Letter from Richard W. Hale to John Quinn, 18 August 1916 Letters 1916-1923 Richard W. Hale

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This letter was written by Richard W. Hale (1872-1943) to John Quinn (1870–1924), discussing Quinn’s article in the New York Times on the 13 August 1916. Hale was a lawyer and author from Boston and was partner in the Hale & Grinnell law firm. John Quinn was a lawyer in New York, the son of Irish immigrants who maintained close ties with Ireland during his life through his patronage of the arts. In the letter, Hale criticises Quinn’s article that describes the unjust nature of Sir Roger Casement’s execution. Hale argues that Quinn is not viewing the situation with an impartial eye.

 New York Public Library Manuscripts and Archives Division John Quinn Memorial Collection, Box 7, f.4 https://letters1916.ie/item/6730 English Richard W. Hale 1916-08-16 16 Central Street, Boston, Massachusetts, US John Quinn 31 Nassau Street, New York, US Male 1943 Easter Rising Ireland 1916

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 Richard W. HaleFrank W GrinnellRoger D.Swaim John M. MaguireHarvey H. Bundy Hale & Grinnell,Attorneys and Counsellors at Law,16 Central Street, Boston, Mass Long Distance TelephoneFort Hill 510 Cable Address Hafis, Boston August 18, 1916 H/jl John Quinn, Esq31 Nassau St.New York City My dear Quinn, I have your letter of August 17th. My object inwriting about your Casement article was double. First, andprincipally, to praise it. Second, to comment on it in thedirection of saying that I thought you had understood thecase against Casement looked at from the point of view ofdeterrent punishment. From your letter, I feel still morestrongly that you do not see that case with an impartial eye.The story about the diary suggests nothing but sympathy forCasement. But how could Casement have the knowledge or theauthority to deny either of the two following statements? That the average Irish soldier prisoner wouldexpect a selfish profit from doing what Casement urgedhim to do. That the German Government would look less kindlyon those who refused the appeal than on those who acceptedit. -1- J. Quinn Esq. #2 H/j l c 8-18-16 In other words, I think you see the punitiveand not the deterrent side of the British case againstCasement and that if you could grasp and take a reallytolerant point of view of the deterrent value of suchpunishment, you cold make as strong a case. I suppose your answer is that such a punishmentinduces more crime than it deters. That may be true inIreland, let us say in the south of Ireland. But I feelpretty sure that if the English had inflicted drastic anddeterrent punishment in Ulster, it would have deterredboth Ulster and Dublin Yours cordiallyRichard W Hale -2- John Quinn Letter from John Quinn to George Gavan Duffy, 9 September 1916Letter from Oscar Underwood to John Quinn, 14 August 1916Letter from Richard W. Hale to John Quinn, 18 August 1916Letter from Michael Monahan to John Quinn, 21 August 1916Letter from Padraic Colum to John Quinn, August 1916Letter from Alice Stopford Green to John Quinn, 27 August 1916Letter from James Joseph Walsh to John Quinn, 29 June 1923 Richard W. Hale Letter from Richard W. Hale to John Quinn, 18 August 1916 16 Central Street, Boston, Massachusetts, US Letter from Richard W. Hale to John Quinn, 18 August 1916 31 Nassau Street, New York, US Letter from Oscar Underwood to John Quinn, 14 August 1916Letter from Richard W. Hale to John Quinn, 18 August 1916Letter from Michael Monahan to John Quinn, 21 August 1916Letter from Padraic Colum to John Quinn, August 1916Letter from Alice Stopford Green to John Quinn, 27 August 1916