The Telegram. — 1896-05-19 (Weymouth, Dorset, England)

THE TRANS VAAL.  SENTENCE ON THE REFORM  LEADERS. SUICIDE OF MR. GREY.  CAPE PARLIAMENT AND THE CHARTERED COMPANY.  In reply to Mr. Chamberlain's despatch of the 15th inst. the Transvaal Government. on Friday, sent the following despatch From the State Sccretary, Pretoria, to hie Excellency the High Commissioner, Capetown. May 15.—Your Excellency's tArgram of yesterday. Thu Government is glad to receive the amurance that a full inquiry will be made against the Chartered Company and its directors, and will follow with interest the course of this enquiry. His Honour the State President thanks Mr. Chamberlain very much for his sympathy, and is glad to be able to inform him that the condition of Mrs. Kruger is improving.' I The Executive Council resolved to take into I favourable consideration the petitionn of the cal prilionera asking for a mitigation, at an early date, of the sentences paned upon them at the recent trial _ . .  -According to a telegram from Pretoria, received in Paris on Friday, the Transvaal Government had decided to sustain the sentences of three years' banishment passed upon the member, of the Reform Committee, but intend to take into consideration the petitioes praying for a reduction of the heavy fines and the terms of imprisonment. The debate on Mr. Merriman's resolution urging the revocation of the Britiah South AfrMa Company's Charter was continued in the Capetown House of Assembly on Friday cligbb. Mr. Fuller said that when Dr. J9lllllooll'B invasion occurred the Uitlanderie grievances were about to be redressed. The Uitlanders, however, were sorely tried, and he did not believe that the men could be such demons as to risk bloodshed and anarchy merely for the sake of filling their pockets. Mr. Rhodes in any care Was not connected with such people, although he might be led into action by a boundless ambition to achieve a great end, the way  to which was blocked by the toonopo. lies of the l'ransvaal Government. The speaker raid he wished Mr. Rhodes wam present to own that he was wrong, and to express bin desire to devote the rest of his life to  repair the wrong he had done.—Mr. Feller declared that the misgovernment of the Transvaal wars the root of the mischief. He was opposed to the complete abrogation of the British South Africa Company's Charter, and would suggest the appointment of an officer to represent the Imperial Government in Rhodesia to maintain friendly relations with the neighbouring States and to give the company domestic legislation, the right of veto being reserved.—The debate wan adjourned till Monday. The Transvaal Executive Council has confirmed that portion of the sentence primed on the majority of the Johannesburg reformers condemning them to three years' banishment. Mr. Grey, one of the prisoners, became insane, and has committed suicide by cutting his throat. The news of the suicide has produced the greatest regret on the Stock Exchange in Johannesburg. Mr. Grey was a prominent and wealthy member of the Reform Committee. and was much esteemed. The suicide has east a gloom over the whole community of Pretoria, and President Kruger is extremely distressed. His Honour told Renter's agent that he greatly desired a speedy decision regarding the sentences on the reformers, and he favoured a proposal made by a majority of the prisoners to substitute an additional fine for banishment.