A Woman's Part in a RevolutionHammond, Natalie Harris
History
A Woman's Part in a Revolution
Hammond, Natalie Harris
Jameson's Raid, 1895-1896
He made no reference or protest to the tribunal as constituted--a
Court presided over by a Judge _not a_ citizen of the country whose
sovereignty had been offended by the treasonable acts charged.
Mr. Wessels was followed by the State Attorney, Dr. Coster, in a
bitter and vindictive speech.
He demanded that the prisoners at the bar should be punished under the
_Roman Dutch Law_, and that the four leaders should receive the
_death_ penalty.
This demand of the State Attorney was apparently a surprise to Mr.
Wessels, for he sprung to his feet in an excited manner and protested
most vigorously against the demand of Dr. Coster; his language and
manner were such as to impress many present that it was provoked by a
breach of good faith.
At the conclusion of the speech of the State Attorney, Gregorowsky
(the imported Judge) summed up the case at length, and held that the
prisoners were guilty of high treason as charged in the indictment,
and that the Roman Dutch Law governed in such cases; and that the
sentences imposed would be in accordance therewith.
The Sheriff then with a loud voice commanded silence whilst the
sentence of death was pronounced.
A deep hush fell upon the Court-room--a profound, breathless silence
that became oppressive before the next official utterances disturbed
it.
'Lionel Phillips, George Farrar, Francis Rhodes, John Hays Hammond!'
called the Registrar.
In response these four were singled out from the rest of the prisoners
and conducted to the new dock.
It was the Registrar who again spoke.
'Lionel Phillips, have you any legal reasons to urge why sentence of
death should not be passed upon you, according to law?'
'No,' was the response.
This was followed by the sentence.
In like manner, Farrar and Rhodes were interrogated and sentenced.
Mr. Hammond was then called to his feet and the same formal question
asked.
Although pale and weak from protracted illness, Mr. Hammond responded
in a firm voice to the Registrar's question.
The Judge, then addressing the prisoner, said: 'John Hays Hammond, it
is my painful duty to pass sentence of death upon you.
'I am only applying the punishment which is meted out and laid down
according to law, leaving it to his Honour the State President, and
the Executive Council, to show you any mercy which may lie in their
power.
'May the magnanimity shown by his Honour the State President, and this
Government, to the whole world, during the recent painful events be
also shown to you.
'I have nothing to do with that, however.
'I can only say, that in any other country you would not have a claim
on their mercy. The sentence of the Court is, that you be taken from
this place where you are now, and be conveyed to the jail at Pretoria,
or any such other jail in this Republic as may be appointed by law, to
be kept there till a time and place of execution shall be appointed by
lawful authority, that you be taken to the place of execution to be
there hanged by the neck till you are dead.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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