The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-04-30
SENTENCES COMMITTED.
The Death Penalty win Not b Executed
IN The Cases q one Trahsvaal oHsnAeFs.

Vices received here from Pretoria cay
that at the close OF the trial Of the Lead
ing merhbeis Of the Johannesburg re-
form Committee yesterday the preside
ing judge. after summing up, said that
Il was his painful duty to pass sentence
UPON the prisoners who had pleaded
guilty OF high treason, but he expressed
the hope that the executive would show
the same clemency It had exhibited
during the crisis which maraed the be.
ginning Of the year.
Then, amid the most intense. painful
silence throughout the court room, the
Judge solemnly passed the sentences Of
death, individually. upon Lionel Phil
lips. president OF the chamber Of mines
OF Johannesburg; George FarrnE proc
prletor and publisher Of Country Life,
OF johannesburg; Col, Franeis Rhodes,
John Hays Hammond, the American
engineer, manager Of the De Beers
mines.
A few minutes later the remaining
ffty-nine prisoners, including Joel
Barnato, a nephew Of Barney BarnRto;
Mr.. Bethlehem, the Turkish consul aud
formerly attorney general OF Cape Col-
ony; ]. W. Leonard and Captain Mein,
j. 8. Curtis, v. 3. Clement, j. Lawley,
II. ]. King and Mr.. Bingham, all Amer
leans, were sentenced to two years i'm
prlsonment, three years punishment
and to pay q fine OF 1000 pounds, in de-
fault OF which they viii undergo an
other years imprisonment.
The news of the sentences was re-
ceived with the greatest Amusement
here, at Johannesburg and even at Pre-
toria, and caused the greatest excite
q NJ q
generally understood that the four men
sentenced to death would not be exc
cuted. The telegraph wires throughout
the colony and the Transvaal were
blocked with messages to and from
Pretoria; business was at a standstill
everywhere, and every man h1u q
what next?' expression on his face.
The attitude of. the British population
was one OF angry. resentment; the Beers
were sullenly defiant.
A message from the secretary of state
for the colonies, Mr.. Joseph Chamber
lain, was communicated to PresiuGnt
Kruger last evening by Sir ]. A. De-
Welt, the British agent at Pretoria.
The president was calm, but 1t was evil
dent to all chat he felt the gravity Of the
situation most Rcutely.
Later last night q rumor obtained
circulation that the president was care
fully going over the records OF the trial
md consulting with the legal authors
ties OF Pretoria, with the result that he
had decided to commute the death sem
fences to heavy fines and long terms OF
imprisonment, to be followed by BAN
ishment. This report caused a decided
feeling of relief, which was intensified
when dispatch from Pretoria this
morning, from an official source, an
nounced that the sentences Of death
had indeed been committed.
The President IN exercising clemency,
has only followed the course which he
was expected to adopt under the clrcum-
stances, but his impulse in the matter
was dictated by his sense Of Justice
alone and not from any fear Of the con-
sequences which might have followed
the execution OF the prisoners. Indeed
1t Is stated upon high authority, that he
had decided days ago upon the step Just
taken, and that the firm stand he took in
his letter declining Mr.. Chamberlaln's
invitation to visit England was assumed
in order that there might be no mistake
as to the actual attitude OF the Trans
wal towards Great Britain.
The Presidents concluding remarks, 1t
Is pointed out here, distinctly outline the
future policy Of the Transvaal He
said:
"Under existing circumstances, the
South African republic will not at pres
emit press a reconsideration or the Lon
don convention and a substitution for It
OF treaty Of amlty and commerce, but
Will rest satisfied with pecuniary COM
pensatlon and with the assurances that
no violation Of Its territory will be re-
peated."
Later In the day the report that Pres
ldent Kruger had committed the death
sentence was confirmed and there was
still further relief on all sides and re-
jolclng in many quarters The step, II
Is added. will have decided beneficial
effect upon the relations between the
British and the Beers, even though It
was anticipated and to a great extent
discounted. But the strain will be re-
stunned when the question Of Great Bril-
tain paying an indemnity to the Trans
vaal comes up. II is lntlmated here,
however, that the British government
will endeavor to shift the whole respon-
sIbillty In the matter upon the shoulders
OF the British Chartered South African
Company, and that the latter will have
to foot the Transvnal's bill OF expenses
when 1t is presented.
Later In the day, another dispatch
from Pretoria announced that Dr. w j.
I.eyds, secretary OF the Transvnal. had
informed Sir ]. A, De Welt, the British
agent at Pretoria, that II had not yet
been decided what punishment would be
Imposed upon the reform committee
prisoners in place Of the death sentence,
and he also lntimated that the executive
council was reconsIdsrlng the sentences
Imposed upon all the other prisoners.
This leads TO the belief that the minor
sentences will be llghtened.
L There was slight skirmish outside OF
Buluwayo on Monday, a Matabele re-
connoitering party attempted to sur
Prise a picket near the Coolie gardens OF
that town. A few shots were eN-
changed, i've natives were killed and
the MatabeleS retired.
A seven-pOunder has been placed In
position so an to command the gardens.
The Matabeles have been sending
courlers to all the native tribes In that
part OF South Africa saying that they
have beaten the whites in every engage
ment and urging them to rise and help
the Mntabeles evtermlnate their mutual
enemies.
Three Badly injured.
CrEVEI LAND. Ohio. April 29.-'The