The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-04-30
BOERS ARE MERCIFUL.


Others Communicative British Colonial
Office Received u Despatch-Cable Mes
sages from Pretoria Confirm the Report
The Penalties Not Yet Decided Upon
How Hammond Received His Sentence
An Interview With the Boer President
Great Excitement in Johannesburg
Comments of the British Press.
Pretoria, April 29.-Dr. w. ]. Leyds,
secretary Of state Of the South African
republic, informed Sir Jacobus A. De-
Wet, British diplomatic agent, to-day
that the death penalties imposed upon
John Hays Hammond, Colonel Rhodes,
and others Of the johannesburg Reform
union yesterday, had been RENTED,
but it had not yet been decided what
form of punishment would be substitu-
ted for that which had been abandoned.
The executive council is now in SEES
sion considering all the sentences inn
posed by the court yesterday.
In passing judgment upon the prison
ers yesterday the judge said it was his
painful duty to impose extreme sem
tence but he hoped that the executive
would exercise the same degree of Glenn
ency toward the prisoners that he had
shown at the beginning of the year.
London, April 29.--The colonial Office
has received dispatch from Pretoria
saying that the death sentences impos-
ed upon the leaders of the Johannes
burg Reform union yesterday have been
committed.
A dispatch from Pretoria under yes
terday's date gives the substance of an
interview with President Kruger, in
which the Boer president said in re-
gard to the sentences passed upon the
leaders of the johannesburg Reform
union that he was earnestly Weighing
in his mind the developments Of that
day. He trusted, he added, that the
people of johannesburg would calmly
await the decision of the government.
The Judgment of the court would be
presented to the3excutive in writing on
April 30, when the matter would be
promptly dealt with.
John Hays Hammond's physician
stood by him while the sentence of
death was being pronounced. Ham
mond was weak in health, but firm and
strong in spirit; and showed not the
slightest sign of fear
Among the sixty Uitlanders who re-
ceived minor sentences for their parti-
cipation in the reform movement were
two Americans, of the names of Buffers
and Sampson.
Commenting upon the Judgment of
the high court at Pretoria pronounced
upon the members of the Johannesburg
Reform union yesterday, the Dublin
Freeman's Journal says:
1T is with perculiar satisfaction at
! the grim irony of the situation that
Irishmen now witness the authors of
| coercion in the act Of making petition
| for mercy based upon the principle that
political offenses must not be regarded
| as ordinary crimes"
The Pail Mall Gazette says
THE condemned reform leaders do
not command overmuch sympathy.
| They had no business to fail so eyre
| giously as they did yet the commuta-
| ton of their sentences is imperative.
| Their death in pursuance of the judg-
ment of the Pretoria court would mean
war"
| The st. James Gazette says:
1.-THE outrageous sentences imposed
upon the reformers is a mere bluff to
enable President Kruger to posture as
a magnanimous executive, but yester-
! days brutal injustice will still remain
| to deepen the indignation of the coun-
| try"
The Globe is similarly sarcastic al
the expense of President Kruger's dis
patch to the government saying that he
| hoped for peaceful settlement of the
| troubles.
The Westminster Gazette counsels
patience, but foresees the gravest trou-
bles, even if the sentences of fine, i'm
prisonment or Punishment imposed up
on the sixty lesser members of the re-
form committee are carried out.
Cape Town, April 29.-The Cape Ar
gus, in an article upon the action OF
| the high court at Pretoria yesterday
in condemning to death the leaders OF
the Johannesburg Reform union, says;
THE awful sentence pronounced up
on these men has created painful SEN
sation throughout the civilized world. y
In Johannesburg the sentences shock
ed the entire town. The people were
greatly excited and thronged the
| SlI6SlS, TIC CNCit' All iiii-
mense public meeting was held yester-
day afternoon to protest against the
severity of the courts judgment The
consensus of opinion in johannesburg
is that the sentences will be committed
The greatest sympathy is felt for those
among the condemned reformers who
did not take any active part in tbs
movement. Most of the theaters in Jo-
hannesburg, as well as a majority OF
the stores, were closed last evening
and business was practically suspend
ed.
Johannesburg, April 29.-The Digger''
News says that Barney Barnato, tbs
''Kaffir King is very bitter in his feel
ings and expressions concerning Thu
sentences imposed upon Rhodes, Ham
mond and others at Pretoria YESTERDAY
and is showing his resentment by clos
ing all his mines and selling all hi
landed properties in the Rand. TIL
people are paralyzed at the prospect
as the closing of the Barnato mines wi
throw thousands of men into the al
ready overlooking ranks of the unem
ployed.
Paris, April 29.-The Figaro, in an ar
ticIe unon the European situation