The herald., 1896-05-01
Extended to Convicted Reform
Committeeman
COMPUTATION OF SENTENCE
From Death TO Imprisonment Followed
by Banishment
The nitlgated Sentence Is Deemed Unduiy
Severe and Even the Beers Petition
for Free Pardon
Associated Press Special Wire.

CduScu ny sentencing 10 uedIn HAM
mond, Rhodes, Phillips and Farrar, and
the subsequent Communication of their
sentences, has not worn itself out.
Burghers of influence are fiOcking into
the city begging the government to to-
tally abolish the sentences imposed up
on the so-called reformers.
1t is reported the executive court has
decided to impose sentences of five
years penal servitude, and at the expi-
ration of that time banishment for life,
upon the four men named. In order to
Justify such severe treatment the ex-
ecutive council refers to the records of
the trial. kilograms were put in evil
dence which, from cipher key discov-
cred in Jameson's baggage, proved be-
yond doubt the completely of the Brit
ish South Africa company with the Jo-
hanneSburg reform leaders and with
Jamesons raid.
Hammond was evidently opposed to
any breach of the law, for in a tele-
gram dated December 27 he condemned
further prosecution of the contemplated
movement.
The company, it is added, opened a
credit of 100000 in the name of Colonel
Francis Rhodes at Johannesburg, the
money to be used to organize the raid
and sent message, asserting that the
Times of London had cable dispatch
from Cape Town, saying that to delay
teh jameson affair would be imprudent.
(This latter statement the London
Times denied In it's letter today.-Asso-
ciated Press.)
1t is also learned the Transvaal gov
ernment Is In possession of additional
documents, not produced at the trial.
which compromise notable persons and
officers in South Africa and elsewhere.
1t has been proved that kilograms III
great mbers were exchanged between
the four reform committee leaders al
ready mentioned, at Johannesburg, and
1a1 ,ier. Of Cur vpl-
ony, and Rutherford Harris, secretary
of the British Chartered South Rfrican
company at Cape Town, and DR.. Jane
! son, when the latter was at Pitsani, be-
tween December 9th and December
31st, when the raiders were being or
| ganized and actually in movement.
| These messages alluded to the intended
! invasion of the territory of the Trans
| vaal under such expressions as share
holders meeting" "flotation company
| etc.
Mr. Hammond, it seems to be clearly
| established, took an active part in the
! preparations for the Transvaal forces
and he was confidential employe and
friend of Cecil Rhodes.
In one case, for instance..i. isrshown
| that Hammond was instructed by Dr.
Jameson to Inform weak partners" that
'any delay would be Injurious
Other kilograms showed that Dr.
jameson was instructed to start the
| raid at midnight Saturday. December
| 49, and was enjOined to keep the tele-
| graph silent" as it was suspected that
the Transvaal was getting wind of
| the affair.
| Other kilograms produced in court
| showed that the British Chartered
South African company was the actual
| authority for the raid. They refer to
| getting arms and ammunition from the
! De Beers mines, where they had been
! previously stored. At the last moment
however, hitch seems to have occurred
and dispatches were sent to Dr.Jameson
| telling him to postpone the flotatiOn"
| owing to the difficulties experienced in
| getting the assurance of Cecil Rhodes
| and that the authority of the imperia!
| government to cross the border was
needed.
Hammond was evidently among those
who were opposed to any breach of the
law, for a telegram from him was pro-
duced. dated December 9th, 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 DIR. jane
son cut the telegraph wires so as not to
receive any further messages adverse
| to the scheme that President Kruger
| had really "got Wind of the affair, and
succeeded in intercepting the messages
| to postpone the raid or that "Dr. Jim"
| wilfully disregarded the messages sent
! ito him and crossed the border on his
| own responsibility.
Previous to crossing the border the
raiders had been drilled with Lee-Me-
| ford rifles, the weapon adpoted by the
! chartered company, and preparations
| had been made to support the raiders
! with ether forces from Cape Colony that
| the action of DIR. Jameson upset all
| plans.
| nf
| nesburg were arming and making 9TH
| er preparations to receive DR.. Jame-
| son, all steps being taken under the
direction of the reform committee. Col.
! Rhodes at the Gold Fields company's
| office on December 2S curtly told rep
| resentative of the Beers who called up
| on him for an explanation as to what
| was going on, that the Uitlanders had
brought the country into a flourinshing
condition by means of their capital are1
enterprise and that it was hard to be
governed by lot of stupid Boers."
BOER SYMPATHY
LONDON. April 30-The secretary OF
| state for the colonies, Joseph Chamber
lain announced in the house OF commons y
this afternoon that he had received the
following dispatch for Sir ]. A. Dewett.
| British agent at Pretoria: THE Beers
! themselves condemn the severity ofsthe
| sentence and are petitioning for miti-
| CATION or free pardon
The Daily Telegraph's Pretoria dis
patch says: There is brcathless aston
ishment here over the severe sentences
that Judge Gregerowski has pronounced.
After his sentence Mr.. Hammond COL
lapsed and was taken directly to jail
in charge of the doctor and the chief
jailer. The principal prisoners were
driven to the prison with strong police
escort. The remaining prisoners walked
the distance of half a mile surrounded
by strong detachment of artillery.
The prisoners are very bitter and say
| they We're ill-advised in pleading guilty.
Fully forty of them avow they could
have proved their innocence of coniv-
! ance or participation except in joining
the movement late in the day and sign
ing the manifesto.
A strong feeling exists that behind
those standing in the dock were absent
men far more guilty, who We're plotting
against the independence of the repub-
lie.
THE PENALTY IN DOUBT.
WASHINGTON, April a0.--A cable.