The Times (London).
15 August 1887

THE CASE OF ISRAEL LIPSKI

We are officially informed that the convict Israel Lipski has been respited until Monday, the 22nd inst., and a letter in the following terms has been written to the Governor of Newgate Prison:-

"Whitehall, Aug. 14, 1887.

Sir,
In communicating the enclose respite to Israel Lipski, be good enough to inform him distinctly that it is granted not from any doubts existing in my mind as to the verdict or sentence, but merely to enable his solicitor to make certain inquiries which he asked to be allowed to make. The convict must clearly understand that unless these inquiries put a new aspect upon the case the sentence will be carried into effect.

I am, Sir, your obedient servant.
Henry Matthews
To the Governor of Her majesty's Prison, Newgate."

We are authorized to state that, whatever reports to the contrary may have been circulated, Mr. Justice Stephen is not in the least degree dissatisfied either with the verdict of the jury or the decision of the Secretary of State in Lipski's case.

Strenuous efforts were made on Saturday afternoon to obtain from the Home Secretary a reprieve of Lipski. Directly after Mr. Matthews's reply in the House of Commons to Mr. Graham, Mr. L.J. Greenberg, who has been assisting Mr. Hayward in his endeavours to obtain a respite of the sentence, called at the House and saw Baron de Worms, with whom Mr. Greenberg had a prolonged interview. Baron H. de Worms advised Mr. Greenberg to make his statement to the Home Office, and this was done. Subsequently Mr. Hayward and his managing clerk, together with Mr. Greenberg, proceeded to the House of Commons, where they were met by Baron Henry de Worms, Sir Wilfred Lawson, Mr. Hanbury, Mr. Graham, and others, and by them introduced to the Home Secretary in his private rooms. With the Home Secretary were Sir Henry James and Mr. Lushington. The interview lasted upwards of an hour and a half. The Home Secretary assured the deputation that, as he had promised in the House, he would keep his mind open to the last moment and would not allow the law to take its course if he saw the slightest grounds for altering his decision. During the interview Mr. Hayward received from the Home Secretary an acknowledgement in behalf of Her Majesty of the telegram that had been despatched to Osborne.