The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-04-29
SENTENCED TO DEATH
But It's Unlikely That The Sentence
Will Ee Executed.
THE CASE OF Mr.. HAMMOND
He Probably Had an Understand
ing With the Authorities That
the Sentence Was to
Be COMMITTED.

London. April 2s.-The secretary of
state for colonies. Joseph Chamberlain.
announced in the house of commons to-
day that five leaders of the reform
committee OF johannesburg, j. III. Ham,
mond, Francis Rhodes, George Furrer
Lionel Phillips and Charles Leonard,
have been condemned to death Mr..
Chamberlain added that upon hearing
the news he cabled to the governor OF
Cape Colony. Sir Hercules Robinson, to
communicate the following to President
Kruger:
THE government has Just learned
that the sentence of death has been
passed upon five leaders of the reform
committee. They can feel no doubt
that your honor will commute the SEN
tence and have assured parliament of
their conviction that this is your hon
or's intention" John Hays Hammond,
one of the men condemned to death, Is
an American.
Washington. April 2s.-Senators Per-
kins and White were very much sur
prlsed when shown an associated press
cable announcing that Hamomnd had
been sentenced TO death. 1t was their
impression that when the plea of guilty
was made an understanding had been
reached which would not mean the
death penalty. Perkins expressed the
belief that the law required the death
would commute II. The California
senators probably will ask through the
state department that clemency be
shown Hammond. although White
says that i'm the face OF the plea of
guilty OF high treason he is not sure
this government could make a very
strong representation. The belief Is
expressed here that Hammond before
returning To Pretoria had some under
standing on the subject OF the SEN
tence 10 be pronounced and the pro-
ceedings that would follow sentence.
1t is believed ne viii not be punished.
United States Vice Consul knight. at
Capetown, cabled Olney this afternoon
that II Is understood that Hammonds
sentence will be commuted.
When Senator Stewart. who Is a
personal friend of Mr. Hammond.
heard of his conviction. he Immediate
ly set TO work to prepare a petition In
Hammond's behalf, which he had cir
culated among senators and members
of the house. The petition is address,
ed to President Kruger and Is a plea
for pardon. II sets forth the high
character of the accused. and while IL
IL conceded by the petitioners that the
crime TO which he has pleaded guilty
Is a most serious one and directed
against a government for which the
signers have high regard. they still ask
as an act OF clemency that the offense
be condoned and the prisoner liberated.
The petition was signed by all TO whom
IL was presented
London, April 2s.-The sentence OF the
reform committee to death has produced
a great sensation in London. In well-in-
formed circles, the sentence has caused
little surprise. II has long been under
stood that a very severe sentence would
be passed in order that the clemeney
which President Kreuger is certain to ex-
ercise might appear greater.
II Is thought probable that the sentence
OF death will be commuted to a short
term OF imprisonment unless Chamber
lain's dispatch to President Kruger read
In the house OF commons should irritate
the chief magistrate Of the Transvaal
into greater severity than he would other
wise exercise. Chamberlain's telegram Is
regarded here as being precipitate and
as leaving President Kruger no time to
act on his own account. and as having.
moreover, the ring of dictation.