ng to the painfulness of the occasion. There was
something, as they were conscious, incongruous in settling a question of
life and death in a talk between two old friends.

I must briefly mention two such cases which happened to excite public
attention. On July 27 and 28, 1887, a man named Lipski was tried for a
most brutal murder and convicted. His attorney wrote a pamphlet
disputing the sufficiency of the evidence.[190] Fitzjames was trying a
difficult patent case which took up the next fortnight (August 1 to 13).
He saw the attorney on Monday, the 8th, and passed that evening and the
next morning in writing his opinion to the Home Secretary (Mr. H.
Matthews). On Thursday he had another interview with the attorney and a
thorough discussion of the whole matter with Mr. Matthews. Some points
had not been properly brought out on the trial; but the inquiry only
strengthened the effect of the evidence. Mr. Matthews decided not to
interfere, and Fitzjames went to stay with Froude at Salcombe on the
Saturday. Meanwhile articles full of gross misstatements had appeared in
certain newspapers. Fitzjames himself reflected that his occupation with
the patent case had perhaps prevented his giving a full consideration to
the case, and that an immediate execution of the sentence would at least
have an appearance of undue haste. He therefore telegraphed to suggest a
week's respite, though he felt that the action might look like yielding
to the bullying of a journalist. Mr. Matthews had independently granted
a respite upon a statement that a new piece of evidence could be
produced. Fitzjames returned on the Monday, and spent a great part of
the week in reading through all the papers, reexamining a witness, and
holding consultations with Mr. Matthews. The newspapers were still
writing, and 100 members of Parliament signed a request for a
commutation of the sentence. After the most careful consideration,
however, Fitzjames could entertain no reasonable doubt of the rightness
of the verdict, and Mr. Matthews agreed with him. A petition from three
jurors was sent in upon Sunday, the 21st, but did not alter the case.
Finally, upon the same afternoon, Lipski confessed his guilt and the
sentence was executed next day. 'I hope and believe that I have kept the
right path,' writes Fitzjames, 'but it has been a most dreadful affair.'
'I hardly ever remember so infamous and horrible a story.' He was
proportionally relieved when it was proved that