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
'May Almighty God have mercy on your soul!'
Whilst the sentences were being passed upon the four leaders the
auditors were wrought up to the highest pitch; sobs were heard on
every side, tears were on many cheeks, and even stolid old Boers were
seen to weep. One man was carried from the room in a fit.
The four Reform leaders, who had borne themselves during this trying
time in a brave and fearless manner, then stepped out of the dock
firmly and unhesitatingly, and were taken to the Pretoria jail.
The other fifty-nine prisoners were then called to the bar and
sentenced each to pay a fine of ten thousand dollars, and to suffer
two years' imprisonment.
Thus ended this remarkable trial, a judicial trial unprecedented in
the annals of jurisprudence.
A mockery of justice and a travesty upon civilisation.[9]
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 9: The foregoing regarding the trial and sentence of the
Reformers is from information derived from eye-witnesses and the local
Press.]
XI
By a strange providence Betty and I missed the early train. I had not
reckoned on the delay in dressing which sorrow and fatigue could
occasion.
The paper had announced that the sentence was to be given at noon.
Though I had no intention of being present in the Court-room, I wished
to be within reach of my husband in case he should need me. We took
the local train which left Johannesburg at 10.30.
Our journey came to an end. I saw Mr. Rose Innes and Dr. Scholtz on
the platform.
'Is it the death sentence?'
Mr. Rose Innes, with both hands on my shoulders to keep me from
falling, said 'Yes.'
There were many other friends, I have since learned, who were there to
receive me. I have a hazy recollection of Mr. Barnato, good
kind-hearted 'Barney,' begging me 'not to fret'; that he had brought
my husband to Africa and he meant to stand by him till he got out of
Africa. Mrs. Clement and Betty remained beside me. The day was without
hours to me, a dry aching stretch of time; I had no tears to shed!
At some time in the afternoon Mrs. Joel brought me a flower and a note
from my husband, beseeching me to keep up a brave heart, and assuring
me that he was all right and as comfortable as was possible under the
circumstances.
After the death sentence had been pronounced and the Court dismissed,
Mrs. Joel, with woman's thoughtfulness, put a flask of brandy in her
pocket and started for the prison. In the confusion of receiving the
prisoners she managed to slip in and went at once to the condemned
cell. Her visit was a God-send to the four unhappy men, who were much
worn by months of anxiety, ill-health, and this final strain of the
death sentence. They were bearing up wonderfully well, she said.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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