The Dillon tribune., 1885-08-08

THE TRIAL OF REL.
He makes An Affecting Speech in His Own
Behalf.

He makes an Affecting Speech in His Own
Behalf.
AT Regina Riel addressed the court, say.
ing: "Your Honors, and Gentlemen Of the
Jury: 1t would be easy for me to-day to
play insanity because Of the natural excite.
'nent caused by my trial. Excitement
would cause nature like mine to be far
from calm, but I hope by the help Of God
to retain my caltnness. The jury will see
by the papers that am inclined to he re.
ligious; but trust my religious actions will
not BE- thought insane.'
After repeating prayer, Riel then said
his mother who gave him birth 40 years
ago, had taken care ofhim and nursed him.
He had another motheriin the Northwest,
whom he loved, and who, he was sure,
any more than his earthly mother did. He
next proceeded to talk about grievances,
and showed how he came back to the coun.
try to benefit the half-breeds alone. He spoke
in English and said he would do his best
to make himself understood. He would
yet be justified. He sought to bring about
practical results, and when he was dead,
which might be soon, he hoped his spirit
would yet bring about practical results.
For the past ten years he had believ> i
he had mission to perform. He beli> ,ed
ii still, and with the help Of God, he vas
performing that mission in the criminal
dock. He had waited patiently for years
for an opportunity to perform it. Even if
condemned and hanged he would have the
satisfaction Of knowing the world did not
consider him insane. Nolan wanted him to
make bargain to renounce his American
citizenship, but Riel refused as he believed
it would be Of advantage to him. The agi.
tation Of the Northwest would have been
constitutional i1 the police had not been at.
!: tackled. The Court had not found out the
facts ofthe attack. He denied antipathy to
the police. He respected them. He had no,
because he had been libeled for fifteen years
ceased to believe that he was somebody
) BY the grace OF God he was the founder o
: Manitoba. The whites were the pioneers O
, civilization, but had brought demoraliza
ton among the Indians. As to the cvidenc,
E that he had called Archbishop Tachea I
e thief he explained that the Archbishop hat
{ taken the property Of widow. He wa
: proud that he had the manliness to stane
up and denounce such an action, even j
committed by such adignitary. At the clos
of Riel's speech two Of the jurors were cry
ing, and so were some of the ladies in court
e The jury then retired.
1t was c:15 when the jury in the Rie
trial retired. The oath was administered t.
;. the guard to keep the jury without meat o
! or drink, fire or lodging At3:15 there wa
5 murmur in the court, and it was whisp
{ cred that the jury had agreed. All was bus
J. tie and excitement. Riel prayed fervently
> kneeling in his box, and he looked un
moved as the jury entered its verdict Q
: guilty. Francis Cosgrove, foreman, whil
n crying like a child, announced that he wa
asked by his fellow jurors to recommen
the prisoner to the mercy of the Crowr
and the Judge said that the recommends
J. ton would be considered.
Riel was sentenced to be hung on Sci
> tember 18th at Regina. Judge Richardso
said he could hold out no prospect Of a IT
-, prievc or interference by Her Majest.
Riel took the result coolly, having spoke
two hours reviewing the troubles of lS6
and the half. grievances.