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THE PRESBYTERY, DOCKHEAD, BERMONDSEY, S.E. July 31. 1916 Dear Mrs Gavan Duffy.
Your wire, I had half
a suspicion it was yours, filled
me with joy. But it has not
been realised. Anyhow I wrote
him a long letter on the
strength of it. You will see
by this letter, one of many,
that Lady O Conor is doing
her utmost and successfully
to obtain influential names
And she is doing what I
told Roger, a multitude are
doing — moving Heaven by
our prayers and the powers
that be by our letters & appeals
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He is having Masses, Communions
& prayers here daily —you need
not return Lady O'Conor's
letter. I put your very thoughts
in my appeal to John Redmond
what a help Roger would
be to the new & happier Ireland
we are all striving & praying
for. I am so grateful to you
& Gavan for the privilege of
knowing Roger, whose friendship
will always be a very hallowed
one. I shall leave this letter
open until the morning in
case any fresh news comes.
With a grateful blessing and
prayers for you, Gavan and
the children. Ever yr sincere friend. E.F. Murnane Feast of St. Peter's Chains. Let us
hope a happy omen of our dear
friend's release. No later news.
Letter from Father Edward F. Murnane to Margaret Gavan Duffy (1876–1967). Murnane
discusses their appeals for the release of Sir Roger Casement (1864–1916), including
an appeal to John Redmond (1856–1918), the leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party.Margaret
Gavan Duffy was the wife of George Gavan Duffy (1882-1951), who acted as solicitor
to Casement during his trial for treason. Casement had been arrested in Kerry in April
1916 during a failed landing of German arms for use in the Easter Rising. He was hanged
in August 1916. Gavan Duffy was later one of the Irish signatories of the Anglo-Irish
Treaty in 1921.