The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-14
THE HALF-BREED LEADER.
Ready for the Execution, and Only Waiting
for the Order from Ottawa.

WINNIPEG, Man, Nov 13-It is stated that
DR.. Lowell, one of the Riel medical commission
ers, has said he believed Riel was insane Dr.
Jukes, of Regina. claimed he was sane, while
the other member of the commission was waver-
ing Lowell believed he was inclined to think
the prisoner insane. Each physician has made
separate report for the government, so that
Lowell is not certain which way the third doctor
has reported. He says the prisoner is far from
being in possession of his senses. There is
strange light in his eyes which betokens an ad-
vanced stage of insanity, or, as Riels
lawyers put it during the trial, magolommania.
Lowell says Riel, during the presence of the doc
tors, carried on conversations which no just man
could claim TO emanate from a sane individual.
He says if the government hangs him the act
could not be interpreted or less than
hanging a lunatic 1t is understood that the
Doctor has promised to make strong representa-
tions at Ottawa on the question, as he is anxious
to save the poor mans life. AS the day fixed for
the execution approaches, the excitement here
grows intense
The Toronto Sentinel, leading Orange pa
per, commenting on the Rel case, says: 'Shall
the atrocious injustice be committed Of permit
ting this artful rebel to go free, while his dupes
led Indians, are hanged for their participation in
acts which they regarded praiseworthy and
heroic instead OF criminal? The people Of Can
ada Will require uneQulvoca answers to these
straightforward questions if Riel be reprieved
and the only answer that can be truthfully given
is that the Frenchmen of Quebec rule in the Do
minion Parliament and have vowed that not a
hair of Riel's head shall be harmed Was it to
this end, then that our gallant volunteers sprung
to arms and laid down their lives at their coun
no fh1za
with the rebels be permitted to undo their work!
If 80, let 1t be proclaimed that the rights and
liberties of Britons in English colonies hang only
upon the breath of an alien race. But English
Canadians will not longer suffer the CALLING bond
age, and the day may not be far distant when
the call to arms will again resound throughout
the Dominion. Then our soldiers profitng by
the lesson of the past must complete a work
throughout the land only begun in the North
west"
The preparations for the hanging of the leader
of the half breeds in their two rehellions com
plete. In the absence of an official order from
death on Rel, it is probable to night that he will
be again respited. The order directing that the
execution take place next Monday has not ar
rived and the statement is made tonight that
unless specific order arrives by tomorrow
der for further respite. It has
been customary heretofore, in ordinary
cases, for the sheriff to AIRY out the mandate of
the jury on the simple authority of telegram
from Ottawa, but the case of Riel has already
provoked such fierce controversy throughout the
Dominion that the sheriff declares he will not
assume the responsibility of acting upon what
might prove forged telegram In the mean
time Riel is kept under the closest surve-
Jail within the barracks of the mounted
police, two miles from the village, and q
mounted guard of sixty men is constantly
maintained, some of the sen.ries occupying a
post,of observation onehalf mile distant from
camp No strangers are admitted even to the
the corridors of the Jail, and the only view OBJ
tanned of the condemned rebel is when ne is
pacing the jail-yard for an hour each morning
accompanied by his medical adviser The mill
tary are weary of the work of guarding
are continually circulated of efforts
making to rescue him. A body of mounted men
approaching the post early this morning occa-
stoned a temporary 1utter on an intimation that
Dumont and his party had crossed the boundary
line from the south to rescue their former leader.
1t proved to be a detachment of mounted police
from Wood mountain. The fate of the rebel and
the action of the Dominion authorities has taken
complete possession of all classes of people in
Manitoba and the Northwest Territory, and is
the paramount theme. Every pulpit address in
Winnipeg yesterday Dominion Thanksgiving
day, was tinged with mention of Riel and nearly
every Protestant orator spoke openly in favor OF
his execution, which, possibly, echoes the sent-
ment of large proportion of the resident popu-
lation.
Rlel received letter from his mother and
wife yesterday, written on the eve of his expect
ed execution. His mother believes in the di-
vine mission of her son, and sends her blessing
The letter is very pathetic, and elected tears
from the condemned man.
On Monday Riel made long speech to Father
McWilliams. His mission, he said. was to purify
the Roman Catholic Church and infuse new
spirit in it. He grew so excited that Colonel
Irwin begged him to calm himself
Father Andre is now locked within Rieis cell at
each of his visitations. Rie has made his will
in anticipation of his execution. He leaves only
q small amount of land in Montana His will is
more of "a political harangue than anything
else. He eleaves all his writings to Father Andre
who still declares his belief that Rie is insane
and believes that he will walk to the scaffod and
die game. He says the convicted man desires to
make speech on the scaffold