The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-05-23
FUN GETS BROADER
TRANsVAAL INQUIRY NOW A FARCE
OF THE ROWLING SORT.

.
Presumed to be Guilty Until 1t Brings to
the Prisoner at the Bar Satisfactory
Proof of Innocence Whitewash
Swished on With a Broom.
London. May 21.-There was dramat-
&c scene today in the committee room of
Westminster hall. The parliamentary
committee inquiring into the Transvaal
raid had another session and in the
course of the examination of Rutherford
Harris, the former secretary Of the Brit
ism Chartered South African company at
Cape Town, by Henry LaBouchere, the
witness was asked whether ne had ever
hearI o. syndicate organized for the
purpose Of dealing in the securities of
the Chartered company.
Mr.. Harris replied: Il am glad you put
that question. 1 have given you a long
tina 10 prove the charges you made
against me-"
Then, turning TO the chairman, Mr.. Har
ris read an extract from Mr.. Labou-
chere's speech in the house Of commons
on May ;, 1896, and an extract from
Truth Of May 5, 1896, as follows:
THE main object Of the raid was to
annex the rich mining districts Of the
TrangIaal II Rhodesia. 1t is obvious
that the first news Of a raid would cause
a fail in shares.
81 an prepared to prove that syndi-
cafe was formed just prior to the raid.
including leading director (Mr. Harris
was director of the company as well as
its secretary at Cape TOWN. in, and one
of the officials OF, the British Chartered
South Africa company, for the purpose
of making large bear sales. The seed
thus having been sowc for securing a
profit oy the Immediate fall and an ulti-
mate profit by the buying when the raid
was successful AMI a rich slice Of the
Transveal had been added to the charter
lands. Steps were taken TO carry out the
conspiracy.
The tenor OF the 'cryptograms' shows
that there was a divergence of opinion
between the Rhodeses Cecil Rhodes and
his brother Frencis) and Alfred Belts.
representatives among the reformers.
and thai those not connected with the
gang were responsible for the failure Of
the scheme. These kilograms are damn
iCg alike 10 the chartered company and
TO Mr.. Rhodes. 1t is clear that the raid
was planned by Cecil Rhodes and Alfred
Belts, the secretary Of the Chartered
South Africa company.
The telegram from Hammond John
Hayes Hammond, the American engi-
neer) TO Rhodes saying :'Canont arrange
respective interests without Belt shows
that the aim was purely for a stock ex
change deal. These n1iscreants, there
fore, planning a raid which must have
led TO their DEATH and which was based
on robbery, were actually already dis
putting in regard TO their respective
shares OF the plumber"
Truth then compared Cecil Rhodes to
Jabez Balfour. as ''the first statesman
TO apply TO imperial politics the methods |
OF the shady company promoter" and
concluded as follows:
Had Cecil Rhodes remained as pre-
mier of Cape Colony l am convinced that
as soon as il suited his purpose he would
have turned on US Ghe British govern
men) and would have sought to cut the |
chain which binds us to South Afri- |
ca
After concluding reading, Mr.. Harris |
turned 10 the chairman and begged him |
10 call upon Mr.. Labouchere 20 justify |
his statements. which Mr.. Harris ad- |
ded, ARE absolutely and maliciously |
false and untrue"
There was a moments silence, during |
which the members of the committee |
Ia IL trf.a 1T 7 aIa
Then the latter said in a subdued voice: |
In order TO give proof. l shall have
to cali a number Of stockholders be- |
fore the committee"
The secretary Of state for the colonies, |
Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain. thereupon |
sharply remarked: Il think 1t import
ant that you should do So"
Replying to Sir Richard Webster. the |
attorney general, Mr.. Harris reiterated |
that Mr.. Labouchere's statement was
untrue from beginning TO end
The witness next read an abstract
from the Gaulois. written last week and
signed by Mr.. Lsbouchere, making sim
liar charges 10 those contained in the
article in Truth.
Mr.. Labouchere said he was prepared
10 prove ne Charges
The committee room was then cleared
IN order 20 allow the committee to dis
cuss the matter
When the session was resumed. the
chairman announced that the commit
tee condemned Mr.. Labouchere for COM
mentiag on the raid while the inquiry
was proceeding. took notice OF Mr.. Har-
ris' denial. and added that il remained
with Mr. Labouchere 10 take such steps
as he thought fl 70 meet the denial.
Lord Robert Cecil. counsel for Mr.. Har
ris. then asked leave to speak He said:
M Harris feels tina; his honor and
reputation are at stake. He has now
shown that one member Of the commit
tee is actuated- by a violently hostile
feeling towards him. So long as Mr..
Laoouchere is a member Of the commit
tee IL is impossible for Mr. Harris 70
safely commit his honor and reputation
10 the committee
His remark was greeted with calls Of
order
A moment later, Mr.. Harris refused 10
be further examined by Nj Lahouchere.
unless the latter withdrew his charges
On motion OF Sir William Harcourt. the
committee room was again cleared.
On resuming the case. the chairman
said he thought Mr. Harris position in
the suit must be wholly satisfactory 10
him. and the whole matter was then
dropped.
MONTE CARLO IN MEXICO
With Onc Side Of Which Jesse Grant In Said