“My name is Pieter Hendrik Kritzinger.  In the commencement of September, 1900, I became a commandant of the Free State Forces.  I became Chief Commandant of the forces in the Cape Colony on the 11th of June, 1901.  This would not give me a higher position in the event of my returning to the Free State.  Once over the border I would hold the same position as any other commandant.  I surrendered on the 16th of December last.  I attempted to cross the line at Hanover Road and was wounded.

I know absolutely nothing of the death of Jafta and Solomon, I gave no orders that they should be shot, nor any other natives.  I arrived at Voetpad on a Thursday, the 14th of February, 1901.  I camped there until the following day.  Shortly before I left Voetpad Captain Smit with his men came there from a farm in the vicinity.  The name of the farm is unknown to me.  Captain Smit was not under my command.  He was acting independently.  An advance guard is generally sent out.  On this occasion I sent Wessels and some men.  I do not know when Wessels left, I cannot remember.  I went from Voetpad to Poortje, the farm of Van der Merwe.  I arrived there about sundown on Friday the 15th.  On my way from Voetpad I passed over Boltman’s place.  I did not hear of any natives being shot there.  While on Voetpad I had no message from Wessels.  I cannot remember having spoken to any one in that strain regarding Boltman’s statements re shooting natives.  There was one Mijnhardt in my commando, there were others amongst Smit’s men, but I can’t call to mind of a Corporal Mijnhardt in my commando.  No report was ever made to me of natives being shot at Grootplaats.

     2nd Charge:—­

On the 15th of February, 1901, I went to Poortje.  I camped there for the night.  On the 16th I went to Driefontein, the farm of du Toit.  That was Saturday.  From there I went on Sunday to the farm Tweefontein, Minnaar’s.  I have not had a man named Van Aswegen with me at Minnaar’s.  I know a Van Aswegen; he is a sergeant in Smit’s commando.  He was not at Minnaar’s when I got there.  I do not know where he was.  On the 12th of February, 1901, I saw Van Aswegen on a farm, the name of which is unknown to me.  The owner’s name is Burger.  There Smit and his men left me.  I next saw Van Aswegen on a farm in the Richmond district, the owner of which is Meiring.  I stopped at Minnaar’s for the day, held service, and left there in the afternoon.  I know nothing of the shooting of a native there.  No shooting of a native was reported to me.  Van Aswegen certainly had no orders from me.  He was not under my control, he was under the control of Smit.  Nobody belonging to my commando had any orders from me with reference to shooting natives.

     3rd Charge:—­

     The Court does not think it necessary to take the prisoner’s
     evidence on this charge.

     4th Charge:—­