After some preliminary matters were disposed of, Mr. Hammond, actuated
by the same influences that were brought to bear on his associates,
entered a plea of guilty to count one of the indictment, and placed
his signature to the written statement which had been previously
signed by Messrs. Rhodes, Phillips, and Farrar.

This written paper was in substance as follows:--

That for a number of years the Uitlanders had earnestly and
peacefully sought relief for their grievances by the
constitutional right of petition. That what they asked was
only what was conceded to new-comers by every other South
African Government.

That petition after petition was placed before the
authorities--one bearing 40,000 signatures, asking
alleviation of their burdens and wrongs; that they could
never obtain a hearing, and that the provisions of law
already deemed obnoxious and unfair were being made more
stringent; and, realising that they would never be accorded
the rights they were entitled to receive, it was determined
to make a demonstration of force in support of their just
demands.

The statement then recites the coming of Jameson against
their express commands and understanding with him, and all
the subsequent acts of the Transvaal Government, the High
Commissioner, and De Wet, Her Majesty's Agent, which are
now matters of history.