DR. KRAUSE AT BOW-STREET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11872, 25 January 1902, Page 2 (Supplement)

DR. KRAUSE AT BOW-STREET.

THE" CHARGE OF INCITING . TO . MURDER. Dr. F. E. T. Krause made his fourteenth appearance at Bow-street 011 November 7, surrendering to his bail to answer the charge of inciting to murder Mr. Douglas Forster in the Transvaal. When Sir Albert de Rutzen took his seat those present included Mr. W. T. Stead and the Rev. Harold Rylett, accused two sureties, and Mrs. Dixon (Dr. Krause's sister). For the defence, Mr. Rufus Isaacs asked if the Treasury had made up their minds as to the charge of high treason.

Mr. Muir, for the Treasury, replied that he reserved to himself the right of asking the magistrate to commit on that charge if he thought, at the close of the case, there was sufficient evidence to sustain it. He then called Lieutenant-Colonel Francis John Davies, of the Grenadier Guards, who said that on May 30, 1900, he was with the British forces under Lord Roberts outside Johannesburg. He was serving with the Intelligence Department at army headquarters, and Lord Roberts sent him into the town with a white flag. He was accompanied by Mr. John Douglas Forster, Mr. Samuel Evans, and an orderly, who carried the flag. Messrs. Forster and Evans were civilians attached to the Intelligence Department. Witness arranged with Dr. Krause that he should ride with him to Elandsfontein to see Lord Roberts. Next morning the British forces occupied the town.. Dr. Krause's handwriting was familiar to witness. Some time before August 29 last witness became aware of the circulation in Johannesburg and the Transvaal of a pamphlet entitled "To the Faithful Afrikanders," in consequence of which he gave orders for the arrest of a man named Cornelius Broeksma and others, including a printer called Johannis Van Rij. Captain Barnett arrested Broeksma on August 24, and handed to witness the papers found in his possession. Witness, after Broeksma's arrest, gave instructions to Captain Ferguson, the press censor at Johannesburg, and in consequence received from him, 011 August 31, two letters, unopened. One was addressed to " C. Broeksma, Esq., Box 2277, Johannesburg, Transvaal," and the other to " C. Brooks, Esq., Box 3517, Johannesburg, Transvaal." Both letters bore the London postmark of August 7, and they were in accused's handwriting. Mr. Muir read extracts from them. In one Dr. Krause conveyed hearty thanks for information re F., and went on to say:" In some legal manner this man must be got out of the way, cost what it may. His influence is very damaging. . . ." In another it was written:"The lies which are published here with design are unbelievable, and the person F., of whom I wrote, is really the cause of this, and, therefore., I also wrote to you the previous week that our people should* be kept aware of this, so that lie can be shot dead in some lawful way, or otherwise put out of the way. This is absolutely necessary, and the sooner the better for our cause."

Witness went 011 to say that 011 September 14 he received a further letter, in ac-

cused's handwriting, from Captain Ferguson. In it the following occurred: —The newspapers have done their work excellently, and it will take a long time before the lies are eradicated. We must begin with the liars themselves, and therefore I have advised that our men should be informed about F., so that he, at any rate, should be put out of the way." < In another letter produced by Colonel Davies Dr. Krause thanked Broeksma " for the information regarding F. and the wo man. at Bloemfontein," and went on to make certain allegations, and ask for further information, concluding: "Of course, I only wish to know this if the other matters concerning F. have not reached their consummation. I would, of course, prefer the latter."

In cross-examination by Mr. Isaac Colonel Davies said Broeksma was executed on

September 30. So far as witness knew Dr. Krause never took either the oath of allegiance or the oath of neutrality. In addition to the letters already produced witness had received from the press censor a letter, written by Dr. Krause in Holloway Prison Hospital, on September 6, and intended for Broeksma. In it prisoner denied that he had given information to the enemy, and added that all the legal acumen of Great Britain could not justify the charge of high treason brought against him. The next witness was Captain William Alexander Barnett, North Staffordshire Regiment, who said in August last he was Deputy-Commis-sioner of Police at Johannesburg, and on the 24th of that month he arrested the man

Cornelius Broeksma. Among the papers, etc., which he took possession of was a letter, dated March 22, 1901, from Kraus'e to Broeksma, in which he said: —"I am convinced that we shall ultimately obtain the victory. It is regrettable that your people did not fight in this way at the commencement. Now only they have discovered, to their regret, who and what those miserable wretches are. ... quite agree with you that we shall have a bitter Ireland in South Africa. The newspapers inform us that that arch-scoundrel, Sir A. M., has arrived in Johannesburg." A number of extracts from other letters were read by Mr. Muir. One communication from accused, however, asking for information respecting Mr. Forster, contained allegations that he (Mr. Forster) had deserted his wife and treated her in a shameful way, and that lie had openly lived with a Madame Piermain.

Next came Mr. John Douglas Forster, who said he was at present living in Piccadilly. He was a mgjnber of the English Bar. After the Jameson Raid he took an active part in South African politics, eventually becoming president of the South African League. There was considerable political agitation in Johannesburg in the summer of 1899, and it increased as time went on. Witness left the

town hurriedly on September 29 of that year, in order to avoid arrest. He went to Capetown, and was given an appointment in the Intelligence Department. He was present at the surrender of Johannesburg, and was subsequently appointed legal adviser to the Military Governor. It was on his advice as such that Dr. Krause and other barristers were prevented from practising without taking the oath of allegiance. Witness came to London on August 19 last, and at the time he left he knew nothing of the charge against Broeksma. Mr. Forster said he had no doubt whatever that the person " F." referred to in accused's letters was himself. Witness wished to emphatically deny the allegations that he treated his wife badly, and that he deserted her and lived with a woman named Piermain. He and his wife separated by mutual consent in 1887 and he settled "nearly £3000 a year on her. Witness had been known under the name of Adolphus Ellis in connection with theatrical matters. The further hearing was further adjourned, Dr. Ivrause being admitted to bail as before.

On January 19, the charge of inciting to murder was withdrawn, as it was not proved that Dr. Krause's letters had reached Broeksma. He was sentenced to two years' imprisonment, the maximum sentence allowed on the charge of attempting to incite to murder.