Meanwhile, I succeeded in enlisting the services of Advocate Gardiner
and Attorney Auret, Graaff Reinet, and made such arrangements that my
witnesses could be present at the trial.

Advocate Gardiner arrived on the evening of the 6th of March. The
following day the court-martial commenced. As my witnesses had not yet
arrived, it was decided that the evidence for the prosecution should
first be taken.

The counsel for the defence took exception to the charges of
train-wreckage, ill-treatment of troops, and some instances of murder;
charges which, _prima facie_, would not stand the test of examination.
These were then withdrawn by the prosecution. After this subtraction
there still remained four charges of murder, which we shall enumerate
in succession.

1st Charge:--

_Murder_.

On or about the 15th of February, 1901, it was alleged that I had killed
and murdered Jafta and Solomon, natives, British subjects, at
Grootplaats, Murraysburg, Cape Colony.

Mr. Boltman, the owner of the farm Grootplaats, was the principal
witness for the prosecution. He deposed that he saw one of my officers,
_i.e._, Antonie Wessels, riding up to me, and after Wessels had spoken
to me he rode back and shot the two natives. Hence I must have given him
orders to shoot them! Besides, Mr. Boltman also declared that he had