Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-05-01
lCopvright. Associated PressO

MeSSrS. hammond, Rhodes, PAlillpS anu
Farrar, and the subsequent commuta-
ton of their sentences mas not worn it
self out. Burghers Of influence are
docking into this city from all sides and
are begging the government to totally
abolish the sentences imposed upon the
so-called Reformers. What influence
this viii have upon President Kruger
and his advisers remains TO be seen,
though it is currently reported that the
executive council has decided to i'm
pose sentences of five years penal SER
Yitude, and, at the expiration OF that
time banishment for life, for the four
men named.
In order to justify severe treatment
for the prisoners, it is said the executive
council refers to the records of the trial
OF the ReformerS. kilograms were put
in evidence, which from cypher key
discovered in Dr.. Jameson's baggage
when he was made prisoner by the
Beers after the fight at Doornkop, prove
beyond doubt it was claimed, the COM
plicity of the British Chartered South
Africa Company with the johannesburg
reform leaders and with DR.. Jameson's
raid. The company, it is alleged open
ed a credit of f40,0 in the name of Col.
Francis Rhodes at Johannesburg, the
money TO be used to organize the raid.
1t is also alleged that the Transyaal
government is in possession Of addition
al documents, not produced at the trial,
which compromise notable personages
and officers in South Africa and else
where.
1t has been proven that kilograms in
great numbers were exchanged between
the four Reform Committee leaders, at
Johannesburg, and Cecil Rhodes, then
premier of Cape Colony, and Ruther-
ford Harris, secretary OF the British
Chartered South Africa Company, at
Capetown, and DR.. Jameson, when the
latter was at Pitsani, between December
Z and December 81, when the raiders
we're being organized and actually in
movement. These messages allude to
the intended invasion of the territory of
the Transvaal uHdcr sueh expressions
as shareholders meeting" "hotation
company" etc
Mr.. Hammond, it seems to be clearly
established, took an active part in the
preparation for the Transvaal force, and
he was the confidential employe and
friend of Cecil Rhodes. In one case, for
instance, it is shown that Hammond
was instructed by DR.. Jameson to iii
form weak partners" that ANY delay
would be injurious"
kilograms showed that Dr. Jameson
was instructed to start the raid at mid
night, Saturday, December 2S. and was
enjoined to keep the telegraphic ST.
lent" as it was suspected that the
Transvaal was getting wind" of the
affair. Other kilograms produced in
court showed that the British Charter
ed South Africa Company was the ac-
tual authority for the raid. They refer
to getting arms and ammunition from
the De Beers mine, where they were Sc
cretly stored At the last moment,
however. a hitch seems to have occurred
and dispatches were sent to DR.. jane
son telling him to postpone the flota
ton, owing to the difficulties expert
enced in getting the assurance Of Cecil
Rhodes that the authority of the i'm
perial government was needed to cross
the border"
Hammond evidently was among those
who we're opposed to any breach Of the
law for telegram from him was pro-
duced dated December q, in which he
condemned any further prosecution of
the contemplated movement.
Subsequent dispatches exchanged be-
tween the various people interested
makes it look very much as if DR.. Jane
son cut the telegraph wires so as not
TO receive any further messages ad
verse to the scheme; that President
Kruger had really got wind" of the
affair and succeeded in intercepting the
messages, or that Or. Jim wilfully
disregarded the instructions sent him to
postpone the raid and crossed the bor-
der on his own responsibility. Previ-
Gus TO crossing the border, the raiders
had been drilled with Lee-Metford
rifles, the weapon adopted by the char
tered company, and preparations had
been made to support the raiders with
other forces from Cape Colony, but
hasty action by DR.. Jameson upset the
plans
Additional testimony showed that on
December 2S the Uitlanders of JONAH
nesburg were arming and making other
preparations to receive DR.. Jameson. all !
steps being taken under the direction of
the Reform Committee.
Col. Rhodes, at the Gold Fields COM
panvs offices, on December 2S, CURLY |
told a representative of the Beers who
called upon him for an explanation as
10 what was going on, that the Uit-
Ianders had brought the country into
fourishing condition by means of their
capital and enterprise and that it was
"hagd TO be governed by lot of stupid
Beers"
The colonel is also said to have ad-
mitted that the reform committee had
asked Dr.. Jameson to come to Johan-
nesburg to protect them. When thel
colonel was asked whom the Uitlanders
wished to be protected againt, he re-
piled The lower classes" 1t was then
pointed out to him the reform commit
tee was arming the very classes the
Iritlanders professed they wished to be-
protected against. To this he made no
reply.
A press representative was allowed to
visit the convicted reform committee
men last evening. He found the three
English prisoners, but Hammond's
health was causing considerable anx-
lefty to his friends. His sentence caus-
ed a reaction after the great nervous
strain he had been under for so long.
But to-day he is said to be as we'll as
possible under the circumstances and
will be allowed to procure better food