Part 41 (1/2)

There was no answer from the witness.

Judge: That will do, Mr. Cronje. I do not think that these people have much reason to thank you for the leave to appeal.

Cronje was followed in the witness-box by Stiemens, whose evidence is already referred to, and the Court then adjourned.

The next morning, shortly before the opening of the Court, the State Attorney came down on behalf of the Government and arranged with Plaintiffs' Counsel to adjourn for the day to enable parties to try and settle the three cases out of Court. The Court thereupon adjourned at the request of parties, and during the day the three cases were settled on the following basis: The Government refunds Toeremetsjani the 147 10s. with interest at 6 per cent, from the date of payment by her to Erasmus, and pays her costs, to be taxed as between attorney and client.

The Defendants Cronje, Erasmus, and Schoeman, pay each of the thirteen indunas who were flogged 25 as compensation, and pay the costs of Jesaja and Segole, to be taxed as between attorney and client.

POSTSCRIPT.

One last touch of irony is needed to complete the story of the suits brought by the Chieftainess Toeremetsjani and her indunas against Messrs. Erasmus, Schoeman, and the rest. It seems that these same gentlemen have actually been appointed by the Government to 'investigate matters' in the district where these Kaffirs live. Poor Toeremetsjani and the unfortunate indunas, as a contemporary remarks, may be expected to give a grovelling welcome. No more High Court for them.

The natives, by the way, interviewed since their return to the kraals, state that they have not yet received the settlement arranged.

In connection with the above sample of justice to the natives it is as well to recall another recent incident which has lately taken place. Some natives being severely mishandled by the local authorities, and being in consequence dest.i.tute of means to proceed against them in law, applied to Court for leave to sue in forma pauperis. This leave was granted. Immediately upon this becoming known pet.i.tions were got up among the Boers, with the result that the Volksraad some six weeks ago took a resolution instructing the Government to immediately bring in a law forbidding the judges to grant such leave, and making it impossible for a native to sue Government or any white person in forma pauperis. Comment (concludes the correspondent who sets out these various facts) is superfluous.

APPENDIX L.

59, HOLBORN VIADUCT, LONDON, E.C.

6th May, 1897.

REPORT ON THE LETTER WRITTEN ON A TORN TELEGRAM FORM SIGNED ”F.R.”, BY MR. T.H. GURRIN, EXPERT IN HANDWRITING.

Mr. THOMAS HENRY GURRIN, of 59, Holborn Viaduct, London, E.C., is a professional expert in handwriting, recognized and employed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Home Office, and the authorities at Scotland Yard, and is constantly engaged by them in that capacity. He is also frequently engaged in the same capacity by the Bank of England and other public bodies.

He has acted as handwriting expert in a very large number of civil and criminal cases at sessions, a.s.sizes, and before the High Courts, for over twelve years past, and can conscientiously say that his experience in the identification of genuine handwriting and the detection of forged and altered doc.u.ments is very extensive.

Mr. Gurrin begs respectfully to submit the following report:-

'Having been instructed by Mr. Braunstein, solicitor, of 27, Great George Street, Westminster, I have examined a photograph of torn portions of a letter written on a telegram form of the South African Republic.

'My attention has been directed to the evidence of Major Sir J.C. Willoughby, appearing at page 302 of the Minutes, in which he has given his version of the missing portions of this doc.u.ment.

'I have compared this version of the missing words with the vacant s.p.a.ces, and I find that the words supplied in question 5,571 would occupy, as near as can be estimated, the missing s.p.a.ces, judging from the other writing in the doc.u.ment.

'I read the first portion of the doc.u.ment as follows:-

'”Dear Dr., ”The rumour of ma.s.sacre in”