No. 248.
Mr. Frelinghuysen to Mr. Lowell.
Washington, October 12, 1883.
Sir: This letter will be handed to you by Messrs. William J. Hynes and William W. O’Brien, attorneys and counselors, of Chicago, Ill., who have been selected by many of their fellow-citizens of Chicago to proceed to London for the purpose of assisting as counsel in the defense of Patrick O’Donnell, accused of the murder of James Carey. It is stated that O’Donnell is a naturalized citizen of the United States, but the Department possesses no official information on that point. If satisfactory evidence is adduced to you that O’Donnell is a citizen of the United States, it is desired that you will use such efforts as in your own judgment you properly may, to secure for Messrs. Hynes and O’Brien such judicial courtesies as will enable them to fulfill the object of their visit. It is of course understood that in England, as in this country, the executive branch of the Government has no control over judicial proceedings. [Page 461] This request is made at the instance of Senator John A. Logan and four members of the House of Representatives from Illinois.
I am, &c.,