The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-05-17
InCrimnatng Documents Found and
Other Arrests Expected.
CAUSED GREAT EXCITEMENT.
Rumors That the Plot Has Been Ma
turing for -Four Months and Ihat
Two Thousand Men are Already
EnIistcd President says lie
Must Have Proof That
They Were Officers.

PRETORIA, TRANSVAAL REPUB-
Lie. May 6.-The arrest at johannes
burg early this morning OF certain al-
legged 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 Pre-
toria by special train. After they had
been lodged in JAIL they were visited
boz the British diplomatic agent here
The arrests were affected by detec-
tive who joined the movement which,
IL is asserted. was for the purpose OF
enrolling men in order to cause al out
break of rebellion.
mcriminatng document were i'u"I
upon the prisoners and ii y eApec'eI
that further arrests vii be made
BRITISH OFFICERS.
THE officers arrested. Who are eight
I'm number. instead OF seven, as previously
cabled. are Captain Patterson, formerly
of the Iauccrs. Colonel X. +. NICHOLS
Lieutenant E j. Tremblott G. \. El'ls.
lately "a private detective at Johanne--
burg. Lieutenant John Allen Mitchell.
formerly of the Horse Artillery, Former
sorgeants j. Fries. r.. j. Hooper ana
Nichols. None OF them BIAS been in the
employ Of the British South Africa Char
tered Company
II is said that the Commissioner ~ Po-
| lice who had the affair in hand. had been
working up the case for four months
Mr. Reatty. the detective who effected
the arrests. received his Instructions lasi
week and secured the necessary warrants
! yesterday.
The Executive Council OF Che Transvaai
| is sitting in secret session this evening.
considering the arrests.
MORE WARRANTS
Further warrants have been issuod.
% is ss.rted that the officers already
arrested were also preparing to organize
! a corps iu natal. the Frcnch colony. he-
tween the Orange Free State and the lu-
dian ocean. 90 assist the projected move
meut at Johannesburg.
INCITiNG REBELLION
CAPE TOWN. May l6.-According 10
7dtices from Pretoria the charge ae1inat
the pri-0u.rs is tnlt while staying in
tho Rand privately. they were really en-
gagged in cu0lstng mon for the purpose
1f rebellion WhlH they were ready Do
give the signal
It i- Fd that the enlistment roster in-
Guided -oD1 men ani tlat numn"r oi
ncrimnltiug documents were found at
tlc time the arrests were made.
CHAMBERLAIN VIEWS.
LONDON. May l5-Joespl Chamberlain.
Secretary of State for the Colonies thi5
evening said he Dad beard nothing olir.-
alIr regarding fhe arrests in tnc Trans
taa auI diI n0t thMk tlat too SERIOUS
significance ought t1 Dee attached to them.
Tu. news caused considerable excite
mont Among members 4 tho il0Ise but
lfti. i.spD- .ti0u was manifested t' credit
tHe rumors of reDeuious conspiracy.
a MYSTERIOUS DISPATCH.
The adgiccs from Johannesburg are also
probably conueo ed With 81 mysterious
dssuch received at Johannesburg tnm
Pretoria ON May lg.h. saying a special
train fully equipped with B0cr artillery
mau. guns and other apparatus was be-
n. held boo readiness 60 tne capital OF the
TIan4NatL The statement Was then dee
rlared .o he Wiihou. significance, but toe
iay dispatches show tne truth 81 it
The papers print dispatches irom Cape
Town saying soteu meu nave heen ar
rested at JohauuesbWs and nave been
taken o. Pretoria.
The Governor OF Cape colony. IT. fur
Their appears ls considering tne matter
secretly.
TINE news has caused great excitement
throughout South Africa The stand
rV- 4aJ Dlegrrs News the Beers organ
.r London. has "a dispatch frog Pretoria
which SAYS the warrants were ISSUED yfs-
ferdav evening Dos The state Attorney
and were executed 90 midnight The d's-
rltch adds that plot or rebellion i' dl-
',e.d to have been maturing for four
months and that ths accused Who arc
said 10 have been engaged hy Che South
African League had already enlisted TWO
thousand mon.
Cecil Rhodes. the former Premier ot
Cane Colony and resident director of the
British Chartered South African COM
plnv n Sogth Africa. Informs the Assoc
ciatod Press that he has heard nothing
REGARDING the arrests made af Johannes
burg aud that Doe knows nothing about
tha reason for which they We're made.
KRUGER WANTS PROOF,
The British Agent and Charge d'Af-
fa.res Mr Cnynlngham Green had an
interview with President Kruger this
evening and expressed regret that the men
u.bo had worn the Queens uniform
should he concerned in such movement
President Kruger replied that he would
NOT believe the prisoners were Brush
officers until 90 had been proved. adding
fhat he hoped the affair would not inter-
fere with tho proposed meeting between
himself and SIR. Alfred Milner Governor
~ cane Colony and British High Com
missioner for South Africa.
All the morning papers devote thcW
prlncipal editorials 20 the arrests IN the
Transvaal. cOunseling a postpOnement
If publi. opinion until the facts ~ the
c,s, are a-certaiped and declining 20 be-