Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-05-17
ON A CHARGE
OF TREASON
Eight Former British Arrested
In TranSvaal
CAUSES MUCH EXCITEMENT
1t IS Alleged They Were Fomenting
A Rebellion Against the Rule
OF President Kruger.
CAUSES MUCH EXCITEMENT

Pretoria, Transvaal, May 16.-The ar
rest at johannesburg this morning of
seven alleged former British officers
named Nichols, Patterson, Tremlett,
Ellis. Fries, Hooper and Mitchell. on the
charge of high treason, has caused in
tense excitement here. The prisoners
were brought to Pretoria by special
train. After they had been lodged in
jail they We're 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 enrolling men in order to
cause an outbreak of rebellion. Incrimi-
mating ocume We're found on the
prisoners and it is expected further ar
rests will be made.
The British agent and charge d'affaires,
Mr.. Cunningham Green, had an inter-
view with President Kruger this after
noon and expressed regret that men who
had worn the queens uniform should be
concerned in such a movement. Presi-
dent Kruger replied that he would not
believe the prisoners were British officers.
until it had been proved. adding that he
hoped the affair would not interfere with
the proposed meeting between himself
and Sir Alfred Mitner, governor of Cape
colony, and British high commissioner
for South Africa.
Further warrants have been issued. It
is asserted the officers already arrested
were also preparing to organize a corps
in Natal. the British colony between the
Orange Free State and the Indian ocean,
to assist the projected movement at
JOHANNESBURG.
Pretoria, May 16.-The officers arrest
ed, who are eight in number, instead of
seven, as previously cabled, are Capt.
Patterson. formerly of the Lancers: Col.
r. f. Nichols, Lieut.. j. Trembott, Lieut..
g. A. Ellis, lately a private detective at
Johannesburg: Lieut.. John Allen Nit
chell, formerly Of the horse artillery;
Former Sergeant J. Fries, r. P. Hooper
and Nichols. None Of them has been in
the employ Of the British South Africa
Chartered company. 1t is said the COM
missioner Of police, who had the affair in
hand, had been working up the case four
months. Mr.. Beatty, the detective who
effected the arrests, received his instruc-
lions last week and secured the neces-
sary warrants yesterday.
The executive council Of the Trans
vaal is sitting in secret session this even
ing considering the arrests.
London, May 16.-The arrests at .Jo-
hannesburg are probably connected with
the mysterious dispatch received at Jo-
hannesburg from Pretoria on May IL, say
ing a special train fully equipped with
Boer aT'tillerymen, CUR and a search
light apparatus was being held in readi-
ness at the capital of the Transvaal. The
statement was then declared without sig
nificance, but today's news throws a
more serious light on the movement and
it is certain there will be d great sensa-
ton in London when the news of the ar
rests becomes generally known The
afternoon newspapers today print special
dispatches from Capetown saying seven
men have been arrested at Johannesburg
and ave been taken to Pretoria. The
government of the colony, it further ap-
pears, is considering the matter secretly.
n news has caused great excite
ment throughout south Africa. The
tandard and Diggers' News, the Boer
organs in London. have a dispatch
from Pretoria which says that war;
rants were issued yesterday evening by
the state attorney and were executed at
midnight. The dispatch adds that a
plot or rebellion is alleged to have been
maturing for months and the accused,
who are said to have been engaged by
the South African league, had already
enlisted 1000 men.
Cecil Rhodes, the former president of
the Cape colony and who is interested
in the British Chartered South African
informs the Associated Press
that he has heard nothing about the ar
rests at johannesburg and knows nothing
about the reason for which they were
a