Murder of Unarmed Boers.

Manawatu Herald, 8 April 1902, Page 2

Murder of Unarmed Boers.

STATEMENT BY THE WAR

OFFICE.

The War Office has published the following statement with regard to the shooting of the Australian officers ■ “ In July and August last year the Bush Veldt Carbineers were recruited in South Africa, and included men from other colonies. They were employed in the wildest part of the Transvaal, know at the Spelonken, and took a certain number of prisoners. “ It cams to the knowledge of the authorities in October that there had been grave irregularities on the part of certain officers during the previous three months. After an exhaustive in* vestigation. a Court of Inquiry was ordered, and assembled on October x6th. ’ “ The inquiry resulted in five officers being tried oy general court-martial at Pietcrsburg in January last. They were found guilty as principals or accessories in twelve murders. Lieutenants P. J. Handcock and H. H. Morant were sentenced to deatbi and the sentence was confirmed and carried

4#. The same officers were also charged / with murdering the Rev. 0. Heese, a German missionary, on August 23rd. Although there was a strong suspicion that Handcock, instigated by Morant had committed the dead, the evidence was not sufficient conclusive to justily his conviction. , , ... “ Lieutenant Witton was found guilty of murdering the missionary, and sentenced to death, but, as he had been present under influence, his sentence was commuted to penal servitude tor life. , . “ Lieutenant H. Picton was found guilty of manslaughter. Major Lenebam, commanding the Bush Veldt Carbineers, who became aware ot the crimes subsequent to their committal, was convicted of culpable neglect in omitting to report thereon. He 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 of extenuation on the ground that members of their corps had suffered ill-treatment at the hands of the Boers was not sustained by evidence at the trial. “ The sentences were such as would have been inflicted on any officers found guilty of similar oftences." Lord Kitchener cabled to Lord Hopetoun details confirming the War Office’s particulars of the shooting of Australian officers. Ha says : “ There ware, in my no extenuating circumstances.