hat good men
of excellent characters have committed crimes, and I would not for
one moment appeal for an acquittal because Kritzinger has behaved
so well in other instances, and has shown himself a humane man, and
a man of honour. I do not ask for mercy on the ground of
Kritzinger's character, we can only ask for a fair and just
verdict. But character is of importance when there is any doubt in
the case. I ask the Court to bear in mind the character of the
accused. Is a man who bears such a character likely to have
committed the crimes charged against him? The character of
Kritzinger, if we put aside the charges in his case, is an
excellent one. The prosecution has brought out in cross-examination
a certain proclamation. I am glad it has been brought out, for it
goes to show nothing against the character of the accused, but it
tells in his favour, for, what do we find? That a draft
proclamation was drawn up at a meeting of commandants, at which
Kritzinger was chairman. He opposed it by every means in his power,
but he was in the minority, and, as president of the gathering, he
had to sign it. He then asked for some postponement before that
proclamation was circulated, and that was agreed to. He still
fought against this proclamation, for he asked that before De Wet
approved of it nothing should be done in the way of circulation. He
never circulated it himself. If it was circulated, it was done by
the other commandants against the agreement. It was not approved of
by De Wet, and never became a proclamation. This shows that
Kritzinger disapproved of the harsh measures contained in it, that
he tried to get it done away with, and that at last he succeeded in
getting a refusal from the Chief Commandant of the Free State. It
was owing to his efforts that the proclamation did not become a
valid one in this Colony, and he cannot be responsible for anything
that may have been done against the agreement arrived at by those
at the meeting.

"As regards his treatment of natives, he tells you himself that he
never had natives shot, except those boys who were duly tried, and
whose sentences were duly confirmed, and that will tell in his
favour.

"As regards his attitude _re_ the destruction of property, we have
the letter to Scheepers, and the Court