New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-11
THE RAIDERS IN COURT.
r,r PROSECUTION OF JAMESON AND HIS
OFFICERS OPENED.
80, RICHARD WEBS. Err CHARGES THAT THEIR
EXPEDITION WAS LONG PREMEDIrATED--
A SMALL But ARIsTOcRATIC GATH
ERING AT THE HEARING
FRlNG AT THE HEARING.
f,v c.prr TO THE TRIBUNE

fpY CABLE TO THE TRIBuNE1
,copvriahf. 1896; BY The Tribune AssocfdffonJ
London March l0-The trial OF Dr. Jameson
.rd his fourteen associates was conducted to-day
u,th decorum and dignity. When they entered
.ha Row street Court there was no applause. and
mo only demonstration Of sympathy occurred
.hen they retired late the afternoon. This
-os trivial a half-dozen spectators clapping
their hands and then 1esisting The audience
was made up almost entirely Of newspaper men,
who were compelled to present their credentials
The Duk, Of Abe-corr. ,Ec Earl and Countess or
Coventry Lady Fnlay. Lady Balfour and few
other titled and fashiona ole friends OF the ac-
cused were also present.
Dr. Jameson seemed a quiet and unobstrusive
person. who did not enjoy his notoriety. He
showed no signs OF nervousness. however, ana
followed the proceedings closely. His companions
are good-looking body Of officers. most of them
Young In spite Of theiI prem ature badness. and
all neatly and quietly dressed. Major Coventry
and Captain Goslin' are now included with the
thirteen previously arraigned.
The case was opened by the Attorney-Generai'
Sir Richard Webster. in quiet, conversational
style BETTING the preliminary inquiry before
Sir John Bridge. He read the statute under which
their Indictment will be asked. gave geographi-
cal account Of South Africa and recited the facts
showing that the territory from which the raid
ers started was under .ho authority of the Crown.
He then proceeded with a clear and simple state
ment Of the prima facie evidence tending 10 I'M
picate the fifteen prisoners in the serious oHence
OF organizing and taking active part in a military
expedition against the Transvaal which he as
sumed to be a friendly state under the meaning
OF the statute His langi age mild and color
less he gave the prisoners full credit for courage
and fighting until their ammunition was ex-
hausted; he referred to them gentlemen and
used no harsher term than SERIOUS offence In
speaking OF what ,hey had done.
There was little that was new In his address,
e.cept a quotation made from Colonel Grey's
steech at Mafeking to the troopers. when he told
them they were not going by the Qh,ens ORDERS
but were going to fight for the supremacy of the
British flag In South Africa. The most important
disclosure was the allegation that DR.. jameson
and his officers were engaged from the end or
November until the column actually started on
December 20 in military e. petition against the
Transvaal The testimony of two witnesses sub
sequently showed that this line would be FOL
lowed and that evidence relating is the concen-
tration Of the force at two stations, reerming
II with new weapons and Maxms and pro-
yiding remounts and relays of supplies for the
march would be produced to prove that the n
yasion was deliberate and premedtated po.iu-
cal conspiracy
The prosecution did not make much headway
in this direction. since the TWO witnesses weak
ened considerably when cross-examiAed by Sir
Edward Clarke This expansion OF the charge OF
conspirt:y causes much comment since 1t Will
expose the Colonial Office 10 criticism for not
knowing what gong on thirty days before
Dr. Jameson cut the telegraph wires and dashed
into the Transvaa The case Is remanded FOR
week but the opening speech foreshadows pro-
tracted preliminary trial before the technicai
legal points are touched at all, and upon these
Jameson's eminent counsel depend for clearing
their clients l. ~ +