Part 19 (1/1)

Mr Justice Killa in the views of his brother judges

With these proceedings the trial of the rebel chief was concluded, though counsel for Riel has notified the Executive that they will appeal the case to the Privy Council in England Riel will, meantime, be respited

RIEL'S EXECUTION

The execution of Louis David Riel took place at Regina, on the 16th November, 1885 He met his fate bravely, and displayed ht possible

He abstained fro, and confined himself entirely, on the advice of Father Andre, who has been his constant cohout, to spiritual ence that the execution would take place that ht was constant in his devotions At seven o'clock he had a light supper, and at five in themass was celebrated, folloo hours later by the administration of the last sacrament Riel, towards the last, alious idiosyncrasies and decided to die a devout catholic

The hour fixed for the execution was eight o'clock, but it was fifteen minutes past that hour before those who had passes frouard-roo on the floor of an upper rooallows, It was a sad scene Around hiathered numbers of mounted police, Sheriff Chapleau, Deputy-Sheriff Gibson, and a few others The room was illuh which the sun, now risen but a few hours, shot a feeak rays

Riel now knelt beside the open , through which the gallows could be seen, and prayed incessantly for fully half an hour Fathers McWilliams and Andre conducted the service for the doo the responses in a clear voice, which could be heard distinctly above thetones Riel wore a loose woollen surtout, grey trousers, and woollen shi+rt On his feet were moccasins, the only feature of his dress that partook of the Indian that was in him He received the notice to proceed to the scaffold in the saht on receiving warning of his fate His face was full of colour, and he appeared to have co to the service in a clear tone The prisoner decided only afor the scaffold not toto the earnest solicitations of both the priests attending him

He displayed an inclination at the last moment to make an address, but Father Andre reman, who on a former occasion had been in the hands of Riel as a prisoner, co the dooan to wend its way toward the scaffold, which had been erected for Khonnors, the Hebrew, and soon caht of the noose Deputy-Sheriff Gibson went ahead, then came Father McWilliams, next Riel, then Father Andre, Dr Jukes, and others As he stood on the trap-door Riel continued invoking the aid of Jesus, Mary, and the saints, during his last agonies ”Courage, pere,” he said, addressing Father Andre, and then he addressed Father McWilliams in the same words The latter priest kissed Riel, who said, ”I believe still in God”

”To the last,” said Father Andre

”Yes, the very last,” answered Riel: ”I believe and trust in Him Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on me”

Dr Jukes shook hands with the prisoner, who said in English: ”Thank you, doctor” Then he continued: ”Jesus, Marie, Joseph, assistez moi en ce dernier moment”

Deputy-Sheriff Gibson then said, ”Louis Riel, have you anything to say before death?” Riel answered ”No” He was given two minutes to pray, and he repeated the Lord's prayer, Father McWillia drawn over his face and the rope adjusted At the words ”Leadthe bolt, at twenty-eight ht, and Riel shot doith a terrible crash For a second he did notof the liain In two minutes after the fall, Louis Riel was no eous He was pale but fir his thoughts from the terrible death before him His neck was broken by the fall; the doctors say he could have experienced no physical suffering For a second or two his lih his frame, and all was over In less than three minutes Dr Dodds pronounced him dead

Few persons were present The only people on the scaffold, besides the condeman, were Deputy-Sheriff Gibson, Dr Jukes, of the Mounted Police, Father Andre, Father McWilliams, and the press representatives

After death the coroner's jury was e rendered The hair of the deceased was cut off one side of both head and face

All the buttons torn off the coat, the moccasins removed from the feet, and even the suspenders cut into pieces for persons to obtain mementos of the deceased He was placed in a plain deal coffin to await the plans of the Government as to interment His oas to be buried at St Boniface, and his friends are particularly anxious that his wishes in this respect be complied with, as his father and other friends repose in that place, as all the bodies of the convicts here have been stolen froround in less than a week

END