Aldous warned me of this petition--he has pressed upon me, still more I am sure upon himself, all that he conceived to be your view of the case--the view of those who are now moving in the matter.

But with the best will in the world I cannot, and I believe that he cannot--though he must speak for himself--I cannot take that view.

In my belief Hurd's act was murder, and deserves the penalty of murder.

I have paid some attention to these things.

I was a practising barrister in my youth, and later I was for two years Home Secretary.