The Price of Treason.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 162, 6 February 1902, Page 4

The Price of Treason.

Mr Edgar Wallaos, writing from Jo hannesburg on November 21st, says ; Nearly three weeks ago, on Novembei 4th. to be exact, two men were arrainget before a military court at Johannesburg For come time past the burgher camps had been utilised by a certain class of burgher us convalescent homes for enervated burghers. Pleasant rest camps where captured Boers might recover from the fatigues incidental to campaigning, and where, having thoroughly recuperated they might seize favourable opportunities for slipping back again to the commandos. True, they ware obliged to take the oath of neutrality if they wished to remain in these camps. If th*y did not so choose they wore deported. It was in consequence of this practice that “ David Garnus Wernicb and Hendrick Meyer, residing within the British lines in the burgher camp at Johan leshurg, in the Transvaal, were charged with, firstly, high treason, in that they, both or one or other of them, and at various dates between the months of July and October, 1901, (both months inclusive), did, at the said burgher camp, incite and persuade by word cf mouth certain surrenderee! burghers residing at the said burgher camp—that is to say, among others, William Cornelius Mynhardt, Johannes Jurgens Kloppor, Hendrick Cornelius Nell, and Frederick Emil Metz —to leave the said burgher camp and join the King’s enemies. Secondly, breaking the oath of neutrality, in that they both or one or other of them, ca the dates and at the [place mentioned in the first charge, having previously taken the oatli of neutrality, did incite and persuade, by word of mouth, certain burgb.ert—namely, the said burghers mentioned in the first charge—to leave tbo said burgher camp and join ths King’s enemies. Thirdly, inciting to break the oath o! neutrality, in that they, both or one or other of them, and on the dai.au and in the places men tioned ia the foregoing charges, did incite and persuade, by word of mouth, cortair burghers—namely, the said burgher: mentioned in the foregoing charges—to leave tha said burgher oamp and join the King’s enemies.” Stripped of all the legal phraseology, they were charged with holding a pro-Boer meeting. The Court found Wernich guilty on all accounts, Meyer on charges one and three, and, the court having closed, the prisoners were led back to the cells. That was three weeks ago, and neither man knew what his sentence was to be. Yesterday morning Wernich knew. A raw morning, and no sign yet of the dawn. A terrific storm had passed over Johannesburg the previous night, and the thunder still rambled on the hills around and the lightning flared fitfully on the horizon. Here and there a coated policeman, his rifle slung at hia shoulder, paced the dead streets, casting an eye upwards for a stray star glittering through a momentary cloud t break. The streets silent, save for the grumbling thundei roll, every house lifeless, every window daik, and on the outskirts of the towu the unquiet signal lamps, blinking and winking from kopje to kopje. Then a clatter of hoofs from tha direction of the fort, and a horseman gallops through the town to the charge office, Johannesburg’s central police station. He has a message to deliver, a scald envelope for the chief gaoler. Then be wheels bis horse [or he has another errand. This time i l , i doctor to be roused. Then tho horseman rides hack to the fort, and the iron shod klip-klap grows fainter and dies away. Once more silence iu the streets of Johannesburg. Inside the charge office the gaoler hed broken tho seal, and has proceeded to Wernich’s cell. A muffled figure with rifle and fixed bayonet step t on one aide to allow tha gaoler to pass into the cell, and a man ia wakened from his sleep to hear the sentence of the Court. <‘Tobe shot at sunrise.” The man is still half asleep. It may be only a bad dream. Then ha realises and bursts into tears. To be shot at six, and already it is past three ! He dresses, and the guard outside assemble to maicji him to the fort, the place of execution. Dressed at last. Out into the deserted street swings the little party, Tramp, tramp, shuffle, shuffle; the prisoner is taking his last walk. Think of it I This walk through tbo city of the dead, with never a familiar face or the glint of pity from human eyes. Only the unpeopled streets and the silent houses and the pa'e herald of dawn in the eastern sky. What a morning of thoughts ; little whits boats on a sunny sea; fat kine browsing on a golden ridge. Love and hope and the goodness of living, Then tho fort and shut doors behind, and the hours slip round faster than ever they slipped before, and the minister’s voice offering spiritual consolation is a meaningless drone. “ Lite everlasting—” It is life the poor wretch wants; and then he is led outside and blindfolded, and two gaolers lead bim by the arm to a chain He cannot see what is happening, he only knows that he will be killed very quickly and very soon. If his eyes were nnbandaged he would see that oven as he is placed against the chair, and while yet the warders are at his elbows, ten men facing him have raised their rifles to the “present.” Then, unassisted, he sits, and the warders spring clear, Hia body does not (ouch the seat before t,he rifles crash, echo, and the silence falls again.