7 JULY 1961, Page 29

THE EVANS CASE

SIR,—To the chagrin of the government back-bench bloodhounds and the Conservative Women's League, Mr. Butler presents himself as a liberal in his approach to penal reform. Soon he will have to fight a difficult rearguard action against the whippers and hangers, and so it seems amazing that he should over- look the political opportunity of following up Mr. Ludovic Kennedy's revelations On the Christie-Evans case, and the strength his position would gain, if an inquiry should prove an innocent man was hanged.

What are the greater political risks?—Yours faith- fully, Nairobi. BFPO 10