Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-05-17
TRANSvAAL EXCITED,
Arrest Of a Number Of Former
British Officers,
CHARGE Of HIGH TREASON,
Allegation Of Conspiracy 10 Cause
a Rebellion.
NOMINATING DOCUMENTS FOUND
Warrants Issued for Further
Arrests - Secretary Chamberlain
Thinks Too Great significance
Should Not he Attached to Mntter'
Warrants
Further

PRETORIA. TRANsVAAL REPUB-
Lie. May 1.-THE arrest at Johannes
burg early this morning of seven alleg-
ed former British officers. named Nichols.
Patterson, Tremlett, Ellis. Fries, Hooper.
and Mitchell, on the charge OF high trea-
son. has caused intense excitement here.
The prisoners were brought to Pre-
toria on q special train. After they had
been lodged in Jail they were visited by
the British diplomatic agent here.
The arrests were effected by a detective
who Joined the movement, which, it Is
asserted. was for the purpose of enroll
ing men in order to cause an outbreak of
rebellion.
discriminating documents were found
upon the prisoners. and it is expected that
further arrests will be made
ARRESTED MEN NUMBER EIGHT.
PRETORIA May 1.-THE officers ar
rested. who are eight in number, instead
of seven. as previously cabled. are Cap
tain Patterson, formerly Of the Lancers;
Colonel r. r. Nichols, Lieutenant f. j.
Tremblett. C. f. Ellis. lately a private
detective at johannesburg; Lieutenant
John Allen, formerly of the Horse Artil-
lery; Quartermaster Mitchell. former
Sergeant ]. Fries, and former Sergeant
r. p. Hooper None Of them has been
in the employ of the British South Afri-
ca Chartered Company
II is said that the Commissioner of Po-
lice who had the affair in hand had been
working up the case for four months.
Mr.. Beatty, the detective who effected
the arrests. received his instructions last
week, and secured the necessary warrants
yesterday.
COUNCIL. IN SECRET SESSION.
The Executive Council of the Transvaal
IS sitting in secret session this evening,
considering the arrests
Further warrants have been issued.
II Is asserted that the officers already
arrested were also preparing to organize
a corps Of Natal, the British colony be-
tween the Orange Free State and the
Indian Ocean, TO assist the projected
movement at Johannesburg.
BRITISH OFFICIAL DEPRECIATION.
The British agent and charge datfaires,
Mr.. Conyngham Green, had an interview
with President Kruger this evening, and
expressed regret that men who had worn
the Queens uniform should be concerned
I'm such a movement. President Kruger
replied that he would not believe the
prisoners were British officers until Il
had been proved, adding that he hoped
the affair would not interfere with the
proposed meeting between himself and Sir
Alfred Miner, the Governor of Cape Colo
nv. and the British High Commissioner
for South Africa.
TWO THOUSAND MEN ENLISTED.
CAPE TOWN, May 16.-According 70
advices from Pretoria. the charge against
the prisoners is that, while staying in
the Rand privately, they were really en-
gagged i'm enlisting men for the purpose OF
rebellion when they We're ready to give
the signal.
1t is said that the enlistment roster In
cluded 1000 men. and that number of
discriminating documents were found at
the time the arrests We're made.
EXCITEMENT IN LONDON.
LONDON. May 16-Joseph Chamberlain
Secretary Of State for the Colonies. this
evening said he had heard nothing Off
cially regarding the arrests In the Trans
vaal. and did not think that too serious
significance ought 10 be attached 20 them
ment among members of the House. bu
little disposition was manifested e
credit the rumors Of rebellious con
spiracy.
BOBRS IN READINESS.
LONDON. May 1.-THE advices from
johannesburg are also probably connect
ed with a mysterious dispatch received
at Johannesburg from Pretoria on May
| 18th. saying a special rain, fully equip
ped with BOer artillerymen. guns, an'
| other apparatus. was being held I'm readi
| ness at the capital Of the Transvaal INT
| statement was then declared TO be with
| out significance. but to-day dispatche
| show the truth of II.
\ The papers print dispatches from Cap'
| Town. saying seven men have been ar
rested at johannesburg and nave Deei
| taken TO Pretoria. The Government o
| Cape Colony, 1t further appears, Is con
! sidering the matter secretly.
EXCITEMENT THROUGHOUT SOUTH
AFRICA.
The news has caused great excitemen
| throughout South Africa.
| The Boer organ In London has dis
match from Pretoria. which says the war
| rants were issued yesterday evening b.
the state attorney. and were executes
mt midnight. The dispatch adds that III
plot for rebellion is alleged TO have bee
maturing for four months. and that tn
accused. who are said to have been en-
| gagged by the South African League, ha
| already enlisted two thousand men.
RHODES KNOWS NOTHING.
| Cecil Rhodes. the former premier o
| Cane Colony. and resident director o
the British Chartered South African Com
| many i'm South Africa. informs the As
| ISOLATED Press that he has heard nothin
regarding the arrests made at Johannes
burg. and that he knows nothing aDoa
the reason for which they were made
COMMENT OF LONDON PRESS.
| LONDON. May 17.-All the morning pa
| ners devote their principal editorials 4
the arrests in the Transvaal, counselhn'
a postponement Of public opinion unti
| The facts OF the case are ascertained, ant
| declining TO believe that English officer
or subjects have been guilty of what III
| Standard terms "such reasonable folly.