No. 95.
Mr. Pierrepont to Mr. Fish.
Legation of
the United States,
London, September 18, 1876.
(Received October 2.)
No. 35.]
Sir: Referring to your dispatch No. 18 of August 8,
1876, I have the honor to inclose a copy of the correspondence which has
taken place between myself and Lord Derby in relation to the case of Edward
O’M. Condon, imprisoned under the sentence of a British court, for whom the
President of the United States was requested by a joint resolution of
Congress to take such steps as might tend to obtain a pardon or release.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure 1 in No. 35.]
Mr. Pierrepont to
Lord Derby.
Legation of the United States,
London, August 23,
1876.
My Lord: I have the honor to call your
lordship’s attention to a joint resolution of the Congress of the United
States approved July 7, 1876, of which I inclose a copy.
As the facts have been represented to me, one Edward O’M. Condon, a
citizen of the United States, was charged with complicity in an attack
made upon the police at Manchester, in September, 1867, in an attempt to
rescue certain Fenian prisoners. He was tried with several others, and,
under the name of “Shore,” convicted of murder and sentenced to be
executed. Through the interposition of Mr. Adams, at that time minister
of the United States, his sentence was commuted to imprisonment for
life, and he is still in prison. Although request for further clemency
was made of the British authorities more than four years since, without
securing a favorable response, the President, nevertheless, under the
circumstances, and considering the length of the imprisonment that
Condon has already endured, deems it his duty to ask the attention of
Her Majesty’s government again to the case.
It is stated that Condon rendered efficient service to the Army of the
United States during the late war; that he resided in the city of
Cincinnati; that while there he was not connected with any Fenian
association; and that he visited Europe solely to recover property
bequeathed to his father. If he was led astray after he arrived in
England, it is urged that his long imprisonment for nearly nine years
may sufficiently atone for his alleged crime.
Either from a belief in his innocence or from sympathy arising from other
causes, his case has excited great interest in the United States and
given rise to frequent representations to the Government and requests
for its aid to obtain his release. During the session of Congress which
has just adjourned, the subject has been brought to the attention of the
Government through many channels, by reason of which the joint
resolution of which a copy is inclosed has been passed.
I am directed by the Secretary of State to invite your lordship’s
attention to this resolution, and to say that the President indulges the
hope that Her Majesty’s government may find it consistent to take such
steps as will accomplish the purpose of the resolution and allow the
prisoner to be released.
I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, my lord, your
most obedient, humble servant,
The Right Honorable the Earl of Derby,
&c.
[Inclosure 2 in No. 35.]
Lord Derby to Mr.
Pierrepont.
Foreign
Office, August 30,
1876.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your letter of the 23d instant, calling my attention to a
joint resolution, a copy of which you inclose, of the Congress of the
United States, having for its object the pardon and release from prison
of one [Page 179] Edward O’M. Condon, who
is undergoing his sentence in this country for participation in the
attack made upon the police at Manchester in September, 1867, in an
attempt to rescue certain Fenian prisoners; and I have to state to you,
in reply, that I have referred your letter to Her Majesty’s secretary of
state for the home department.
I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most
obedient, humble servant,
The Hon. Edwards Pierrepont.
[Inclosure 3 in No. 35.]
Lord Derby to Mr.
Pierrepont.
Foreign
Office, September 14,
1876.
Sir: With reference to my letter of the 30th
ultimo, I have the honor to acquaint you that Her Majesty’s secretary of
state for the home department, to whom your note of the 23d ultimo,
respecting the case of the convict Condon, was referred, has informed me
that he is unable to give any other answer to it than that which was
returned by the prime minister in the House of Commons on the 23d of May
last, to the inquiry addressed to him as to the intentions of the
government in regard to the Fenian prisoners.
That answer was to the effect that Her Majesty’s government were not at
present prepared to advise Her Majesty to extend her clemency to those
prisoners.
I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most
obedient, humble servant,
The Hon. Edwards Pierrepont.
