The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1896-05-02
DEATH SENTENCE:
IT Is IMPOSED UPON FIVE MEN BY
THE BOERS.
John Hayes Hammond, an American,
and Four Other Leaders of the
Reform Committee Of Johannes.
barE. Who Recently Pleaded
Guilty to High Treason, Are Con.
demned to Death.

LONDON, April 1-'The secretary of
state for the colonies, Mr.. Joseph
chamberlain. announced in the house
OF commons to-day that five of the
leaders OF the reform committee of
JOhannesburg-J. Fl. Hammond, Fran.
cis Rhodes. George Farrar, Lionel
Phillips and Charles Leonard - had
been condemned to death.
Mr.. Chamberlain added that uDon
hearing the news he had cahled to the
governor of Cape Colony, Sir Hercules
Robinson, to communicate the follow
Ing to President Kruger:
1.-The government has lust learned
that the sentence of death has Just
been passed upon the five leaders of
the reform committee. They can feel
no doubt that your honor will CON-
mute the sentence, and have assured
parliament OF your conviction that this
is your ilcHor's intention"
Mr.. John Hays Hammond. one of the
members of the reform committee. con.
demned to death, is an American.
MIR. w. j. Galloway, Conservative
member from Southwest Manchester
asked whether the law under which
the leaders of the Johannesburg re-
form committee were tried does not
provide for the confiscation of their
property, in the event of conviction,
and not for the imposing of the death
penalty.
MIR. Chamberlain said he was unable
to answer the question.
Done for Effect.
The sentencing of the members of
the reform committee to death has nro.
duced a great sensation in London
especially in the streets, where the.ex.
lfa editlons OF the newspapers. with
sensational headlines. found Quick
sale. In we'll informed circles, how.
ever, the sentence has caused little
surprise, as the laws of the Transyaal
prescribe death for high treason. and
the prisoners having pleaded guilty,
the judge could only pronounce the
sentence which the law provides.
1t has also been understood that n
very severe sentence would be passed.
in order that clelnency, which Presi.
dent Kruger is certain to exercise
might appear greater. 1t is thought
probable that the sentence of death
will he cOmrnuted to Il short term of
imprisonment and n fine unless Mr.
Chamberlain's dispatch to president
kruger. read in the house of commons,
should irritate the chief magistrate of
the Transvaal into greater severity
than lie would otherwise exercise. Mr..
Chamberlain's telegram is regarded
here as being precipitate. and as leav-
ing President Kruger no time to act
OH his own account, and as having,
moreover, the ring of dictation.
There seems to be a misunderstood.
ing as to the number of members of
the reform committee who have been
sentenced to death. Mr.. Chamberlain
said Rhodes. Phillips, Farrar, Ham.
mOnd and another whose name he had
forgotten. When lie was asked if il
was Leonard he replied no" so II
was presumed that 1t might be Fitz.
patrick. another English member of
the committee. But later in the day
the under secretary Of the colonial Of.
flee. the earl of Selborne, announced in
the house of lords that cable dispatcl,
had been received from Sir Hercules
Robinson. the governor of Cape Colo.
ny, confirming the announcement that
the sentence of death had been i'm.
posed upon Rhodes.
Will BE Commuted.
Washington, April 3O.-Tnited Stotes
Vice Consul Knight Mt Cape Town has
cabled Secretary Olney that it was un.
defstood there that Hammond's sen.
tence will be committed.
Senators Perkins and White were
very much surprised when shown the
Associated Press cable announcing
that Hammond had been sentenced ia
death. 1t was their impression that
when the plea of guilty was made
that an understanding had been
reached which would not mean tbe
death penalty. Senator Perkins OK.
pressed the belief that the law re.
quired such sentence, but that the
government will commute it. The Cal.
ifornia senators probably will ask,
through the state department, that
clenency be shown Mr.. Hammond, al.
though Senator White says that, in
the face Of plea of guilty of high
treason, he is not sure that this gov.
ernment could make very strong rep.
resentatiOn. The belief is expressed
here that Hammond, before returning
to Pretoria. had some understanding
OH lHe SUBJECT VI tne senlcuce 10 DC
pronounced, and that proceedings
would follow the sentence. 1t is be.
lieved he will not be put to death.
MIR. Mahany Rep., N. ". in the
house. asked for the immediate con-
sideratiOn of q resolution Hing on
the secretary of state, in view of the
report that John Hayes Hammond. the
American engineer, had been sentenced
to death for treason In the Transvaal,
South Africa, to safeguard his inter-
ests as an American citizen. and inter-
fere' in his behalf IL such action is
deemed advisable. After some discus
sion Mr.. Creary (Dem,, XVI objected.