1 4 Raymond Buildings, Gray's Inn, W.C. 3rd August 1916. The Under Secretary of State, Home Office, S.W. Sir :- 311643:- I have the honour to acknowledge your letter of yesterday
intimating that the Secretary of State is unable to allow
me to be present at the execution of Roger Casement and that he
is unable to allow the body to be buried outside the prison walls
'as the law requires that it shall be buried within the walls'.
I beg you to let me know to what law you refer, as I venture to
think there must be a misapprehension, for I am advised that
there is no such law in the case of treason and if the Secretary
of State will be good enough to reconsider the matter I feel
sure that he will recognise that the King has the disposal of
the body in his hands. If this be so, I hesitate to believe that
His Majesty will be advised to refuse the relatives' request
to have the body in order that Roger Casement may not be buried
with the indignity habitual in the case of a murderer. I write in great haste and beg for the favour of your
reply as soon as possible. In the meantime I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient servant, G.Gavan Duffy