People's Pilot, Volume 5, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 February 1896 — IS LONDON’S IDOL. [ARTICLE]

IS LONDON’S IDOL.

DR. JAMESON GIVEN A GREAT OVATION. CF»wd Walts All Da j for the Arrival of the DUtingnUhed PrUcoer Judge Dwell* on the OraTlty of the Offense with Which He Is Charged. London, Feb. 26.—1 t was probably not without design that the appearance of Dr. Jameson for arraignment in the Bow street police court was delayed all through the day. There was a disposition pervading the London'masses to give “Dr. Jim” an ovation. The British authorities desire, as far as possible, to give no appearance of encouraging such a demonstration of approval of a citizen who has been handed over to them by a power against which he sought to wage war, in the faith that Great Britain will see justice done to him and will probably avenge the outrage done to a friendly power. But the British government is well aware that though Dr. Jameson is brought to England .for trial as a criminal, he is, in the popular eye, a hero, and his raid into the Transvaal, far from being viewed as a political enterprise, is looked upon as a chivalrous and knightly adventure to succor hardpressed friends and fellow-countrymen. It was Quite late in the day before Dr. Jameson was landed. He was brought on a tug to Firth on the Thames and was then conducted by a further roundabout and obscure route to the Bow street police court. As a consequent it was almost 6:30 o’clock in the evening when he was finally driven up to the entrance of the court and brought in. The authorities thus hoped to evade any very noisy demonstration on the part of the waiting crowds outside, as they were scarcely aware that the prisoner was among them before he had disappeared into the court-room. But his entrance to the court-room was the signal for a remarkable scene. Evidently every one present was of one mind in sympathizing with him. All were his friends, and all rose and uncovered upon his appearance, giving him hearty cheers. It was in vain that the court officers sought to quell the demonstration. The charge lodged against Dr. Jameson and fourteen of his fellow-prisoners was declared to be “Warring against a friendly state.” After the charge had been read Mr. Henry Matthews, Q. C., who was home secretary in the former Salisbury government, announced that in view of the importance of the case the law officers of the crown would conduct the prose- ! cution. Formal evidence was then presented as to the circumstances of the arrest. The lawyers who were in court on behalf of the accused men asked that their personal recognizances be accepted for bail. Sir John Bridge, from his place on the bench, said that before deciding upon the bail he felt that be ought to observe that in his opinion a graver offense could not be charged against men than that charged against the prisoners. It was a crime of the highest possible gravity, the magistrate continued, and it must be by every one when j they consider that the commission of | such an offense might create a‘ war be- j tween countries previously friendly. The circumstances of the present case, he added, were most peculiar. He felt satisfied that the prisoners would appear when wanted. He therefore accepted their personal recognizances, and fixed their bail at £2,000 ($10,000) each.

Sir John Bridge then addressed the prisoners personally in a grave and serious vein. He begged them for their own sakes and for the sake of the good faith of the country to refrain from appearing where public excitement would be roused by their presence, or in any way lending themselves to the disturbance of the peace. Dr. Jameson's appearance outside the building was the signal for a wild outburst of cheering, throwing of hats in the air and a tremendous pressure to get within reach of the popular idol. When he finally reached his cab he was hurriedly driven off without waiting to make any sign of acknowledgment of the ovation. It appears from the later accounts which have been received that the identity of Dr. Jameson was not concealed successfully on the route from the landing to the Bow street police court. In fact, when his boat appeared in the river, and wherever Dr. Jameson was seen on the route to Bow street, the populace greeted him with vociferous cheers. Maj. Heany, the American who was arrested and embarked at Port Natal' with Dr. Jameson and the other prisoners, but who disembarked at a way port, upon arriving in London was mistaken by the crowd for Dr. Jameson, and in consequence was greeted with loud cheers.