CONFIDENTIAL
BERMUDA EXECUTION OF BURROWS AND TACKLYN
Section I
1
25 April Hamilton telegram No. 60 reported the advice of the Advisory
Committee, and their reasons, why the sentences should not be commuted.
27 April
14
2 May
A
18 May
25
31 May
127
14 June
(229
5 July
20 July (66)
In a personal letter to Mr. Stanley, the Acting Governor recorded his decision not to commute the sentences.
The Acting Governor informed the Commissioner of Prisons that after considering the advice of the Prerogative of Mercy Committee, he had decided that the sentences should be carried out.
A public announcement was made in the same terms the same day.
Execution was stayed, however, while Tacklyn's lawyer (Mrs. Browne-Evans) prepared an application for leave to appeal to the Privy Council. This application was finally lodged on 18 July (1 did not follow the reasons for this delay, but my impression is that there was considerable delay in the office of whatever solicitor in London was handling this part of the proceedings).
The Acting Governor wrote to Mr. Stanley to suggest that action might be taken as in the Hong Kong case i.e. the Tsoi case, I think, when Sir A. Douglas-Home recommended The Queen to grant a reprieve_7; that therefore Mrs. Browne-Evans might be encouraged to put in a petition to The Queen which would enable the British Government to recommend a reprieve.
Mr. Stanley wrote to the Acting Governor to report that officials were inviting Ministers to consider the possibility of abrogating the Creech-Jones doctrine, and drawing attention to the need for an early decision of principle because cases were pending i.e. Burrows and Tacklyn 7.
Mr. Stewart informed the Acting Governor that the matter was un der consideration by Ministers.
Meanwhile, the Acting Governor was encouraging Mrs. Browne-Evans to arrange a petition to The Queen. She appeared to be in no hurry to draft, possibly believing that a majority in the island would be against a reprieve.
Sir P. Ramsbotham called on Mr. Cortazzi in London and was shown the papers relating to the attempt to get the Creech-Jones doctrine abrogated.
Mr. Stewart informed the Acting Governor that the Secretary of State had accepted the recommendation that the Creech-Jones doctrine should be abrogated. If his Ministerial colleagues agreed, as they were pretty certain to do, the FCO would inform the Acting Governor officially before a statement was made in the House of Commons.
CONFIDENTIAL
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