The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-08-25
CORDUA shot AT
WAR COURTS ORDER.
Chief Conspirator in the Boer
Plot to Kidnap Lord
Roberts.
GUILTY ON TWO COUNTS.
Court Martial Found That the Free
State Artilleryman Also Broke
His Parole-Bctraycd
by a Compatriot.
GUILTY ON TWO COUNTS.

London. Saturday, Aug. GA special dis
patch from Pretoria says that Lieutenant
Cordua was shot yesterday NTiday) after
noon, Lord Roberts having confirmed the
death sentence imposed on the Lieutenant
or conviction of being a ringleader In the
plot to ahduct General Roberts and to Kill
Pritish officers
Lord Roberts reported to the War Office
from Pretoria on August 10 that plot to
carry him off had been discovered. 1t was
clumsily conceived. he said. and the ring
leaders and all concerned were under az
rest.
The ccnspirator against whom the prin-
cipal indictment was laid was Lieutenant
Ccrdua. On officer of the Stats Artillery
Of the South African Republic. On giving
his parole he was allowed to so at libe: Y
in Pretoria. He WIS placed on trial,
Colonel Godfrey being the judge Of the
court neld to try the prisoners.
The trial began on August II. The pris-
orers at first pleaded guilty. hut We're ad-
Vised by their COunse! to- withdraw the plea
and to take their trial. From the evil
dence 1t appeared that Cordua, number Of
foreigners formerly in the Boer service and
some Beers formed q plan by which the
headquarters of Lord Roberts were to be
surrounded. while the attention of the
troops was diverted by the noise of firing
in another part of Pretoria. Resistance
was to be overcome by force and the Com
mander-inChi carried off. If possible.
Lieutenant Cordua and another Of the
conspirators started off to communicate
personally with General Rotha. When all
the arrangements were nearly complete In
formation was brought to the British head
quarters staff. one OF the conspirators hav-
ing divulgcd the secret to his sweetheart.
The court on August o. after fOrtytive
minutes deliberation. found Lieutenant Cor
dua guilty on the charge of breaking his
parole and entering into a conspiracy to
kidnap Lord Roberts.
Sentence was deferred until the finding
of the court was confirmed by the Com
manier- r-in-Chief, the Judge having an
nounced that the penalty of the CRIME
would be death.
Doctor Leyds and the Boer envoys have
sent from St. Petersburg to Lord Salisbury
a strong protest against the latest procla-
nations of Lord Roberts. maintaining that
they violate every sense of right and Ell the
principles of international law.
London, Aug. 2i--tt special dispatch from
Pretoria, dated to-day, says that General
Lord Roberts has confirmed the sentence Of
death imposed on Lieutenant Cordua, for
merly of the Staats Artillery. who was
convicted of being 4 riugleaGer in a plot
to abduct General Roberts and other British
officers
The following dispatch has been received
al the War Office from Lord Roberts:
OPERATIONS IN TRANSvAAL.
Pretoria. Thursday, Aug. 2.-Baden-
Powell rescued 100 British prisoners at
Warm Baths August 90 and captured twen-
ty-tive Beers and a German artillery Of
ticer.
| Buffers casualties August 81 were seven
men killed, Captain Ellershaw and twenty
one men wounded and five men missing.
Kitchener. August 80. had eight casual
! ties.
While accommodating in the Komati Val
| ley. Rundle found 10000 rounds OF ammu-
milton buried.
| The columns pursuing De Wet made
| wonderful marches. Colonel Mackinnon
| covered 22i miles In fourteen days.