RIEL’S DEFENCE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1232, 9 October 1885, Page 3

RIEL’S DEFENCE.

The Canadian half-breed Louis Biel, was on Saturday, August 1, found guilty of raising the recent rebellion in tbe northwest of the Dominion, and was sentenced to be hanged on September 18. Riel’s counsel made an {eloquent appeal, alleging justification,, urging extenuating circnm stances, and advancing the plea of insanity. Afterwards Riel, by permission of the judge, addressed the jury, hi* speech occu* pying nearly two hours. Before speaking he prayed, and then began :—“lt would be easy for me to-day to assume insanity, because of the natural excitement caused by tbe trial. The excitement would cause a nature like mine to be far from calm, but I hope by the help of God to retain my calmness. Tbe jurors will see by the paper* that I am inclined to be religions, but I trust my religions actions will not be thought insane.” Crossing his hand* and raising his eye* again, he prayed fervently for the blessing of God on himself, the lawyers, the Court, and all present. Continuing his address, he said he had two mothers; one gave him birth and nursed him, the other was the North West, which he loved, and which he was sure would not kill him. He talked long abont hia grievances, said his mission had been a benefit to the half-breeds, and he believed God had helped him to perform it. He knew he had been protected by God when General Middleton’s bullets flew about his head at Batouche. Concluding, he said, “Your Honor and the jury, my reputation, liberty, and life are at your disposal. So confident am I of the sense of your duty that 1 have not the slightest doubt of your verdict. Good sense alone leads to same conclusions. By the 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 the Federal Government; but so irresponsible I is that Government to the North West, and in the coarse of several years, besides doing nothing to satisfy the people of the North

West, it has not answered once nor given i single response. This fact would indicati »u absolute lack of responsibility, and tin insanity, complicated with paralysis, of thal irresponsible insane Government, ami its little one in the North West. The counci h*ve_ made up their minds to answer mj petition by surrounding me slyly, and bj attempting to jump at roe and my people ai Saskatchewan. Happily, when they showed their teeth to devour I was ready. I have fired at and wounded them. Bear it in mind, that is what is called my crime nf high treason. They led me to it; but my act was in the name of Jesus Christ, the only one who can help me. They are trying to tear me to pieces. If yon believe the plea of insanity of the defence, that [ am not responsible for my acts, acquit me. Since I have been quarrelling with the insane acts of the Government, if you believe in the Crown, which contends that lam responsible, acquit me. Yon are perfectly justified in declaring tdiafc, having my reason and sound mind, I have acted responsibly and in sound mind, while the Government, my aggressor, has acted madly, and if there behigh treason, it must be on their side, not on mine.” At the close of the speech two jurors were weeping. _ The judge occupied four hours in charging the jury, emphasising the duty of finding the prisoner guilty unless they were thoroughly convinced that ha was thoroughly irresponsible and insane during the commission of the acts. During the absence of tho jury Riel knelt and prayed audibly. He had eaten scarcely anything sines the trial began. He went into the jury room during the recess, sat on every chair, praying on each, then sprinkled them with holy water. The jury were absent for an hour, and returned with a veriie* of guilty, with a recommendation to mercy. The foreman cried like a child when he an« nounced the verdict. Riel remained on hia knees praying until the verdict was announced, looking pale but calm. After the verdict was announced, Riel was asked if he had anything to say why sentence should not be passed. He spoke for two hours, reviewing the half-breed grievances since 1869. He asked that a commissi' n

should be appointed to try him, and also a commission of doctors to see whether he

was insane or nob. The judge sail that none of the teasons he offered had any weight, and advised the prison r to pre pare for his end, and sentenced him to be hanged on the 18th of September at Regina.