Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-04-30

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death imposed upon Mr.. John Hays
Hammond. the American engineer; Col
Francis Rhodes, a brother Of the former
premier of Cape Colony; Lionel Phil
lips, president of the Chamber OF Mines
of johannesburg and George Farrar,
proprietor of Country Life, OF Johannes
burg, have been commuted.
AT, the close of the trial of the leading
members of the johannesburg Reform
Committee, the presiding judge, after
summing up said that it was his pain
full duty to pass sentence upon the prls-
oners who had pleaded guilty Of high
treason. but he expressed the hope that
the executive would show the same
clemency it had exhibited during the
crisis which marked the beginning of
the wear. Then, amid painful silence
throughout the courtroom, the Judge
passed the sentence of death, individ-
ually. upon Lionel Phillips, president OF
the chamber of mines Of johannesburg;
George Farrar, propritor and publisher
of Country Life, of Johannesburg; Col.
Francis Rhodes, brother of the Hon.
Cecil Rhodes, and John Hays Ham
mond. the American engineer, manager
of the De Beers mines.
A few minutes later the remaining
50 prisoners. including Joel Barnato, a
nephew of Barney Barnato; Mr.. Bettel-
helm. the Turkish consul and formerly
attorney general of Cape Colony; }. w.
Leonard and Capt. Mein. j. S. Curtis,
V. B. Clement. ]. Lawley, H. J. King
and Mr.. Lingham, all Americans, were
sentenced to two years imprisonment,
three years Punishment, and to pay a
fine of $4,000, in default of which they
will undergo another years imprison-
ment
The news OF the sentences was re-
ceived with the greatest amazement
here. at johannesburg and Capetown,
and caused the greatest excitement
everywhere, even though it was under
| stood that the four men sentenced 10
death would not be executed. Inc tele-
graph wires throughout the 1ransvaai
and Cane Colony were blocked with
messages to and from here. business
was All a standstill everywhere. The
attitude of the British population was
one of angry resentement; the
Beers were sullen and defiant.
A message from the secretary OF
State for the colonies. Mr.. Joseph Cham
berlain was communicated TO Presl-
dent Kruger last evening by Sir j: A.
DeWett the British agent here. Inc
president was calm, but it was evident
TO all that he felt the gravity Oh the
situation nest acutely Later iast
night rumor obtained circulation thdt
tbe president was carefully going over
tho records of the trial and consulting
yritb the legal authorities, with the re-
emit that he had decided to commute
the death sentences to heavy nnes ana
long terms of imprisonment, 10 De loi-
lowed by banishment' o,o,,
The president. in exercising elem
encv has only followed the course
which he was expected 20 adopt, but MS
imnulse in the matter was dictated Dy
his sense of Justice alone and not any
fear of the consequences which might
have followed the execution OF the prs
oners. Indeed, it is stated upon hign
authority that he had decided days ago
mon the step Just taken and that the
6Tr, stand he took in his letter declin-
inc Mr. Chamberlain invitation to
visit England was assumed in order
that there might be no mistake as to the
actual attitude of the Transvaal toward
Great Britain.
The Presidents concluding remarks,
II is nointed out. distinctly outline the
future policy of the Transvaal. he SAID
'Jruder existing circumstances, the
South African republic will not at pres
ont press a reconsideration of the Lon
| don convention and substitution for
If of treaty of amity and commerce,
bnt will rest satisfied with pecuniary
COMPENSATION and with the assurance
that no violation of its territory will be
Capetown. April 29.-The report
which reached here last night that Pres
ident Kruger had commuted the death
| sentences of the Reform Committeeman
! has caused a decided feeling of relief
! which was intensified when dispatch
from Pretoria this morning, from an
official source. announced that the SEN
tences of death had indeed been com
muted. Later in the day the report
that President Kruger had commuted
the death sentences was confirmed, and
tbere was still further relief on all sides
and rejoicing in many quarters. The
stem II is added, will have decided
| beneficial effect upon the relations be-
tween the British and the Beers, even
though it was anticipated and to a great
extent discounted.
But the strain will be resumed when
| the question of Great Britain paying
an indemnity to the Transvaal comes
m II is intimated here, however. that
the British government will endeavor
TO shift the whole responsibility of the
matter upon the shoulders Of the Brit
ish chartered South Africa Company,
and that the latter will have to foot the
TrsnsvaaIs bill of expenses when it is
presented. This seems to be the only
way out of the difficulty, although it is
difficult to see how Great Britain can
furnish the Transvaal with an assur-
ance that no violation of its territory
will be repeated unless the alleged
grievances Of the Uitlanders are re-
dressed.
Later in the day another dispatch
from Pretoria announced that DR.. w. ].
Levds. secretary of state for the Trans
yaal. had informed Sir ]. A De Welt,
| the British agent at Pretoria, that it
! had not yet been decided what punish
ment would be imposed upon the Re-
form Committee prisoners in place OF
the death sentence, and he also inti-
! mated that the Executive Council was