The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-01
Some of Refs Former Crimes.


Washington Special.
Mr.. Frank Eastman, who has been clerk to
the Senate committee on claims for the past two
years, was district attorney at Helena, Mont,
in 1882. In a conversation on the Canadian in
surrection, Mr.. Eastman said Il know Louis
Riel well. He was the leader of the Red river
instruction in 1872, and was guilty of the most
atrocious and inhuman crimes ever perpetrated
by man. Add to the tortures of the inquisition
every agony that devilish ingenuity could sug-
gest or invent and you may get a faint idea of
the manner in which Riel treated the unfortu-
nate captives who fell into his hands. The
priest to visit Rel, and after much trouble he
succeeded in inducing Riel to surren-
der. In spite of his many acts Of fendsh
cruelty and the fact that he was guilty of high
treason, the Canadian government failed to
give him the hemp he SO richly deserved, and is
now reaping the fruits of its mistaken mercy.
In November, 1882, Riel was engaged in selling
whisky eight or ten miles inside of the lower
border of the Blackfeet reservation. He pro-
cured the liquor in Fort Benton, and failing to
pay his bills, and being unable to secure any
more credit he transferred his valuable custom
to Helena Here his credit also ran out, and
when C. A. Broadwater, the partner and agent
of Wilder of ST. Paul. told him he could be cred
tied no more, Riel said: All right Meester
BFoadwater but would like TO meet you out
on re prairie thus conveying delicate sugges-
ton Of the hereafter. Riei was shortly after
indicted for selling rum to the Indians, and
when brought to trial, refused to answer
any questions frankly, stating that he
refused because he did not care to criminate
himself. During the trial juror asked Riel if
he was not the man who melted the Red river
instruction in 1872. 'Sair, replied Rel with
great dignity. 4 am re man who attempted to
introduce republican Institutions in Eat country.
AS no other witnesses could be procured, Riel
was acquitted although there was no doubt in
the world as to his guilt He was indicted at
Benton for election frauds at Rocky Point in the
spring Of 1883, and being unable to procure bail,
was imprisoned in Jail for two or three months.
Then he succeeded in securing bondsmen in the
persons of VIM. H. Hunt the son of the ex-
Secretary of the Navy, and then collector of the
port of Fort Benton, and Thomas Cummings, a
former collector. After being released he went
up into Manitoba, and from recent events it is
evident that he was engaged in laying his plans
for the present insurrection. He returned TO
Fort Benton and was tried, but as the people
around Rocky Point led nomadic lives. it was
impossible to obtain any witnesses save Riel's
half breed wife and brother-in-law. Of course
he was not convicted.
'Riel is a magnifcently handsome man. He
has a superb figure, standing over six feet in
height His beard is long and silky and coal
black, and he has melting Italian eyes, as soft
as womans. If his beard was lighter he would
be the image of Guides Christ. He is a rank
coward, and is absolutely devoid of the courage
such man should have He was in very bad
odor with the half-breeds around Fort Benton
and Helena. and one day in the fall of 1882 he
went to Governor Bodkin and begged that
official to make him deputy marshal He said
his life was In danger and he would live in daily
dread il it not protected by official sanction
His request was very properly refused The
Canadian government, think. deserves no sym
pathy in its present trouble with Riel. 1t should
have hung him in 1872 You will soon hear
blood.curdiing stories of his atrocities and cruel
ties Riel is without courage and urged by wild
ambition and, unhappily, gifted with glib and
fascinating tongue He is using the half breeds
to pull his chestnuts out OF the fire. Tho
Canadian government has a grave problem tc
soive."