Letter from George Gavan Duffy to E. Blackwell, 3 August 1916 Letters 1916-1923 George Gavan Duffy

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 Austrian Centre for Digital Humanities Vienna, AT 2026

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This letter was written in response to E. Blackwell's letter of 2 August, rejecting George Gavan Duffy's (1882-1951) request to attend the execution of Sir Roger Casement (1864-1916) and the family request for burial outside of the prison. Gavan Duffy argues that execution for treason is different from that for murder and the requirement for burial within the prison is not therefore not valid.George Gavan Duffy was an Irish politician, barrister and judge. He unsuccessfully defended Roger Casement at his trial for high treason after the Easter Rising.

 National Library of Ireland Roger Casement Papers, Collection List no. A15, Ms. 13,088 /12 https://letters1916.ie/item/1303 English George Gavan Duffy 1916-08-03 4 Raymond Buildings, Gray's Inn W.C., London E. Blackwell Home Office, Whitehall, London Male Easter Rising Ireland 1916 Law and Judiciary Industry and Public Administration

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 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 Home Office, Whitehall, London Letter from George Gavan Duffy to E. Blackwell, 3 August 1916Letter from John Pedder to Matthew Nathan, 10 April 1916 4 Raymond Buildings, Gray's Inn W.C., London Letter from George Gavan Duffy to E. Blackwell, 3 August 1916 George Gavan Duffy Letter from Fr. E.F. Murnane to George Gavan Duffy, 2 August 1916.Letter from J.T. Burns to George Gavan Duffy, 16 October 1916.Letter from Ernest Blythe to George Gavan Duffy, 18 April 1916Telegram from P.S. O' Hegarty to George Gavan Duffy, 18 April 1916Telegram from George Gavan Duffy to P.S. O' Hegarty, 18 April, 1916Letter from George Gavan Duffy to P.S. O'Hegarty, 20 April 1916Letter from George Gavan Duffy to Eoin MacNeill, 20 April 1916Letter from P.S. O'Hegarty to George Gavan Duffy, 24 April 1916Letter from Ernest Blythe to George Gavan Duffy, 12 May 1916.Letter from George Gavan Duffy to Ernest Blythe, 14 May 1916.Letter from George Gavan Duffy to Miss Helen Blythe, 22 May 1916.Letter from George Gavan Duffy to the Manager, 'Irish Independent', 22 May 1916.Letter from Ernest Blythe, Brixton Prison, to George Gavan Duffy, 29 May 1916.Letter from George Gavan Duffy to Messrs Corrigan & Corrigan, 31 July 1916Letter from George Gavan Duffy to Messrs Corrigan & Corrigan, 4 October 1916Letter from George Gavan Duffy to John O'Connell Esq., LLD, 9 August 1916Letter from Roger Casement to George Gavan Duffy, 30 June 1916Copy of letter from F. O'Donnell to George Gavan Duffy, 4 July 1916Copy of a letter from Serjeant Alex Sullivan to George Gavan Duffy, 4 August 1916Copy of a letter from George Gavan Duffy to Michael F. Doyle, 7 August 1916Letter from John Quinn to George Gavan Duffy, 9 September 1916Letter from Fr F.M. Ryan O.P. to George Gavan Duffy, 12 July 1916Letter from Fr F.M. Ryan O.P. to George Gavan Duffy, 12 July 1916Letter From E. Blackwell to George Gavan Duffy, 2 August 1916Letter from George Gavan Duffy to E. Blackwell, 3 August 1916Letter from E. Blackwell to George Gavan Duffy, 3 August 1916Letter from G. Gavan Duffy to E. Blackwell, 4 August 1916Letter from Father Edward Murnane to George Gavan Duffy, 24 July 1916Letter from George Gavan Duffy to Ernest Blythe, 21 April 1916.Letter from George Gavin Duffy to Joseph Cyrillus Walsh, 6 July 1920 Letter from George Gavan Duffy to Joseph Cyrillus Walsh, 6 July 1920 E. Blackwell Letter from E. Blackwell to Gertrude Bannister, 2 August 1916Letter From E. Blackwell to George Gavan Duffy, 2 August 1916Letter from George Gavan Duffy to E. Blackwell, 3 August 1916Letter from E. Blackwell to George Gavan Duffy, 3 August 1916Letter from G. Gavan Duffy to E. Blackwell, 4 August 1916