Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1885-08-06
rrrr n ms owS DEFENSE.
Tho Leader OF the Rebellion Addresses
the Jury, Calling the Governments Ih-
sane and Irresponsible.


Tho Leader OF the Rebellion Addresses
the Jury, Calling the Government Ih-
sane and irresponsible.
AZ the trial u Louis Riel at Regina, n w.
r., on the 3lst, the Judge gave Riel an OPP
Dortnnity 81 addressing the jury, and he
spoke nearly two hours. The court was
crowded to the utmost Greatness still.
ness prevailed Rielpreiaced his speech with
the following prayer, delivered with eyes
turned heayenward;
ooh, my God, help me through the grace
aud divine influence ~ Jesus Christ. Oh,
my God. bless me, bless this honorable
court; bless this honorable jury; bless my
rood lawyers, who have come 200 leagues
10 try 10 save my life, bless the lawyers oi
the crown becatise they have done, ] am
sure, what they thought their duty, and
they have shown fairness which did not
expect. Oh, my God, bless all these
who are around me through the
grace Of Jesus Christ, our Savior.
Turn their curiosity into calm inter
est. Amen Riel said he had two moth.
crs his earthly one, who had nursad him,
and tho Northwest. The first would not
kill him, neither would the second. Poster
ity would Justify him yet for what he had
done, His mission was to bring about
practical results, and II he failed tempo
rarily, his spirit would yet accomplish the
mission, He had
WRITINGS WHICH woJua LIVE AFTER HIM.
Archbishop Bourgst ana other dignitar-
past ten years had been working at IL and
was performing IL IN the Grim
inal dock. God preserved him from
all danger Whilebullets were flying about
his head thick as mosquitoes, at Batoehe, he
knew he was safe because God protected
him. God acknowledged him when Middle.
ton gave evidence that he was not insane.
He called on God to bless the crown lawyer
for breaking down the evidence OF DR.. Roy,
the medicaleSpert. Evenifhanged, would
have the satisfaction OF knowing that the
world believed him not insane. He said
the agitation would have been constitu-
tional had not government forces at
tackled the Metis. By the grace Of God, the
Erisaner said, he was the founder OF Mani
toba. lie denounced Archbishop Taehe ior
some wrong doing, and said he was "a benefac-
tor of humanity. lie proclaimed himself a
prophet Of the new world; told how Gods
spirit had spoken to him in his cell last night
and assured him ofcomfort. Comfort had
come in being allowed to speak. Therefore
he had confidence that God would speak
through MN Ilc COlllu pEppNbSS ny lttlF
ing of the fissh on his hands and legs. He
would yet bring Sir John Macdonald to his
feet. lie had stopped Populations three
Ames from going to the States 70 induce
Americans TO come over TO take possession
Of the country.
FINAL APPElLTo THE JURY.
IN conclusion RieI read from apaperwrit-
zen IN pencil as fclIpws:
Your Honors aud the Jury: Ny Teputas
ton, my liberty, my life, are at your dis
posal. So confident am Of your sense OF
duty | have not the slightest doubt as to
your verdict. The calmness OF my mind
concerning the favorable decision | ex-
pect from you does not come from any pre-
sumption ON my part. i simply hope for u
Conscientious verdict, and that after having
heard what thaye Co say, Sqg viii acqmt me,
lido respect you, although you are only hail
n jury, but your number q. six does not
prevent you from being just and conscien-
tiouss and does not prevent you from hav-
ing my confidence. ] am taking the ciscum-
stances 81 my trial as they are, aud wish
TO call g9qr attention 20, before you retire,
that the house Of commons and senate and
the ministry ot the dominion, which make
laws for this land, are not representative
whatever OF the people OF the Northwest.
Second that the Northwest council, gener-
ated by the federal government, has great
defect. The present number OF persons Sc
leetcd for that council make it only show,
and they are not representative govern
ment which rules Canada and the North
vest. But from signs shown IN sourt you
are compoled 10 admit that il they arenot
responsibla they are not insane Good
sense alone leads IN sans conclusions. BY
testimony laid before you during tho trial
Witnesses on both sides have made 1t GER
Ia
PETITION AFTER PETITION
has been sent to the federal go yernment, but
so irresponsible is that government TO the
Northwest that IN the course 0f several
years besides doing nothing To satisfy the
people OF the Northwest, 1t has not an
swered once or given sign OF response.
The fact would indicate absolute lack OF re-
sponsibility and insanity complicated with
paralysis. [Laughter.l That monster Of ir-
responsible, insaneg government, andits little
one, the Northwest council, have made up
there mind to answer my petitions by sur
ioHniing nc slyly, and by attempting to
Jump a. ms aa'i ny pegPlstn Saskatchewan
Happily when they showed their tool h todG
yourI waRready. Ihaye fired and wounded
them. Bear II In mind that Is what il
called my crime of high treason. They led
rae to it, but my oct was in the name OF
Jesus Christ, the only one who can help me.
ii they are trying 60 tear me to pieces,
II you believe the plea of insanity of
the defense that am not responsible for
my acts, ncqutt me, since | have been quar-.
reling with the insane acts OF the govern
ment. II you believe in the crown, which
contends that am responsible, acquit me,
You are perfectly justifable To declare that
having my reason and sound mind haye
acted responsibility and in sound mind, while
the government, my aggress6r, has acted
niadly, and il there-be high treason il must
De on tbeit side, not on ming, !" . ''' +