military scouts who were stationed at De Jaeger’s farm in the neighbourhood, instructing him to hand over his horses to their care.  No written order from the Commandant was exhibited to Mr. Schoeman, either at that time or on his request, nor was any evidence adduced at his trial later on to prove that such an order had really been given by an officer administering martial law in the district.  Nevertheless, Mr. Schoeman obeyed the order, and on the same afternoon sent his horses, three in number, to De Jaeger.  The scouts refused to take his horses, and told them to bring them on the following morning, Thursday, August 29th.  This Schoeman did; on coming to the place with them he found that the scouts had left, and was obliged to take the animals again back to his farm.  On the afternoon of that same day he received a message from the scouts, and in reply told them to come and see him.  He had meanwhile, for safety’s sake, sent two horses to be concealed away from his stable, and kept one, a stallion, at the homestead.

The next day, Friday, Boers appeared early in the afternoon.  They took the stallion, and the following day they returned and asked where the other horses were.  Mr. Schoeman declined to give any information, but they discovered and seized them.  Immediately after the Boers had left, Mr. Schoeman dispatched one of his farm boys named Barry to De Jaeger, the nearest military post, to report the occurrence.  The scouts had, however, disappeared, and he learned from De Jaeger that before leaving they had received a report of the presence of the Boers.  On the return of Barry, Mr. Schoeman endeavoured to obtain another messenger.  Owing to the state of the country, which was infested with the enemy, his efforts proved unavailing.

During the next week Mr. Schoeman, with a considerable number of his neighbours, was ordered to Oudtshoorn.  On his arrival he was arrested, without any charge or warrant, and confined for some three months, bail being refused.  No preliminary examination was held as provided in the instructions on martial law issued May 1st, 1901.  On Sunday, December 1st, it was notified to Mr. Schoeman that he would be tried on the following day, and the charges were for the first time communicated to him.  On December 2nd the court assembled and Mr. Schoeman was charged with three offences: 

1.  For not having handed his horses over to the proper military authorities, whereby they fell into the hands of the enemy.

2.  For having been on friendly terms with the enemy.

3.  For having failed to report the presence of the enemy.

He was found guilty on the first and last charges and not guilty on the second count, being sentenced to six months’ hard labour and to pay a fine of L500, or to suffer a further term of twelve months’ hard labour in lieu of the fine.  The sentence was confirmed, the fine was paid by Mr. Schoeman, and he underwent the imprisonment for one month with hard labour and for five months without hard labour, which was remitted upon order from Lord Kitchener, who, without even being fully instructed as to the circumstances of the case, of his own accord lightened the terrible sentence passed upon Mr. Schoeman.