Evening star., 1896-03-17
JAMESON ON TRIAL
Daring Leadership of the British
= Adventurer.
ITALIAN SOCIALISTS IN ROME
Debut of the Ru1ini Ministry Be-
fore the Deputies.
A S T OR Al LO G IL E S

LONDON, March 1.-THE examination of
DIR. L. s. Jameson, the raider of the Trans
&dal, and his fourteen companions, charged,
under the foreign enlistment act, with
warning on friendly state,' was re-
sumed today at the Bow street police court
before Sir John Bridge, the chief magis-
trate. The usual jingo throng was pres
ent and the court was crowded. Seated on
the bench near the magistrate were the
Iarchioness of Londonderry, the Duke of
Abercorn, chairman of the British Charter
ed South African Company, and Ladies
knutsford, Cuffe, Hartland, ,Biddulph, Shaw
Lefevre, Rayleigh and Cranbourne, the
Countess of Coventry, Mrs Henry AsGuith
and a number of other ladies of high posi-
ton in society. The first witness called
>fCday was Sergt. Ruck of the Matabele-
land mounted police. He testified. in sub
staEce, that in leaving Pltsani the MEM
bers of the force were told that they We're
bound for Johannesburg. and would be
found in food. forage ana stores while en-
route to that place. Continuing, the wiz
I ess described IN details the evils OF the
march in December, the arrest of the young
Boer leader, Eioff. who came TO warn The
party to return across the border, and the
firing of the ROerS, at midnight the same
day, on the Jameson paIty.
Beginning of the Fight.
intimation they lad of the presence of the
Beers in their proximity. The fire, he
added, was returned, and the Beers fed.
On January 1, witness also said, the
Jameson party encountered sixty sev-
enty Beers. The latter opened fire upon The
Jameson column; the nre was again re-
turned, and the Boer5 retired in the direc-
ton of krugeISdorp, followed by the troop
erS.
Trooper Hill, also of the Matabeleiard
mounted police. then took the stand, u,id
testified to hearing DR.. Jameson making Il
speech at Pltsani TO the men who were to
compose the eXpe1itionary column. Ac-
cording to Hill. DIR. Jameson told the troop
ers they were going to Johannesburg in o.
der to protect the English women and chill
d1en, whose lives We're in danger. DR..
Jameson, the witness also testified, said he
hoped their would be TO lighting; but If
there was, Why we'll fight
DIR. Jameson, Trooper Hill said, added
= that ne hoped the column would reach
johannesburg before the Beers had time TO
collect.
This witness further testified that DR..
Jameson assured troopers shat IF it comes
TO push, the Cape mounted rifles and the
natal police will assist us.
DIR. Jameson STILL according to Trooper
Hill, continuing his remarks 20 the troop
ers. assured them that food and remounts
would be collected the way to Jo-
hannesburg. and added Inat the column
might be joined by the Bechuanaland bor-
der police.
A Mysterious Letter.
Replying to a question, the witness said
that DIR. Jameson, while addressing the
troopers, referred frequently to a letter
which he held in his hand, and which ap-
peared to contain instructions to the
conduct of the expedition.
Sir John Nilloughby, the military COM
mander Of the expedition, Trooper Hill
said, also made speech to the men on the
same lines as the remarks of DR.. Jameson
and expressed the hope that the troopers
would DO their best.