No. 268.
Mr. Frelinghuysen to Mr. Lowell.
Mr. Frelinghuysen informed Mr. Lowell of the action of the House of Representatives, as contained in the resolution of December 10, repeated his former instruction to consider the citizenship of O’Donnell estabtablished, and concluded by saying:
There being in Great Britain no judicial examination on appeal of the proceedings at a criminal trial, possible errors can only be corrected through a new trial or by executive action upon the sentence. Therefore this Government is anxious that such careful examination be given to the proceedings in this case as to discover error, should one have been committed. You are therefore directed by the President to request a delay of the execution of the sentence, and that a careful examination of the case be made by Her Majesty’s Government, and that the prisoner’s counsel be permitted to present any alleged points of error.