Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-04-30
RECEIVED DEATH SENTENCES
FIVE MEN CONDEMNED FOR HIGH
TREASON IN PRETORIA.
Hammond. tho American, Included in
the List-Reccived no Mitigation For
Their Plea of Guiity-Jameson's
Trial Continued.

the List-Reoeived no Mitigation For
| Their Plea of Guilty-Jameson's
Trial Continued.
| Pretoria, April 2S-Five of the leaders
of the National Reform committee who
| pleaded guilty to high treason yesterday,
| including John Hays Hammond, the Am
ercan mining engineer were condemned
| to death at this forenoon's sitting of
court. The condemned men are John
| Hays Hammond, Col. Francis Rhodes,
brother of ex-Premier Cecil Rhodes of
Cape Colony, Lionel Phillips, George Far
rar and Charles Leonard They pleaded
| guilty to high treason but contrary to
expectation this fact had no effect in miti-
| eating the severity of the sentence.
London, April 2s.-Though the news of
| the death sentence passed on the five lead
ers OF the johannesburg movement was a
surprise and shock to those here who have
watched the case, politicians inside and
| outside of Parliament admit that the sem
| tence Is the natural complement of the
plea of guilty. Nobody here believes that
| the sentences will be executed. 1t Is
| thought that under the law under which
| the accused were tried there was no course
open to the court but to impose the death
penalty. 1t is believed now that the ar
| rangement between the prisoners and the
passing of the death sentence, while ut
the same time the five men knew that the
president would exercise the power with
which he is invested and later commute
| the sentences.
What the general feeling among the
Beers is towards the prisoners is mat
ter of doubt. Before the trouble at johann
nesburg they wero all very popular, but
there was a significant incident in connec-
ton with their arrest that is not general
! ly known. Shortly after they were lodged
/ In the jail at Pretoria n number of Doors
| took to that city beam on which some
years previously the British had hanged
several Boers for treason. When the at
! tention of the government was called to
this fact a prompt disclaimer of any i'm
piled threat to hang the prisoners was
made, and 1t was asserted that the beam
had been taken TO Pretoria to be used for
building purposes.
| Ex-Prime Minister Lord Rosebery In a
speech at Rosedale tonight made an at
tack on Mr.. Chamberlain for his treat
ment Of the Transvaa difficulty. great
er diplomatic comedy of errors. he said,
had never been performed. He hoped that
tho secretary of state for the colonies
would now exercise patience and discre-
ton and curb his tongue. Then the ne
gotiations might be satisfactorily con-
cluded.
JAMESON WILL NOT TALK.
London, April ga representative of
the United Press tried to-day to obtain an
interview from Dr. Jameson, the leader
of the Inflated raid into the Transvaal, on
the subject of the sentences imposed by
the High Court at Pretoria upon the mem
bers Of the Johannesburg reform commit
| tee DR.. Jameson declined to discuss the
matter beyond saying that he was as
founded by the severity of the sentences,
,,l,i nh tIA nrtN
FOUR AMERICANS SENTENCED.
| Pretoria, April 2S-Among the other
members of the reform committee who
were sentenced to-day are four Ameri-
cans, Capt. Mein, chief engineer OF the
Robinson Gold Mining company; Victor
b. Clement, assistant consulting engineer
Of the Consolidated Gold Fields Mining
company; j. S. Curtis, a wealthy mining
engineer, who Is well known in New York,
and Mr.. Lawley. They were each sem
fenced to pay a fine of $4,000 to undergo
| two years imprisonment, and then to be
banished from the Transvaaa for three
years. 4s
CHAMBERLAIN TRIES AGAIN.
| London, April 2S.-Secretary Chamber
| lain OF the colonial Office has cabled the
| following to President Kruger of the
| Transvaal: The government has just
| learned that the sentence of deah has been
imposed upon the chief leaders of the re-
| form committee. The government has no
| doubt your honor Will commute the sem
fences Indeed, the government has as
sured Parliament this was your honors
| intention"
In the House of Commons to-day Mr..
w. ]. Galloway asked whether the law
under which they were tried does not pro-
vide for the confiscation of their property
| in the event of conviction, and not for the
| imposing of the death penalty. Mr..
| Chamberlain said he was unable to an
| swer the question. The announcement
| that the reformers have been condemned
to death mas caused a profound sensation,
| although 1t is not believed that the SEN
| terce will be carried out.
INTERESTING EVIDENCE.
London, April 2s.-The trial of DR.. Jane
son and his fellow raiders was resumed
in the Bow street Police Court this morn
| ing.
The street In the vicinity of the court
was much quieter than upon the occasion
Of the previous hearings of this case and
the court room was not nearly 30 crowd
ed as formerly though there were many
distinguished persons present. Among
those In attendance were Lady Chester
| field. Lady Foley. and Mrs. Bayard, wife
of the United States ambassador.
The court decided that. after to-day's
sitting. the case would be adjourned until
June II. when important evidence from
| Africa will be ready.
| Sir Edward Clark argued a motion that
| the charges against the minor defendants
! be dismissed, but the court refused to
grant the motion.
MAY BE ONLY FOUR VICTIMS.
London, April 2S.-Late reports received
from Pretoria indicate that four instead
of five of the leaders of the committee
were sentenced to death unless Mr.. Leon
| ard. one Of those who signed the Invita-
ton to DIR. Jameson to go to the relief
OF johannesburg Is included If he Is
the fifth man the sentence will be Of no
effect in his case, for he Is now In Eng
| land.
| No explanation Is given In the despatch
es Of the inclusion of Mr.. Curtis name
among the lesser members of the commit
tee who were condemned to fine, impris-
onment and Punishment. 1t is thought,
however. that the despatch stating that
his trial was postponed was erroneous.