St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-07-29
Trial of RicI,
Special to the Globe.

Special to the Globe.
REGINA. July 2S.-The trial Of Louis
Riel was resumed at 10 o'clock to-day. The
jury chosen was as follows: Henry }.
Painter. Ed. E. VeTet. Ed j. Brooks,
Walter Merryfield, Paul Dean and Francis
Cosgrove. The crown objected to Deme-
triOuS Woodward and the Objection was
sustained. Counsellor the defense exercised
the right of peremptOry challenge ior nFe,
one less than is allowed. After the mem
bers of the Jury answered to their names
they were sworn. after which the clerk
read aloud the Indictment. previously pub
lished. Mr.. OSler addressed the jury,
alluding to the power delegated to the Do
minion parliament by the imperial authori-
ties to make laws for the good government
of the Northwest. 1t was shown that the
existing court had power to try men for any
otfense. and he said it was only right that
i;i2l's trial should take place in the territory
where the alleged Offenses were committed.
lie said that other methods were inappica-
bic. and added that there were grave doubts
as to the possibility of the offenses alleged
to have been committed in the North
west being heard before the tribu-
nails of British Columbia or Up
per Canada. He mentioned that the
difficulty of summOning a grand jury III the
present case, while unnecessary, was more
over insurmountable He said the prisoner,
if plea of naturalization in the states was
put in. would be tried under the provisions
of the Fenian act for treason and felony,
but IL was deemed advisable to have his
case heard under the treason statute Of
Edward Ill. which has formed the law Of
treason till the present time. He alluded
to the arrival of Riel from Montana,
10 no ctitu+iOnal a
first adopted to gain redress of
the grievances of the half-breeds.
He then said he would prove by witnesses
that Riel ordered and succeeded in bringing
together on March an armed assembly.
He would prove that Riel was at the head
of a rebellion and was instrumental in the
arrest OF Nash and others. He alluded 10
the action of the half-breeds at Riel's insti-
cation in taking the contents of the stores,
and referred to Riel as the means of
melting the Indians to rise. He also al
luded to the offers of Maj. Crozier and the
propositions made by him to settle and adj
Just the difficulty before the first shot was
fired. He then read the following letter,
found in the Council house at Batoche:
ST. Antoine n. w. T., March 81. 1885.
To Mai. CroZier, commanding mounted
police at Fit Carlton and Battleford. Major:
Council Of the provisional government for
the Prince Albert settlement have the honor
to communicate to you and your men the
following conditions: You viii be required
to give up completely the situations which
the Canadian government has placed you
in at Fl Carlton and Battleford, together
with all property. If you agree. you and
your men will be allowed TO leave the cOun-
try and will he provided with teams to send
You to QuAppelle. In case of MONACO
ceptance we will attack you after the
Lords day. which is tomorrow, when we
will commence war of determination
against all those who have shown them
selves hostile to us. NOin and Lepine are
the men you will have to treat with.
lSigned LOUIS REL, eX-COveed.
Attached to the document was a form,
written by Riel, in which the most humili-
ating conditions of surrender were indited
for Crozier to sign. Mr.. Osler, in conclu-
sion. said that he would bring home to Rie
the responsibility of all the engagement,
and attendant loss of life. lie would
produce testimony showing that Riel or
dered the Indians from every direction anC
authorized a war of determination. Whel
Oser was reading the document addressed
to Crozier, Riel sprang his neck over thu
box and surveyed with rage and indigna
ton his production. DR.. Willoughby o
Saskatoon testified that Riel admitted t,
him that the rebellion, at the time of tn,
troubles at Fort Garry, was nothing t.
what was about to take place. He referred
to the projects Of Riel, who stated his in
tention of apportioning the Northwest int
seven districts in order to divide it amongs
the Poles, Germans, Bavarians and Swedes
and also his intention of forming a new Ire
land.
Thomas Mckay, John w. Ashley, Pete
and William Tompkins, Indian Agent Lash
Harold Ross and George Ness were eX
amined. Their evidence bore chiefly o
events leading up to the Duck Lake fight
and Riel's conduct in regard to that affair
The latter five were among Riel's prisoners
All agreed that I;iel took command of tn
rebels when going to meet CroZier. The
also deposed that he gave all orders q
Batoche, and that he carried a rifle there
Riel displayed great uneasiness in the doc
to-day, continually walking up and down