THE PRETORIA CONSPIRACY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 204, 3 October 1900, Page 1

THE PRETORIA CONSPIRACY.

TRIAL Of THE RINGLEADER GORDNA. SENSATIONAL DISCLOSURES. Capbiows, August) 24.' In Pretoria on the 16bb the ringleader of the plot to maasaere the British officers in Pretoria, Lieutenant Hans Oordna, of the late Staats Artillery, was brought before the General Oourt-Matial, of which General Marshall is president. The prisoner was led into the Court by a corporal'* gnard with fixed bayonetß, He is a young man. He «r»s allowed the advice of one of the best advocate# in Pretoria, Mr. Berrange, The counts in (he indictment were read, which set forth that the prisoner was accosed of breakitg his parole, and attempting to abduct British officers. When asked whether lie pleaded guilty or not, "Guilty," he answered, "guilty." Tbe Court, however, requested him to reconsider his plea, which he consented to do, and the trial proceeded. Mtjor Poore, the Proveßt Marsha], gave evidence.identifying the prisoner aa a person to whom he had administered the oath of neutrality. Major Erasmus, of the Staats Artillery, also identified the prisoner. Du Toit, a burgher, who also took the oath, gave most damaging evidence. He stated that the prisoner came to him on the 4th Jaly and asked his asnttance in a big enterprise whieh would stagger Europe. He then developed a plan to seize all the officers, whose residences were marked down, while the prisoner himself was to rash to Lord Roberts's house, abduct him, and hand him over to Botha behind Beckett's Kopje, about two miles from town. When witness asked for some proof of Botha's co-operation, the prisoner displayed a paper fall of ciphers, which, he alleged, was a letter from Botha, Again witness objected to tbe scheme, which he considered dangerous and risky. He also asked the prisoner, "'What about the oath of neutralityf' "That is nothing'" replied the prisoner. "If discovered it only means transportation to Ceylon. Witness asked for time to think over the plan, and accordingly the prisoner left. He returned next day, when the witness refused to have anything to do with the plot. The prisoner stated that he hoped to collect 250 men in the town and seize the arms in the artillery barracks, where he learnt there were 7000 riflrs. He also said that tke conspirators were to go into the streetß at night-time, and when showing their passes to the police when challenged, were to seize their rifles, prisoner showed witness a notebook containing planß of the wards of the town, also a cipher letter to Botha, which, however, was torn cot before the book was given to witness, with whom it was left for two days, and who showed it to three members of the Constabulary. Untenant Kruger, of the Imperial Transvaal Police, gave details of the contents of the pocket book, but said it was not tbe same book as was shown to hU by Do Toit, which contained a sketch plan of the plot, a cipher letter,

and a plan of the houses in which the officers, especially Lord Roberts, were staying. Witness handed to the Court a translation ef Botha's cipher letter which Was Dutch. He fotuid the key to the cipher in Oordna's prison. The letter ran as follows 1 " Proceed with the work. Do not lose courage, I will not leave you in the lurch." Melt Marais, formerly field cornet of Pretoria, deposed that the prisoner proposed to him to raise men for a big scheme to disarm the police, and take Lord Roberts prisoner and carry him to a place in the vicinity and deliver him to Botha. He (witness) refused to join the scheme. On the following day the prisoner made a statement to the effect that Guno inveigled him into the plot, pretending to be a pro-Boer in British employ. He gave further details, in * the course of which he declared that he was unwilling to join in tbe plot, but was over persuaded by Guno.

In the coarse of cross-examination! by lhe prosecution, he said he wou'd not answer " ?;•« or No " as to whether he showed Dm Toit a menage Ircm Botha. He admitted that he went to lee Knot, Da Toit, and Marais in order to oonsult th«m regarding; the plot, bat Maraii related to have anything to do with it He refeired to his acquaintance with Gano, who, he said, professed to be tired in the employ ef the Britiib, and wished t > hrlp the Been. The prisoner admitted Wag told that Quno belonged to the] British Morel service, about ten d»ys before he was arrestee, He stated that Guno suggested the details of the plot, uid showed him letten and papers tending to prove his bona fides, I Prisoner believed Grano bad the power to pan him ihrongh the line?, aodporsaaded him to dreßs in khaki in order that he might succeed in passing. Prisoner said that Gnno was aware of the whole details. It was his own plot to take the town, including the officers. On the third day of the trial, Gano was called as a next witness. He is of Spanish extraction, and lived for a considerable time in South America. He was cilled by the prosecution, by permission of the Oourp, for the purpose of rebutting certain details given Ly the defence. His entrance into the witness box created a sensation. He stated that he was instructed to carry oat inquiries ia regard to a certain plot. He denied having started He -knew of the existence of the plot. He only learnt the details latterly. Tbe abduction of Lord Roberts was mentioned to him about a week before Gjrdn&'s arrest, and again on the night he left Pretoria. He never reoeivad an official document signed "Prosecutor," which theprisoner alleged ha had seen. He never saw the prisoner drunk. He appeared disinclined to drink.

Cross examined, bto «aid he was instrooted to get in toaeh with Major , Eramuf, Marais, £• P.eais, and ■oUwir. He suspeoed that the plot was to injare persons and property. He often took the prisoner to his noms at his hotel. ' Whisky way always on tha table. He admitted thathisclose ' acquaintance with thi prisoner w&Kfdiscovefthi) plot. Hf denied acting as a decoy to entray the nrvibe agrat. He supplied bia own uniform to Cordna. He himself suggested thechange to the prisoner te enable him to go through the lineup He also gave him th» countersign to pass the sentries, The prisoner was arrested at five o'olock in the morning ' by a picket of the Seaforth Highlanders. Ht purposely sought to aroasa suspiofam fat. order te secure arrest. It was his intention to go to wherever he was led by the prisoner, presumably the Beer lines. The prisoner suggested a postponement owing to the great distance the Boers were away from the' town. He used every endeavour to persuade the prisoner to tnut him, and he himself, suggested to the prisoner to go to thr lines,,pretending his desire to join the enemy. Tho prisoner never disclosed tha whole 'details of the plan. H attempted to persuade the prisoner • tb 'believe that his parole was useless. 80-examined by the prosecution, witness said th>t he was ordered t>

accompany the prisoner to Silverton. j The prisoned promised witness protection is the Botr lines to make an appointment with General' Botha's staff, lie denied emphatically than he the plot, The prisoner's counsel sd treated 'hf Courf, and -said hj; did not atk the Coort to find tho prisoner not guilty, bat to remember that the prisoner was dragged into guilt. The first charge was breaking his parole and taking part in a movement against the British Government Counsel contended that no movement was proved. Oulj an attempt was made, and tbe prisoner never ccmpleted his plans of the ' movement. The second charge was that of «rea< hsrcusly conspiring against Bii'.ish authority, and Mr. ' Berrange pointed oat that all the persons who had beeo approached denied , complicity in the conspiracy, and conspiracy by tbe one person was impossible, With regard to the third charge of breaking his parole by .leaving tbe to*n. Mr. Birraoge said (hat he cou'dnot deny tbe charge, at . the evidence was clear; bat .why Gano i was called until after the defence wae -heard he Was onable to understand. ..Tbo prisoner made a dear and distinct .statement, which bares the imprint of '-troth, and declared' (hit the whole plot , was doe to the Bnetis»tion cf Gano, who started the [lot. He asked' the Goart to believe the piisonei'c

evidence. iThs prosecutor asked tor an adjiurnmentnatilths 20oh. ; day the prosecutor made * speech, in which commented en th d'f*i c», wh'cb suoght to p'ovo that 04i>O had employed the prisoner tt *t«rt the plot, bit Gano, ia giving evidence, emphatically denied that he •rivtastfd <be plot. Bus leading »sid> the qimfroa ef the origin ri the p!o> thejritoafr was andou't-d'y a gui t\ participator. - E'm if the defenci prnved.thv Guuo wa» the originator, the prieooer would still be gut ty of violation of his parole, and ol participating in the plat. v ; The following day Cjlonel Godfrey, the Jadge Advocate, summed np H< reiterated the oharges in regard u ttraoherously oonspirieg, as the defence pat forward was that one man wss

■oable to aonspire. He quoted the it'xt of tbe prisouei's parole, and pointed cut that tbe violation of <• parole was.pnnuhaUe by death. The 0 u>t then retired to consider tbeir finding. Oaring the speech of tb<- J adge Advocate, thn prisoner'* beh>ivii.nr was oiltn aLd quiet, but when Urn Judge Adrocats stated fcbat the penalty of breaking a parole w,v death, iht> prisoner seemed moved foil m HMPi-t, 'iheO>mt returned rfcar an ittirva oftbree-'quaiters of an hour, and annonoced that tbe prisoner h«3 been fbodd gtii ty of the charges. The senHeaee will be givon when confirmed by Lord B>bercs, [The cable messages have informed OS that 0 rdna was seatenc&l to dsafcl'. K>d scsurdioglyt j ,