Steamship Company. OF Canada, for direct
line of steamers between Canada France and Bel
pi sady Of $1,000. ' . "
West A@St
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