EXECUTION OF AUSTRALIAN OFFICERS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume L, Issue 11934, 7 April 1902, Page 2

EXECUTION OF AUSTRALIAN OFFICERS.

ACCOUNT GIVEN BY WAR OFFICE. "NO EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES." United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. Received April 6, 4.37 p.m. London, April s.—The War Office has published the following statement regarding the shooting :—ln:—ln July and August last year the Bush Veldt Carbineers were recruited in South Africa and included other colonials. They were employed in the wildest part of, the Transvaal, known as SSpelonkin, and took a certain "number of" prisoners 1. It came to the knowledge of the authoI'ities in October that there had been grave irregularities .committed by certain officers during the previous three months, and an exhaustive investigation was ordered. A court of inquiry assembled on October 16th, and the inquiry resulted in five officers being tried by a general courtmartial at Pietersburg in January. They were found guilty as principals or accessories in twelve murders, and Lieutenants P. J. Handcocks and H. H\ Morant were sentenced to death. The sentence was confirmed and carried out. The same officers were also charged with murdering the Rev. B. H'eese, a German missionary, on August 23rd. Although a st.rong suspicion existed that Handcocks, instigated -,by Morant, committed the deed ; yet the evidence was not sufficiently conclusive to jnstifiy conviction. Witton was found guilty of the murder and sentenced to death ;* but being present under influence his sentence was commuted to penal" servitude for life. Lieutenant H. Picton was found guilty of manslaughter. Major Lenehan, commanding the Bush Veldt Carbineers, who became aware of the crimes subsequent to their comlnital, was convicted of culpable neglect in omitting to report thereon. This officer was ordered to Australia, his dismissal being rendered unnecessary by the previous disbandment of the corps. No doubt exists, as to the guilt of the accused, whose' plea in extenuation that a member of their corps suffered ill-treatment at the hands of the Boers was not sustained by the evidence at the trial. The sentences were such as would have been inflicted on any officers found similarly guilty. Received April 7, 1.11 a.m. Melbourne, April 7.—Lord Kitchener has cabled .to Lord Hopetoun details of the shooting, and confirms the particulars already received through the War Office. Lord Kitchener says : "There were in my opinion no extenuating circumstances."