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16th May. 1916. Dear Mrs. Skeffington. I was very
sorry to hear of Frank's death, and
greatly shocked to learn the circumstances
of it. Among the many tragic events
of recent days in Dublin, your loss
is certainly the saddest, and has
aroused general sympathy. Even those who dissented most
strongly from his political views, could
not but admire his unselfishness and
courage. Please accept the assurance of
my heartfelt sympathy. Yours sincerely. John H. Hutchinson
John H. Hutchinson (b. 1880) writes to Hanna Sheehy Skeffington (1877-1946) on 16
May 1916 to express his sympathy as the death of her husband Francis.
Hanna Sheehy Skeffington (1877-1946) suffragette, nationalist, language teacher,
was the founder of the Irish Women’s Franchise League and a founding member of the
Irish Women Workers’ Union. She was the widow of Francis Sheehy-Skeffington who was
summarily executed on 26 April 1916. She was active during the Rising, bringing food
to the Volunteers in the G.P.O. and the College of Surgeons. Four days passed before
she found out what had happened to her husband, Francis (1878-1916), and it wasn't
until almost two weeks later that the full details of his execution emerged.