River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-08-06
REL CONVICTED AND TO HANG SEP
TENDER IS.

REL CONVICTED AND TO HANG SEP
TENDER IS.
REGINA, n. W. T., July 31.-In the Riel
trial this morning, Capt George Young,
Gen Middleton and Rev. C.. B. Pitblado
were examined in rebuttal by the crown.
They detailed conversations held with the
prisoner after his capture, and testified that
they believed him sane In his converse
tions Riel had said he hoped to effect treaty
with the government to secure advantages
for the half-breeds He would capture the
police and officials and then open negoti-
atoms with the government. This failing,
he would try to hold Middleton at Batoche
until negotiations We're opened. Capt.
Dean and Corporal Piggott deposed as to
Riel's conduct while in custody Both re-
garded him as sane. This concluded the
evidence and Fitzpatrick addressed the jury
on behalf of the prisoner. His speech had
a good effect with the jury. He described
the disadvantageous position in which the
half breeds were placed by the conduct of
the governme 1T, and the manner in which
Riel had been driven into the rebellion.
He also made strong case in favor of in
sanity. His appeal ON behalf of the sup
posedly insane prisoner was very affecting.
After lunch Riel was granted an opportun-
ity to address the jury, which he did in a
long, rambling speech. At various points
he broke off in his speech to pray to God
and the Virgin Mary.
In conclusion Riel read from a paper
written in pencil as follows;
Your Honors and the Jury: My reputation,
my liberty, my life, are at your disposal 4.
So confident am [ of your sense of duty
I have not the slightest doubt as to your
verdict. The calmneSS of my mind con
corning the favorable decision j expect
from you does not come from any
presumption on my part. | simply hope
for a conscientious verdict, and that after
having heard what have to say, you will
acquit me. / do respect you, although you
are only half jury, but your number of
six does not prevent you from being just
and conscientious. and does not prevent
YOU from having my confidence. | am
taking the circumstances of my trial as
they are and / wish to call your
attention to, before you retire, that the
house of commons and senate and the
ministry of the dominion, which make
laws for this land, are not representative
whatever of the people of the Northwest.
Second, that the Northwest council,
generated by the federal government,
has great defect. The present number
of persons selected for that council make
it only a show, and they are not a
representative government which rules
/ Canada and the Northwest. But from
signs shown in court yesterday you are
compelled to admit that if they are not
responsible they are not insane. Good
sense alone leads to sane conclusions By
testimony laid before you during
the trial witnesses on both
sides have made it certain to you
that petition after petition has been sent to
tho cderal government, but so irresponsible
Is that government to the Northwest, that in
the course of several years, besides doing
nothing to satisfy the people of the North
west it has not answered or given sign
of response. The fact would indicate alb
solute lack of responsibility and insanity
complicated with paralysis. laughter
/ That monster of irresponsible, insane gov
eminent and its little one, the Northwest
council, have made up their mind to an
swer my petition by surrounding me slyly,
and attempting to jump at me and my
people in Saskatchewan. Happily when
they showed their teeth | was ready.
have fired and wounded them. Bear it in
mind that is what is called my crime of
high treason. They led me TO it, but my
act was in the name of Jesus Christ the
only one who can help me. If they are try
ing to tear me to pieces, if you believe the
plea of insanity of the defense that | am
not responsible for my acts, acquit me,
4
sane acts of the government If you be
lieye in the crown which contends that
am responsible, acquit me. You are per
fectly tustifiable to declare that having my
reason and sound mind | have acted re
sponsibly and in sound mind, while the
government, my aggrcssOr, has acted mad
I ". and if there be high treason it must be
on their side, not mine.
/ Much excitement was caused by the ad
dress Robinson closed the case for the
crown and the judge delivered his charge
! to the jury.
SENTENCED TO HANG.
] REGINA, n. W. T., Aug. l.-Riers trial
concluded to-day. Four hours were occu-
pied by the judge reading over the evidence
to the jury and charging them. He pointed
out the duty of the jury to find the prisoner
guilty unless thoroughly convinced that he
was irresponsible and insane during the
commission of his acts. The jury retired at
2a5 During their absence the prisoner
i kneeled in the box and prayed audibly and
4 fervently He has scarcely eaten anything
the past three days and nothing to-day. He
was in the jury room during the recess to
day, sat on every one of the jurors chairs
and prayed fervently on each, then sprin
I kIej bueil Win uolA HdtcAs L AS JuAg vas
/ absent an hour and returned verdict OF
/ guilty. with a recommendation to mercy
The foreman cried like Ii child when he an
nounced the verdict. Riel remained on his
/ knees praying until the verdict vas an
nounced, then jumped up, looking pale
but calm.
| After the verdict was rendered Riel was
asked if he had anything to say why sen
teute should not be passed. He spoke two
hours, showing the half-breed grievances
since 1863, and asked that a commission be
/ appointed to try him; also a commission
of doctors to sit on him and see whether he
was insane or not. The judge said none Of
the reasons offered had any weight, and ad
vised the prisoner to prepare for the end
He then sentenced him to be hanged on the
/ 18th of September next at Regina. Riel's
counsel proclaim an intention of appealing
the case at once.
There is no doubt that the sentence vii
be executed, as Sir John Mcdonald has fire.
quently declared his intention of not inter
fering with the sentence, as in the Conner'