SENTENCES OF DEATH.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9433, 3 June 1896, Page 5

SENTENCES OF DEATH.

SCENE IN THE COURT.

Pacrar, Phillips, Rhodet, and Hammond were then placed in the dock. The Registrar of the Court asked Lionel Phillips —Do you know any cause or reason wtfy sentence of death should not be pawed upon you ? This was interpreted, ana the accused answered—" No, none." The Judge, addressing accused, then said —Lionel Phillips, it is my painful duty to pass sentence of death upon you. lam only applying the punishment which is meted out and Jaid down according to law, leaving it to his Honour the State President and the Executive Couucil to show you any mercy which may lie is their power. Mty the mag-

namity shown by hia Honour the State President and this Government) to the whole world during the recent p&iuful events be also shown to you. I have nothing to do with that, however. I can only say that ia any other country you would not have a claim on their mercy. The sentence of the Court is that you he taken from this place where you are now, &nl be conveyed to the gaol »6 Pretoria, or any such other gaol in this Republic as may be appoiuted by law, to be kept there till a time aud place of execution shall ba appointed by lawful authority, that you bo takeu to the place of execution, to be there hanged by the neck till you are dead. May Almighty God have mercy ou your immortal soul! Sentence of death was theu passed on George Farrar, Francis Rhodes, and John Hays Uammoud, each of the accused answering, when asked if they had auy reason to state why sentence of death should no , ; be passed, "No, none." The four nccused, who had borne themselves during the past few trying moments iv a brave and fearless manner, theu stepped out of the dock firmly and unhesitatingly, aud were removed in custody.

The remaining prisoners were then ordered to stand up, „ud the Judge passed sentence in the following terms :—The sentence ot the Court is that yoa be kept in the Pretoria gaol, or any other such gaol in the Republic as by law may be appointed, for a term or period of two years, and that each and all of you be fined £2000 sterling, or in default of payment undergo a further period of one year of imprisonment at the expiration of the two years already mentioned ; and that after the expiration of the period of your senieuce, each and every one of you shall be banish 3d from out of this Republic for a term or period of years. '(Interruption in Court, which waa immediately suppressed.) j The Judge continued—The confirmation of the banishment of three years will rest iv the hands of the Executive. Tiie sentence was received with the greatest astonishment in Court. Accused bore up bravely, although they showed signs of the terrible mental struggle they had undergone for the past few days. A number of burghers in Court were visibly mo/ed when they realised the severity of the sentence. Some of them were crying. Tha Judge spoke throughout the proceedings in a cold, unemotional voice. The public left the Comb soon after the prisoners were sentenced. j —,