1
Gorey TELEGRAM. July 28th 1916 Dublin TO J.F. Sweetman Mount St. Gorey Wexford
Dear Sir As to execution of 'Roger Casement', if carried
out will create disaffection and bitterness in
the minds of our Irish People, it would
be prudent of our statesmen to pardon him — I hasten to sign enclosed petition
Yours obediently HGMcAllister
This telegram was addressed to John F. Sweetman (1844–1936) by a Mr McAllister. Sweetman
was a member of Sinn Féin and patron to Arthur Griffith. In 1915 he spoke out against
conscription was arrested after the 1916 Rising and interned in England until the
end of May 1916. In this telegram the author states that if the execution of Roger
Casement is carried out dissatisfaction and bitterness will creep into the minds of
the Irish people. He believes it would be prudent of the state to pardon Casement
and will gladly sign the petition urging them to do so. Casement had been imprisoned
in London after he had been arrested while landing on the coast of Kerry in a submarine
on the eve of the Easter Rising. A campaign was launched featuring many prominent
figures such as W.B. Yeats and George Bernard Shaw to secure a reprieve for Casement
but he was hanged on 3 August 1916.