The record-union., 1896-04-29
Report, However, That It VIII Not be
Carried Into Effect.
Will Likely Only be Subjected to a
Nominal Fine or a Short Term of
Imprisonment, in Consideration of
His Pleading Guilty of Treason
Four Other Americans Sentenced
to Paw Fine and Serve a Term in
Prison.
Prison..

Prison.
PRETORIA. April 2S-Five of the
leaders of the National Reform Com
inittee who pleaded guilty of high trea-
son yesterday We're condemned to death
to-day at the sitting of the court. They
are Colonel Francis Rhodes, brother of
Cecil Rhodes, ,ex-Premier ofCape Colony,
John Hays Hammond, Lionel Phillips,
George Farrar and Colonel Francis
Rhodes, the leaders of the Reform Com
mittee, who have pleaded guilty of
high treason.
Phillips, Rhodes and FarTar pleaded
guilty of high treason on Friday last
and Hammond, who was i'll and not in
court on that day, made a similar plea.
This course. it was thought, would
have an effect to mitigate severity of
their sentence, but it turns out that it
did not
This statement reviews the recent his
tory of the futile agitation for redress
of the alleged Uitlander grievances in
the TransvaaL The statement admits
that in the face of rumors current that
the Beers were going to attack johann
nesburg the signers had asked Dr.
Jameson to come, but that they de-
ing when there was no urgent need for
his presence. They maintained that
their action had not been hostile to the
republic, its officials having been pro-
tected and life and property having
been generally preserved. They sent
officers on December 9th, the state
ment says, to forbid the movement on
DR.. JameSOn's part.
In addition to this signed statement
kilograms We're read which passed be-
tween Mr. Belt of the Chartered South
African Company and DR.. Jameson,
Colonel Francis Rhodes and Others but
not Cecil Rhodes, the then Premier of
Cape Colony.
Following the presentation of the
documents counsel made a speech Of
two hours duration in behalf of the
defense, concluding as follows:
If the edge of the SWORD is to be used
III will cause eternal misery in the re-
public, but should the fat side be en-
ployed it would usher in peace and
good Will"
Among other members of the Reform
Committee who were sentenced to-day
are four Americans-Captain Meme,
Chief Engineer of the Robinson Gold
Mining Company; Victoria 3. Clement.
Assistant Consulting Engineer of the
Consolidated Gold Fields Mining Com.
pany; J. S. Curtis, a wealthy mining
engineer, who is well known in New
York, and a Mr.. Lawley. They were
each sentenced TO pay a fine of $1,000,
TO undergo two years Imprisonment,
and then be banished from the Trans
vaal for three years.
CHAMBERLAIN'S CABLEGRAM.
LONDON, April 2S.--In the House of
Commons to-day Chamberlain, Seere-
tary of State for the Colonies, said: Il
have received a private telegram say
ing that five of the leaders of the So
called National Reform Committee at
johannesburg have been condemned to
death. / thereupon cabled to Sir Her
Cules Robinson, at Cape Town, instruc-
tons TO communicate the following to
President Kruger: The Government
has just learned that sentence of death
has been imposed upon the chief leaders
of the Reform Committee. The Gov
eTnment has no doubt that your honor
will commute the sentences. Indeed,
the Government has assured Parlia-
nlent that this is your honor's inten-
1iOn,'
HAMMOND'S CAREER.
SAN FRANCISCO, April 2S.-John
Hays Hammond, although only 36 years
of age, is one of the most eminent of
rising engineers of the present age. He
is a native OF California, a son of the
late General Hammond. and brother
OF Major r. p Hammond of this city
He was educated at the Sheffield Sci
entific School connected with Yale Col
lege for the profession of mining engi-
l,fe a1f ion at
the great mining college at Freiburg, in
Germany, where he took high honors. p
When Mr. Hammond returned to this
State from Freiburg he was appointed
an assistan TO DIR. George Becker, who
had charge of the gathering of mining
and mineral statistics for the census of
1880 in California
Then Mr. Hammond formed a part
nership with Luther Wagner as a min
ing engineering firm, and worked up a
large business. Afterward he was ap-
pointed Superintendent of a large silver
mine in Sonora, Mexico, which position
he gave up to become mining engineer
on his own account.
He went to South Africa and expert
ed valuable mining properties for New
York parties. and next was engaged as
consulting engineer Of the Bunker Hill
and Sullivan mines in the Occur d'Alene
country. in which property ID. Q. Mills,
w. H. Croker and other capitalists
were large owners. Labor troubles
caused the closing down of these mines
and Mr.. Hammond received an offer to
go TO South Africa and expert gold
mines there for a powerful London syn
dicate.
When in South Africa he became ac-
uuainted with Hon Cecil Rhodes, and
was engaged by him at q big salary Il
take charge Of valuable property. Mr.
HaYnmond's success in South Africa
was marked, and to-day he represents
to a large extent the mining interests OF
both Rhodes and Barney Barnato. Mr.
Hammond's present salary is said to bt
about $4,000 per annum. and he is alsc
reported to have accumulated a fortune
of about 81 900, 600.
SENTENCE WILL BE COMMITTED
WASHINGTON, April 2S.-The sen
tence of death pronounced on Johr