THOMAS E. JACKSON was next examined by Mr. Osler, and deposed that he was a druggist, at Prince Albert, and a brother of Wm. Henry Jackson, an insane prisoner of Riel’s.  Riel, witness testified, asked him to write to the eastern papers, placing a favourable construction on his (Riel’s) actions.  Riel had made an application to Government for $35,000 as indemnity for loss of property; he showed the greatest hatred to the English, and his motives were those of revenge for ill-treatment at the time of the Red River rebellion.  Having questioned Riel’s present motives and plans, witness was taken prisoner and placed in close confinement.  Riel afterwards accused me of having advised an English half-breed to desert.  When Middleton was attacking Batoche, Riel came to witness and told him if Middleton killed any of their women and children he would massacre the prisoners.  He wrote a message to Middleton to that effect, and I carried it to the General. (The message was produced and identified by witness).  I did not return to the rebel camp.  Saw the prisoner armed once after the Fish Creek fight.  Riel was in command at Batoche, Dumont being in immediate command of the men.  I know prisoner’s handwriting. (The original summons to Major Crozier to surrender, the letter to Crozier asking him to come and take away the dead after Duck Lake fight, a letter to “dear relatives” at Fort Qu’Appelle, a letter to the half-breeds and Indians about Battleford, a letter to Poundmaker, and other documents were put in and identified by witness as being in Riel’s handwriting).

Cross-examined by Mr. Fitzpatrick—­The agitation was for provincial rights and their claims under the Manitoba treaty, and I was in sympathy with it.  Riel was brought into the country by the French half-breeds.  I attended a meeting at Prince Albert immediately after Riel’s arrival in June, 1884.  Riel said what they wanted was a constitutional agitation, and if they could not accomplish their ends in five years they would take ten to do it.  Riel was their adviser; was not a member of the Executive Committee.  Up to March last, from all I heard prisoner say or discovered otherwise, I believed Riel meant simply a constitutional agitation, as was being carried on by the other settlers.  Riel had told him the priests were opposed to him, and that they were all wrong.  Heard Riel talk of dividing up the country to be bestowed on the half-breeds, Poles, Hungarians, Bavarians, etc.  When I was Riel’s prisoner I heard him talk of this division, which I thought meant a division of the proceeds of sale of lands in a scheme of immigration.  This was altogether different from what he had all along proposed at the meetings.  All the documents Riel signed that I know of were signed “Exovide” (one of the flock).  Riel explained that his new religion was a liberal form of Roman Catholicism, and that the Pope had no power in Canada.  Think Riel wanted to exercise the power of the Pope himself.  These expressions were made by Riel after the rebellious movement was begun.