The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-04-29
BOERS NOT BLooDTHIRSTY.
DEATH SENTENCES AT PRETORIA
NOT APT To BE CARRIED OUT.


Hammond. the American, and Four
british Subjects Now in the
shadow of the GaiIows, But Presi-
dent kruger Expected TO Com
mute Their Sentences-If He Does
Not, Great Britain Likely to De-
clare War.
Pretoria. April 2S.-Five of the leaders of
fhe national reform committee who
pleaded guilty of high treason yesterday,
including John Hays Hammond, the
american mining engineer, were condemn
cd to death at this forenoon's sitting of the
court.
Col. Francis Rhodes, brother Of Cecil
Rhodes, premier of Cape Colony, Lionel
Phillips, George Farrar and Charles Leo
nard are the four leaders who, with Ham
1nOnd were sentenced to DEATH
Phillips, Rhodes and Farrar pleaded
guilty of high treason on Friday last and
Hammond, who was i'll and not in court
then, made similar plea. This course, ii
was thought would have the effect TO nit
igate the severity OF the sentence, but 1t
Turns out that it did not.
Counsel for the defense yesterday read
a statement to the court signed by Ham
mond. Phillips, Farrar and Col Rhodes,
admitting that they had asked DR.. Jane
son to go to Johannesburg, but deploring
his mistake in entering the Transvaal
and marching on Johannesburg when
there was no urgent need for his presence.
They maintained that their action
throughout was not hostile to the govern
The statement also enumerated the
grievances of the -Uitlanders, and elabO-
Grated reasons to prove that the actions
of the committee were not hostile to the
republic.
ment declared that when the committee
learned certain facts It sent, on Dec. q,
DR. Jameson to move.
Among the other members of the reform
committee who were sentenced to-day are
four Americans, Capt. Main, chief en-
gineer of the Robinson Gold Mining Com
pany; Victor B. Clement assistant con-
a sulting engineer of the Consolidated Gold
field Mining Company; J. S. Curtis, a
wealthy mining engineer who is well
known in New York, and a Mr.. Lawley.
q They were each sentenced to pay fine
of $4,000, to undergo two years lmprison-
ment, and then be banished from the
d Transvaal for treason. The above does
not, in one respect, agree with the ad-
vices received from Pretoria last night
in which it was said that the trial of Mr..
N Curtis had been postponed until the next
session of the court. To-day's dispatch
says that he was sentenced and that he
must appear with the other defendants
and pleaded guilty.
johannesburg. April 28.-The most in
tense excitement was caused here when
it became known that the leaders of the
reform committee had been sentenced to
# death and extremely severe sentences pro-
nounced against the other members of the
committee. A public meeting has been
ummoned to give expression to the pop
ular disapproval of the action of the court.
Washington, April 2s-All the informa-
tion received at the state department in
the case Iohns-41ays Hammond, tends
TO confirm the dispatch from Vice-Consul
Knight at Cape Town that the death sem
tence has been, or is to be, commuted by
President Kruger of the South African
government Secretary Olney has done
everything in his power to aid Mr.. Ham
mond in the trial that has just closed, and
1t is largely due to the efforts of the state
department officials that his life is to be
spared. AS soon as the friends of Mr..
Hammond in this country brought the
matter to the attention of Secretary OIL
ney, he instructed the American repre-
81 Sentatives at Johannesburg and at Cape
# Town to use every means in their power
to protect the rights of Mr.. Hammond as
n an American citizen.
At the department of state it is said
that both Secretary Olney and the British
embasSadors have assurances that the SEN
fence of Mr.. Hammond and his four Brit
1sh associates, are to be convicted. Vice
CONSUL Knight, who has been acting for
rhe United States government in this case,
WAS instructed by Secretary Olney to en-
lloy the very best legal talent in that re-
gion to aid in the defense of Mr.. Ham
#mond.
Assistant Secretary Rockhill, in discuss
ang the case tonight, said there is every
reason to believe that MIR. Hammond will
not suffer the death penalty for his par
lcipation in the unfortunate transaction
BIT Johannesburg. He was defended by the
ablest counsel to be had in South Africa,
md it is understood that Mr.. Hammond
was not called upon to plead for several
lays after his British associates had made
neir pleading, so that he must have had
Some understanding as to what his fate
Mould be before he pleaded guilty. He
has been very sick man for
Fome time past, and he was allowed to
70 out ON bail for several weeks. If he
pad any reason to fear that the death
Sentence would be executed, he might
haye easily made his escape.
When asked as to what steps the United
StateS government might take in the
event that the South African government
eelned to commute his sentence. Mr.
Ptockhill replied that the United States
night inquire if the trial proceedings
Fere conducted in a regular manner, in
accordance with the practice of that coun-
Ly' and if the sentence of death was
Apon the South African authorities to ex-
felse executive clemency in behalf of
III; hammond Ihere rs no reason 70
eheVe that the trial proceedings were
2ot conducted in the most orderly and
appropriate manner to be had in that
country, and none of Mr.. Hammond
friends have charged that any injustice
las been done him in that particular
he department of state has watched
4losely every step that has been taken
b this famous case, and not one stone
as been left unturned that was likely to
ehehl Mr.. Hammond Beng a fale
han, and having large
md influential circle Of friends in this
country, his case has become national in
Is character, and there is a general belief
mong his friends here that he will not be
4 lolested further by the South African au-
#horities.
representative Hit, chairman of the
1ouse committee on foreign relations,
faid tonight that his committee is not
alied upon to take any action in behalf
Mr.. Hammond. In the first place, Mr..
lit says, he understands that both Sec
eyary Olney and Sir Julian Paunceforte,
le British ambassador, have received as
trance from Cape Town to the effect that
IT, Hammond and his associates, are to
spared the death penalty, and their
n shtences are to be commuted. Under the
feufnstances there is no occasion for
9ngressional action in the matter. Mr..
itt says the subject has been admirably
dudled by Secretary Olney, and, there
pre- the committee on foreign relations
as no right to interpose when the sub
is one for executive rather than leg
atVe action.
The subject formed topic for discus
# a an tod T. To-.