IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1 1.0 ^^ ^ , lu 122 122 SlJ4 "^ ^ _ 6" ^ ^>' /m 7 PhotDgiaphic Sdences Corpcjration S3 WIST MAIN ITRIIT WIUTIR,N.<. USM (7U)tn-4S0S V?^^** ^^V^ V :^ CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICIVIH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Instituta for Historical INAicroreproductions / Institut Canadian da microraproductions historiquaa Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniques et bibliographiques The to tt The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may oe bibliographically unique, which may alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checked below. L'Institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a 6t6 possible de se procurer. Les details de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-dtre uniques du point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger una modification dans la mithode normale de filmage sont indiqu^s ci-dessous. The poss of tf filmi I — "k' Coloured covers/ I Vl Couverture de couleur I I Covers damaged/ D n n D D D Couverture endommagie Covers restored and/or laminated/ Couverture restaurie et/ou pellicul^e Cover title missing/ Le titre de couverture manque I I Coloured maps/ Cartes giographiqiies en couleur □ Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/ Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur Bound with other material/ Reli^ avec d'autres documents Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin/ La reliure serr^e peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distortion le long de la marge intArieure Blank leaves added during restoration may appear within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming/ !l se peut que certaines pages blanches ajoutAes lors dune restauration apparaissent dans le texte, mais, lorsque cela Atait possible, ces pages n'ont pas Ati filmAes. □ n Coloured pages/ Pages de couleur Pages damaged/ Pages endommag^es Pages restored and/or laminated/ Pages restaur6es et/ou peliiculdes Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ Pages d6color6es, tachet^es ou piqudes Pages detached/ Pages ddtach^es Showthrough/ Transparence Quality of print varies/ Quality in^gale de ('impression Includes supplementary material/ Comprend du materiel supplementaire Only edition available/ Seule Edition disponible Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to ensure the best possible image/ Les pages totalement ou partiedement obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure, etc., ont 6ti filmies A nouveau de faqon d obtonir la meilleure image possible. Orig begi the I sion othe first sion or ill The shall TINl whic Map) diffe entir begii right requi meth a Additional comments;/ Commentaires supplAmentaires; This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est filmA au taux de reduction indiquA ci-dessout. 10X 14X 18X 22X 26X 30X / 12X 1SX 20X 24X 28X 32X The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks to the generosity off: Tliomas Fithar Rare Boolt Library, University of Toronto Library L'exempiaire ffilmA fut reproduit grAce i la g4n6rositA de: Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library, University of Toronto Library The images appearing here are the best quality possible considering the condition and legibility of the original copy and in keeping with the filming contract specifications. Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed beginning with the front cover and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All other original copies are filmed beginning on the first page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impression. The last recorded frame on each microfiche shall contain the symbol -^ (meaning "CON- TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever applies. IVIaps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les images suivantes ont 4t6 reproduites avec le plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition et de la nettet6 de l'exempiaire filmi, et en conformity avec les conditions du contrat de filmage. Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en papier est imprim6e sont ffilmfo en commenpant par le premier plat et en terminant soit par la dernlAre page qui comporte une empreinte d'Impression ou d'lllustration, soit par le second plat, salon le cas. Tous les autres exemplaires originaux sont filmds en commenpant par la premiere page qui comporte une empreinte d'Impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la dernidre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un des symboles suivants apparaTtra sur la dernidre image de cheque microffiche, selon le cas: le symbols ^►signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbols V signifie "FIN". Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atre filmAs A des taux de reduction diffirents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un seul clichA, il est filmA A partir de Tangle supArieur gauche, de gauche A droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images nAcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants lllustrent la mAthode. 1 2 3 32X 1 2 3 4 S 6 ^-. ^' ^ -^ ^* -^J^^-h-^-t:" A PSYCIIO-MKDICAL IIISTOKY -:>K — LOUIS RIEL. By DANIEL CLARK, M. D., Meilical puiKirinti'inlent of the Anyluni for IriKano, Toronto. • •■*♦»■»• [Frum the American Jouriiai of Itmwiti/, for July, 1887.1 A PSYCHO-MEDICAL HISTORY OF LOUIS KIEL.* IJY DANIEL CLAllK, M. 1)., Medical Sui>erliituiideiit of the Asyh:in for Instinc, Toronto. Louis Ilicl was about forty-four yoars of at?e wlion he was cxecutt'd. He was born in tlio Hed Hivor coiuitry wlieu it was in the possession of IIr' Hudson Bay Fur Company. Ritl was a "half-brood," so-oallod, but was only ono-oiglilh Indian. The rest of t')o ))crHonal unit Avas Froncli-Canadian. Ho was educated at St. Boniface Konian Catholic Sdiool and Soniinary, near Winnipeg, until he grew up to nninhood. He proved to have more than ordinary aptitudes and iiitolligoiu'e, and applied liimself with groat diligence to take advantage of bis opportunities, as his ])aronts were poor. Those sominaiies of learning were conducted under the auspices of Archbishop Tacho. Tiu' lad Kiel attracted his attention, and ever afterward he took a kindly interest in him. The archl>ishop foiuid that the young man vas anxious to become a priest. Seeing in him talents which would tit hint for the sacred otlico, when his education would be conii)lcted, he sent him to Montreal to finish iiis studios. A Froncli lady, also, took moro than a passing interest in the young man, and extended to him her aid and encouragomont. While at college ho behaved very well and studied hard, but being sonu'what retiring and taciturn, he made few companions. This quiet disposition was in striking contrast to his history in after years. As was natural, he kept a regular eorrespondeiu'o witli his benefactor, the arcidnsiiop. It was not long, however, before his letters showed that strange and Utopian ideas were taking possession of his mind. The writer had an opportunity to examine a number of these letters, and it was evident from the tenor of their contents that the young man had imbibed the idea of carrying out sdiemes which would make him the head centre of a religious movement, which would, in his estinnition, astonish the world. Money was necessary, and the rich must be forced to bestow on him such amounts as he thought necessary. This was the nuiin idea he elaborated in tiie letters. So to (pioto any of tliem would bo wearisome. During the latter part of the five years he attended college in Montreal, those letters * Itcud before tlio AHifoctation of Mr.(tli;al Suporiutondouts of AmorlcaQ JiiHtltutloiiH for tlu> luHuno, nt Detroit, Mich., Juiui 14-18. 1887. sliowed to Arclibisliop Taclic- that Ikiel's mind had bocoine so erratic and full of delusions as to incapacitate liiin from becoming a ])riest. The project was abandoned, as he lacked that judgment and discretion so requisite of any man about to enter holy orders. About this time he did some strange things, which he states in one of his letters. lie boldly entered thi^ private residence of a wealthy French Canadian, in Montreal, who was a stranger to liiniy and peremptorily demanded $10,000, to assist him to go among •*' '3 heathen and establish churches in his own name. This freak corroborated by the citizen of whom he made the demand. About the same time he wrote to his mother, in Winnipeg, order- ing her to sell all her effects and bring the money to him at St. Paul, Minnesota. The funds were to be used by him in the Lord's service, as He would dictate. The silly woman, who was a widow at this time, and whose intellect, at best, was of a low order, did as directed, and started with a horse and cart to meet her son and deliver to him her small savings. At this time there was no railroad between her home and St. Paul, so the journey meant a weary travel of more than four hundred miles over the prairie. After three weeks' travel she reached her destination. Her son did not appear, so she went back, sad and disappointed, to her lonely home on the banks of the Assiniboine river. Hiel did not leave Montreal, and wrote to his mother excusing himself for breaking liis promise, as he was commencing to put into operation a great mission of some sort or other, of which he gave no par- ticulars. This was in 1867, and for years previously he had been leading a wandering and purposeless life. At the end of this year he returned to Wiimipeg, poor and proud. For some years after this he remained tpiiet, and lost, for a time, or suppressed, hi grandiose ideas. He behaved himself as a citizen, and gave no trouble to his kindred. He married a lespectable and intelligent Cree " half-lireed," and settled down to till the soil. All his friends testify that work of any kind Vas irksome to him, and he was what a Scotchman would call "a ne'er-do-weel." He was well educated, but applied his knowledge to no good purpose. Ho seemed to lack stamina of mind, and was open to engage in any enterjtrise which would feed his latent umbition. His mental composition was unstable, and, as a consequence, its equilibrium was easily disturbed by any circumstance, which would evoke its bine, or give rein to tlu' forces of passion which had foimd lodg- ment therein. Such minds are like a magazine of dynamite, whi«'h only need a shock of a mental or moral nature to cause an explo- I sioii. Riel was coiislantly building castles in the air, aiul in his visionary schemes he was a! ways to be the leader. In this ideal his fancy gloried in antici|)a(ion, and he would brook no opposi- tion. The grand opportunity came from a eiietrating that they caused the windows of the building to vibrate. Whoever would go to the s])ot could collect from the lips of eye and ear wit- nesses many jtarticulars of this nature iti respect to Kiel at this time. — [Cor. Jfhierve, (Quebec. \ About this ])eriod liiel always wrote after his signature the addition "Exovced," which he interj)rcted to me to mean, "Chief of the flock," or '" Head of the |)eople." All the documents I have seen or heard of during the rebellion, had this aflix, excejjt those sent to (General Middleton, during the engagement at Batoche, In 1805 he wrote to a clerical friend in the northwest, that he was not Louis Kiel, but somebody else. He claimed that he was David Mordecai', a Jew, and was born in INIarseilles, France. He came over to Canada when he was only a mere child. His ap- pearance was so like that of Louis Kiel that they might be taken for twins, J'/ie Louis Kiel was thrown overboard from a steamer on the Mississippi and he >vas ))ut in his place. So alike were they that even those in charge of the child did not detect the decep- tion. His guardians did the foul deed, because his parents had left him immense Avcalth, and they wished to secure the ))ro))erty for themselves. He was not Louis Kiel, and not the rightful heir of an immense estate, which had been accjuired in this way. Being a Jew, it was his duly to redeem the race, and rectify the Avrongs which had been done. He was a second Saviour, sent in these latter days to not only succor Jews but also (Jentiles, from tem- poral, i)olitical and spiritual bondage. The writer saw a letter written by Kiel to a church dignitary, at the time he was a patient in Beauport Asylum. It is rambling and nonsensical, but natural to any one who has to read the superlative ideas of the conceited insane. It is signed "Louis D(ivi(/ Kiel, by the grace of Jesus Christ, Prophet, Pontirt", Infal- lible and Priest-King." This letter is dated July 80, 1870. In a postscript he gives a reason for adding "David" to his name. It was on account of the King of Israel having been chosen by him as his patron saint, and who had delivered him out of the hands of hi^ enemies. The Spirit which spoke to Moses out of the burning bush had often spoken to him. Why? Because ho was about to liboraic liis brethren in somewlmt tlic same way out of their bondai^e. On the Sunday before liis execution, when he was sure the death sentence wouUl be carried out, lie told his confessor that he liad a visit tlie ]irevious niglit from tlie pro|)het Jeremiah. The Hebrew seer had a long conversation with hiui on the merits of the liooli (f Lamentations. He was a greater potentate than Queen Victoria, and defied all the military resources of Canada or the British Empire. He saw armies of men in the heavens. Fire and tumult and chariots and angels were everywhere apparent in the air. All were ])orlents of coming victory to his followers against their oppressors. He heard the voice of God speaking to him, and commending his ways. He had daily conversations with the Almighty. l>y the mc^ is of visions, dreams and voices he was able, not only to foretell future events, but also to com- mand thunderbolts to destroy armies. These are some of the delusions which I found in his diaries. The whole of his writings in this strain would make a large book if printed, and the veriest trash as a wliole. Now and tlien some ])assage8 would be vigorous and sensible, but ever and anon would crop up his visions and ])rophecies and greatness. The following extracts of evidence elicited at the trial give us glimpses of the ]»risoner's mental condition at and after the out- break of the rebellion: Charles Nolin was cousin of the prisoner, and assisted him in the legal agitation, but refused to be drawn into rebellion. He stated that Kiel went into the northwest in July, 1884. The pris- oner showed him a book, in wiiieh lie had expressed a determina- tion to destroy Canada and England. Prisoner told him he was a prophet, and one evening when Kiel was at house of witness a noise escaped from IJiel's stomach wliich he said was an inspiration. ]?iel showed witness a sheet of })aper, on which he had written in blood, his i)lans for the campaign. Ontario was to be given to Ireland, Quebec to Germany, and the northwest territories to be divided, the Hebrews getting a share. The prisoner's character changed remarkably about the time of the outbreak. The very word "police" made him lurious. — \7'he Toronto Mail.^ Father Andre, Superior of the Oblat Fathers, had lived in the country since 1805; knew Kiel well, and had watched his conduct; frequently spoke with him of the situation and on religious mat- ters; on questions of politics and religi(m he lost all control of himself, and was not the same man ; told the prisoner he was a fool on these subjects, not having his mind. Prisoner often said 8 things that fiightened me. Once all the priests met together, and the question was discussed and unanimously decided, that he was not responsible. In discussing v'.iose questions with him it was like showing a red rag to a bull. I do not think that every man who has strange ideas on religion is a fool ; it depends on his con- duct in expressing them. The prisoner never had any principles,, except that he was an autocrat in religion and politics, but his ideas changed — to-day he admitted one thing, to-morrow he denied it. — [Toronto Globe.] Dr. Roy, medical superintendent of Beau|)ort Asylum, testified that Riel had been a patient of his in tlie asylum. Piisoner was discharged from the asylum in January, 1878, after a residence of about nineteen months. Had an oi)portunity of studying the disease ])risoner was suft'ering from ; had conversations with him often. The particular disease of the prisoner was the mania of ambition, called by eminent authors "Megalomania." The symp- toms of the disease are sometinu's foinid in ordinary maniacs. These maniacs are sometimes very clever in arguing from a false idea, and are very excitable when opposed, because they hold the false idea strongly, and are perfectly sane on all other questions. Pride occupies a jjlace in the symptoms of the disease. The vic- tims are very egotistic, and forget tlieir best friends. The tl fti- culty is to make tliem believe they will have no success in their Bcl)emes. Very rarely are they cured, though there may be inter- missions. There is more or less difference in each case. Heard the witnesses in tlie court describe the conduct of the prisoner during the agitation and rebellion. I am perfectly pt)sitive prisoner was not of sound mind when iie was under my care, and 1 believe the actions described by the witnesses were done when he was laboring imder the disease; do not believe prisoner had control of his ac- tions at these times. The symptoms of this malady, disclosed in court yesterday, are the same he suffered from when he was under my care. A feature of the disease of " Megalomania" was a fixed idea, incapiible of change l)y reasoning, and which is beyond tlie patient's control. Such have lucid intervals, intermissions for ■weeks and months. The evidence of the clergy shows in a posi- tive manner, that tie prisoner manifests the same symptitms ho discovered when he was under my care. A man lalxiriiig under this disease might desire to olitaiu money lo carry out his false idea. The facts brought out in I'vidence in regard to prisoner's actions, were, in his opinion, inconsistent with skilful fraud, aft coidd be said of all human conduct in the sane. 1 T I \ 9 ] 1 I \ Father Tourmand said he was well acquainted with Kiel. He was present at the meeting of priests at which Kiel's sanity was questioned. Often conversed with him on religious and political subjects. I knew the facts upon wliich the question of his insanity arose. Before the rebellion Kiel was a polite and pleasant man to me. When he was not contradicted about political attairs he wa& quiet, but when he was opposed he was violent. As soon as the rebellion corumenced he lo' t all control of himself, and threatened to burn all the churches. He denied the real presence of God in the Host. It was a man of six feet. Kiel said he was going to Quebec, France and Italy, and would overthrow the pope, and choose a pope or ap|)oint himself. We finally concluded there was no other way of explaining his conduct than that he was insane. When tlio fathers op|)osed him he attacked them. Witness was brought before the rebel council to give an account of his conduct. 11*^ called me a little tiger, iM'ing very much excited. Xever showed me a book of his prophecies, written in buffalo's blood, although I heard of if. The prisoner was relatively sane before the rebellion. Could better explain prisoner's condrct on the grouixl of insanity fhan that of great criminality. Witness naturally had a strong friendship towards prisoner. — \/io)-otito Globe Ueport.] Philip (iarriot, a prisoner, said Kiel often 8tvidently a nornnii con- dition and not from apprehen:-ion as to his fate. He was very talkative, and his egotisni maiie itself manifest, not only in his nioveincnls, bu( also in his cx|)resscd pK'asurc in Vicing the central figure of a State trial, which was likely to become historic. The writer stated to him that his lawyers were trying to save his life by pniving that he had been insane. At this statement he got very much excited, and paced up and down his cell like a chained animal until his irons ratll«>d, saying with great vehemence and gcHliculation, " My lawyer.4 ived it he woidd 12 have established a newspaper to advocate the rights of liis kindred. It would have been a glorious work for him to be able to control a newspaper, and to promulgate in print his mission to the world. Dr. Roy and myself had a second examination of Kiel at the Police Barracks, on the evening of the 28th of July. lie \»a,A closely catechised by Dr. Koy in French, and by me in English. He evaded giving direct answers to our questions, although he knew we were to give evidence for the defense, if his insanity were a fact. He thanked us for our kindly interest in him, but repudiated our plea with scorn. We took that ground to possibly put him off his guarJ, but in this he was consistent with himself and his record. We elicited little from him excei)t that great developments, of a national character, were near at ' and, accord- ing to his ])rophecy, and he was to be the central moving power. The insanity plea was abhorrent to liim, and lie scorned to take that ground, even to save his life. Friends and foes were con- vinced of his honesty and candor in his re|>udiation of this defense. He would rather die as a deliverer than live as a lunatic. I had a third visit alone with Kiel, in his cell, on the 2!)th of July. lie was very much excited, and |)acod his narrow enclosure like an enraged tiger would, yet in this niooil he said nothing. I accused him of hiding his motives to his own hurt, and told him that his friends from Quebec could do nothing for him because of his obstinacy. Suddenly he calmed down and with great self-pos- session said: "His legal friends had mistaken his mission. At present he was an important State prisoner, and he was suH'ering, not only for himself, but also for others.'" He also told me that he wrote a book which was still in existence. In it he clearly proved that he was a great prophet, and as a prophet he knew beforehand that a verdict would be given in his favor. I closely (piestioned him as to why he thought so, but his only reply was in l)Utting his hand over his heart and saying patlielically, " It is re- vealed to nil." I infornu'd him that there was a hitler feeling hostile to him outside, and tliat so far the evitleiice was strongly against him and that he would probably bi- hanged as a felon, lie sniiletl cynicilly at my ignorance, but the alternative ilid not seem to atlect him. I told him tlu- feeling had not sul)sid(>d for the mur- der of Scott, in ISVO. In reply he said the No'lhwest Council Bentenced Scott to death for treason. He was only one of thirteen. He suddenly broke away from this subject and b.'gan to pour out a torrent of vigorous language on the he!\d of l^v. Stt'ullze, of /.(', of ( 13 Winnipeg, whom he associated in some way with Scott and the rebellion of 1870. Before I left he came back to the fulcrum idea that he was yet to be a great political and religious leader, who would revolutionize the world. These were the notes I took at the time. To me they were sig- nificant, but as legal evidence they would be considered of little value. I wish again to re])eat the statement which is a truism to alienists. He iiad a look and movement so characteristic of insane people, which it ia iripossible to put in words, but known so well to us. He had that i-eculiar appearance, which is hard to be de- scribed, of a man who is honest and sincere in his insane con- A'iclions and statements. There could be no doubt he was stating what he himself believed to be true. In acting as he did he was not a jiretender, and did not assume those feelings to his own hurt for the occasion. The most cunning deceiver could not simulate the appearance and actions which he presented. A malingerer would never utter so much wisdom, mixed with so much that showed insanity. Kiel's great aim, even at tlie trial, was to falsify the charge ol in^^anity, and to show by his words his mental capacity to be a leader of men. Anyone who has read his letters and adlea with scorn. Itiel, in las inldress to the judge, after a verdict had l»oe» run- 14 dered, said, with an honesty which curried conviction to every one who heai-d him, " I suppose that now, having been condemned, I will cease to be called a fool, and for mo it will be a great advan- tage. If I have a mission — I say " if " for the sake of those who doubt — but for my part, since I have a mission, I can not fulfil my mission as long as I am looked upon as an insane being." Again: "Should I be executed, at least, if I loere f/oinr/ to be executed I would not be executed as an insane man. The recom- mendation to mercy by the jury shows me to be a prophet. So my career is cleared of the charge of insanity." After giving an outline of what he intended to do, in dividing the country into ten nationalities, he gives vent to the following delusion ; " My ancestors were among those who came from Scatidinavia and the British Isles over a thousand years ago. Some of them went to Limerick, and when they crossed to Canada they were called Riel. So there is in me Scandinavian, Irish, French, and some Indian blood." "I thank the glorious General Middleton for the testimony that I possess my mental faculties. I felt that God was blessing me when those words were pronounced. Even if I have to die, I will have the satisfaction to know that I will not be regarded by all men as an insane person. I was in Beauport and Longue Pointe Asylums, but was not insane. I thank the government for de- stroying the testimony of Dr. Roy, who says I was insane." There is much of these denials in his two speeches, mixed Avith sarcasms against the government, and with declarations of his great mission as a prophet and deliverer of his people. Some of his statements were very pathetic and even eloquent. All this medley of sense and nonsense, shrewdness and want of judgment, cunning and honesty, are no new features in an insi le character. The metaphysical and theoretical lawyer can see such in any asyl im at any time were he looking for light. llev. Mr. Mc Williams, Roman Catholic priest, was with Riel a good deal before his ext'cution. He believed the prisoner to be insane. I (piote from the government organ, which urged his execution, {7hronto Mail,) "Riel lias had another 'manifestation,' consisting of entirely incoherent rubbish. Riel took advantage of the Rev. Mr. McWilliams' presence on Friday night to declare his divine mission. ' I am,' said the prisoner, ' a proj)het ; I have been ordained, not as a priest, but as the j)ro])het of the northwest, to preach a reformatioji to you and every minister of the church, and will continue to fulfil my miBsiou until I mount the Bcuffold.' u T i) 1: one aii- wlio nlfil i u 1 ■/ 15 While delivering himself of this little oration he paced his cell like an infuriated maniac. He thundered his anathemas on the policy and principles of the nineteenth century churches, gesticulating almost all the while. When he came to the word 'scaffold 'he faced his visitors. With the veins of his throbbing temples dis- tending with convulsions, he pointed towards the scaffold, and fixing his wild, haggard eyes on the Rev. Mr. McWilliams, con- tinued: 'To that scaffold will f walk boldly, preaching this mission of church reformation so much rir'eded througliout the world.'" I have given part of the evidence of these non-professional people, because it is recorded in law books, and was asserted by a learned Queen's Counsel at the trial, that any ordinary common sense man could detect an insane man as easily as could an ex))ert. Had this sweeping assertion been made of cases of acute mania, there might have been some force in it ; but any one who has even a limited experience of the insane knows that there are many phases of insanity in all our asylums which in their subtility and masked form, would bafHe the common sense but inexperienced man, and even the legal theorist, with his ethical and antiquated absurdities of definition. I have seen judges, lawyers, and mem- bers of grand juries trying their mental acumen at selecting the sane from the insane in our wards, with most ludicrous results. Only a few days before his execution ho wrote to his clerical friend in Winnipeg a farewell epistle. Jt is closely written in French, and contains fourteen pages of foolscap. He knew that his day of doom had come, yet it is full of the old delusions of prophecy and other rubbish concerning his power and greatness. One sentence will suffice as a specimen. He says: "Tiie pope of Home is in bondage and is surrounded by wicked counsellors. He is, however, not infallible, and the centre of the hierarciiy should be located on this continent. I have elected Montreal as its head- (piarters. In a year of weeks after this cnange the Papal See will be centred in St. Boniface, Manitoba. The new order of things will date from December 8, 1875, and will last four hundred and Bevcnty-five years." Then again: "Archbishop Bourget told me of my supernatural power on tiie IHth of December, 1874. I felt it on that day, while I was standing alone on a high hill, near Washington, D. C. A spirit appeared to me and revealed it out of flames and clouds. I was 8{)eech!e8s with fear. It said to me, ' Rise, Louis JJavid Riel. You have a mission to accomplish for the benefit of humanity.' I received my divine mission with bowed head and uplifted hands. 16 A few nights before this the same spirit told rae that the apostolic fipirit whicli was in the late Archbishop Bourget, and who was the pope of the new world, had taken possession of Archbishop Tach6. It is to remain with the latter until his death, and then will re-enter the archbishop of Montreal. It will remain in him and his succes- eors for one hundred and fifty-seven years. At the end of that tilne it will return to the ecclesiastical head of St. Boniface and his successors for 1,87G years." Such delusional and egotistic nonsense could be quoted to any extent. Enough has been transcribed, not only to show the groove in which his mind ran when these frenzies took hold of him, but also to indicate how consistent throughout his whole career of over a quarter of a century, his mental activity was in respect to the uniformity of these vagaries. Archbishop Tache, in speaking of Riel and his condition, said: "For many years I have been convinced beyond the possibility of a doubt, that, while endowed with brilliant qualities of mind and heart, the unfortunate leader of the Metis was a prey to what may be termed 'megalomania' and 'theomania,' which alone can explain his way of acting up to the last moments of his life," Tiie i)rosecution brought forward a number of witnesses to show that sucli had known Kiel and had conversations with him, but saw no signs of insanity. It uefd scarcely be said that such negative evidence is worthless. A person may be insane and yet rational. Sucli having delusions can mask them with a great deal of shrewdness in ordinary conversation. All asylums have this experience, until some pertinent remark or favorable condition evokes and brings into prominence and activity the abnormal and diseased mental bias. A thousand persons may see no insanity in a patient, but one reliable witness wlio has seen indubitable evi- dence of mental alienation, will cancel the whole negation. Leav- ing out the evidence for the defense altogether, the witnesses for the crown gave facts enough to establish the prisoner's mental unsoundness, at least in the estimation of the writer. There is no doubt that Riel was responsible for some years, up to the time of the Duck Lake fight. The excitement of that fight caused another attack of insanity, and from that time there is no evidence that he was accountable for what ho did. While lie was suffering from these attacks lie was not responsible for anything he did. I spoke to some of the half-breeds who were in all the engagements with Riel, and they uniformly said he was not the Bame man after the first fight. He seemed to liavo changed en- 17 je apostolic 'ho was the ihop T.ich6. nil I'e-enter his succes- 3nd of that oniface and oted to any the groove of him, but e career of I respect to lition, said: jssibility of f mind and roy to what ) alone can s life." 5ses to show ;h him, but . that such me and yet ith a great y'lums have e condition normal and insanity in ibitable evi- ion, Leav- ilnesses for er's mental e years, up f that fight there is no hile he was )r anything i in all the vas not the hanged en- tirely, and became frenzied. He organized no opposition after this time, did no fighting, but was looked upon as inspired by his dfci'ided followers, and ran about from rifle pit to rifle pit, holding aloft a crucifix, and calling upon the Trinity for aid. The mili- tary organizers, leaders and fighters were Duraont and Dumais. These sane, shrewd and brave rebels have been amnestied by our government, but the mental weakling was hanged. A few days before the execution two medical gentlemen were sent to Regina by the government to enquire into and report upon the prisoner's mental condition. It is just to them to say that they were servants of the government. One was a chemical analyst and the other was warden of Kingston Penitentiary. On their knowledge and judgment and skill as experts hung the fate of Riel, at least so it was said officially. They examined the prisoner and reported in cipher to the government. This report has never been published, although it was an oflicial document, but on the contrary il was returned to the authors. A new report was made out when the examiners had returned to the capital, and after the prisoner had been executed. Such is the parliamentary record. It must be a satisfaction to these estimable gentlemen to know that their report did not seal the fate of the insane rebel. The writer challenged the government to hold a post mortem on RiePs brain, and submit it to the examination of any competent pathologist. He was prepared to abide by the opinion and verdict of such an expert. This challenge was made through the press, and especially through the government organ. The writer was sure that organic changes would be found in Rii , brain, even of a gross nature, after such mental storms of a life-time. The foot- prints of disease were there, and within that skull was evidence of the prisoner's aberrations. Two medical men were present at his execution, but they also were government officers, under instruc- tions. No post mortem of the brain was made. He was buried beside the scaffold where he bravely died. His body was kept under military supervision for about four weeks, and at the expira- tion of that time it was delivered up to friends. Decomposition had set in, and so the brain records were forever destroyed. The facts set forth in this man's eventful history are not denied by his executioners. The plea is that he was a religious fanatic or "crank" such as are described in all ages of tlie world's history, that his delusions were normal to his mind and used by him to accomplish his selfish and ambitious designs. The answer 18 to this plausible excuse is, that his strange conduct was intermit- tent, and that during the many years of mental health he was quiet, unassuming, showing no delusions, and even supporting his family by engaging in humble employments, such as came to hand. In short, he was a well disposed and law abiding citizen. There is no parallel between him in any respect and those sane religious enthusiasts who found sects and carry on religious wars. Such adapt means to ends which have in them the probabilities of success, and have no intermissions such as Riel had in his life. A crank has a mental twist from childliood upwards. He has mental peculiarities without intermissions and eccentricities throughout the whole course of liis life. He is a naturally odd and hobby-riding man who is unchangeable in his possession of whims and fancies. The insane man becomes so synchronously with brain disease. These peculiarities come and go with the invasion of disease and departure of the corporeal abnormal con- dition. The intermissions of freedom from delusions or from mental deprivation are the insane man's normal condition. He then comes to himself in his words and conduct. The crank has no such intervals, because his mental condition is natural, unifonn and continuous as known in all his doings. His being is saturated congenitally with all kinds of visionary projects or psychical obliquities, yet he will use ordinary methods and reasonable instruments to acquire power towards an end however absurd that goal may seem to mankind. Let us drop the name and person of Riel out of our thoughts, and put in their place an algebraical symbol to equal an unknown mental condition of an equally unknown person. Let us then predicate of this symbol all that is known of this man's tragic, erratic and unaccountable history. Let all the facts be written in a medical certificate as reasons for putting this unknown person into an ayslum. Let these recorded facts be closely scrutinized by legal and medical experts and properly authenticated, and there is not any asylum in Christendom but would commit him as a lunatic. In fact, there are few lunatics who have such a pro- nounced record of mental alienation and of periodic brain disease. In this way, we do not consider the sad mischief Riel has done, nor the cruelties of which ho has been the instrument nor the grievous loss of life he has occasioned. We look at the man apart from all extraneous circumstances, an I we judge of him only as a man. 1 f I 19 1 f t It will be seen that I have avoided quoting authorities to bolster tip my belief. I have thought it best to give a synopsis of this man's mental life, including the 'testimony of those who were his enemies as well as of those who had sympathy for him, and to let any candid mind say, if this man had always a sound mind in a sound body. Since his execution up to a few months ago his death was made to do duty as a political war-cry. It was felt that the recommendation to mercy by a Protestant and English speaking jury; that the strong evidence of the prisoner's insanity, which was adduced at the trial and after it; that the repeated postponements of the day of execution ; that the fact of his hav- ing been only the nominal head of the rebellion should have had due weight with the executive. A living lunatic in an asylum would soon have been forgotten, but a dead Kiel has roused into unwonted activity, influences which will not easily be allayed. It may be interesting to American medical jurists to notice in connection with the trial of this unbalanced man the following points: Mrst Under Canadian law a question of life and death was decided by a petit jury of only six persons, and selected by the magistrate who tried the case. Second. There was no grand jury empanelled to examine the positive evidence against the accused. Third The magistrate who tried the offender for high treason was not a judge in the legal sense, being only a stipendiary magis- trate, yet he presided over a State trial. Fourth. It is customary in such cases in the territories to select a jury composed of half English and half of the countrymen of the prisoner. This jury was not so chosen. No half-breeds nor French — however loyal — were taken. Fifth. The charge was treason, although the prisoner was an American citizen, and legally an alien and invader. He virtually led a rebellion against a foreign power. Sixth. The question should not have been the prisoner's mental condition during the trial, but only when the overt acts were committed. Seventh. The jury recommended the prisoner to mercy either (a) because the rebellion was justifiable, or (J> because his mental condition made him less responsible.