New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-04

hand sentence by sentence. The ex-
.,,,rer has time to consult his associates be-
.,,een questions, and the witness Is never nur-
lid nv rapid firing. The cross-examinaton Is
.orducted with equal dignity and dehberation;
.,a the testimony is read to the witness before
=. ,eaves the box. Everything drags. and no.
"a, seems to take any note of time until the
luncheon hour approaches.
rha leaders Of the English bar engaged in
.,,. trial and solemn and dgnfed they are,
ION without their gowns and wigs. The Attor-
General. Sir Richard Webster, courtly in
nrer and grim in visage. leads the prosecu-
.,o, and is supported by portly Scotch bar
,s,er Sir Robert Finlay, the Solicitor-Generai'
.,o has full, melodious voice. Mr. Charles
,,o,thews and two other Crown lawyers occupy
.o.ts beside them. The leading counsel for the
,o,srce is Sir Edward Clarke. an austere and
~other pompous-looking barister when he Is In
81, ..at but benevolent and CONFIDENTIAL friend
. tho witness whom it Is his duty 10 cross
.-om;ne If he can coax witness TO say what
- wants 10 hear. he will do 1t; Dut ne Will
-" - have recourse to intimidation. Whether
- sce,yes helpful a damaging answer,
ne Manner is not changed and betrays neither
n,orance nor triumph Close beside him Is Sir
Trank lockwood. one OF the wits OF the Enghsh
iia' ,ruh serious face which seldom lights up
ps smile dozen other prominent lawyers
S S The benches. and Sir George Lewis, with
MI M ewes and a high forehead has a watching
xIas ~ the interest of the South African Repub-
vIi'' .hove them on the bench Is Sir John
p.;aga the presiding magistrate of Bow street.
with gray hair, deep-set eyes ana bencVoieht
face 40, oeo,s;on,, oc+ors IN tbis
,,,,un and tedious drama. The amateur cTmi-
is ore Dr. Jameson and his fourteen officers,
na h ore respectfully addressed as the gentle
VIZ Of the bar" They occupy two rows OF
hairs in the centre of the court, and have the
onnearance If being bored by the dulness or
the proceedings. ard the laoorious attehpts Oh
,aUvens and witnesses TO establish proposition
h,ch every one knows to be true, namely that
The Transvaal invaded few months ago
without the authority of the British crown.
was done Yesterday by the two dispatch bearers,
the raiders straighten up and take an interest
IN the case: but at other times they are mat
tentive and listless spectators. DR.. Jameson,
when dull witness giving a tiresome ac-
count Of the geographical position or the TWO
camps from which the invading column marcneo'
took a comfortable nap in his chair. depending
mon Sir John Willoughby to arouse him If any
thing interesting should occur. The conduct or
the officers is faultless. They enter the court
quietly exchange smiles and mods or recosn-
ton with their titled and fashionable friends on
the bench and then settle themselves In their
chairs to listen 10 the dull recitauVe or evl-
dence: and they go out at midday or late IN tne
afternoon without trace of bravado or theatrl-
cal manner They conceal their annoyance ana
AFFECT indifference, If they are impatient over
the frequent adjournments and protracted de-
Law If they are in hurry to have their OF
fences under the Foreign Enlistment act judi
cally determined nobody else is In haste Ihere
IL apparently general understanding tnat
there must be brave show OF prosecuting tine
gentlemen at the bar" and that everything is
10 be done, meanwhile. to promote their COM
fort and TO minimize the inconvenience OF occa-
sional attendance at court.
PAwNs ON THE BOARD.
The issues of fact upon which so much time
has already been spent are not likely to be
seriously contested There are important ques-
lions Of law respecting the applicability or the
statute to the invasion Of the Transvaal. and
these have not yet been raised. Nobody has the
hardihood 10 forecast the period when the real
State trial 10 which the proceedings in Bow
Street are preliminary investigation. Will be-
gin in earnest Indeed. it is already evident that
the fifteen leaders of the raid, important ngures
as they seemed for a while in the drama of
South African history. are now merely pawns
in a complex political and diplomatic game
There must be deliberate attempt to arraign
them and 10 produce evidence against them;
otherwise President KRUGER cannot be induced
TO attend a round table conference at the Colo
NAL Office and to pit his untutored shrewdness
against Mr. Chamberlain's educated wiles. When
that conference takes place and the Rand
grievances. which are SO lucidly discussed by
Mr.. Charles Leonard In The New Review are
redressed the board will be cleared OF the
pawns which have blocked the progress OF the
game.
II 10 a 1ar cry from DOHSoId 10 IIctOiId' o"'
II Is probable that the advance Of the Soudan
column will not be without effect upon the
fortunes Of the Transvaal. 1t Is sign that
Great Britain. after anti-German demonstra-
ton and Irritation with France. is again sup
porting the interests Of the Triple Alliance by
planning timely diversion In favor or italy,
England offers amends to Germany and Aus
tria Hungary for recent indifferences and neg
lect. and thereby forestalls the renewal OF Ger
man intrigues with the Transvaal, The Hoi-
lander ring In Pretoria If convinced that Eng
land is again behind the Triple Alliance and
that the Imperial Chancery has ceased to take
an active interest in the Transvaal may be
content 10 allow President KRUGER to make an
honorable compromise with Mr.. Chamberlain
!. ~ F.