The first witness called by the Crown was DR. WILLOUGHBY, of SASKATOON.  After having been sworn, witness said that the prisoner had stated to him that the Fort Garry trouble, when Scott had been shot, was nothing to what was going to take place.  He said that the Indians only waited for him to strike the first blow to join him, and that he had the United States at his back.  He seemed greatly excited, and said:—­“It is time, doctor, that the breeds should assert their rights, and it will be well for those who have lived good lives.”  A party of armed men then drove up, and Riel said, pointing to them, “My people intend striking a blow for their rights.  They have petitioned the Government over and over again, the only reply being an increase of the police force each time.”  The Indians, he said, had arranged their plans, and when the first blow was struck they would be joined by the American Indians.  They would issue a proclamation, and assert that the time had arrived for him to rule the country or perish in the attempt.  He promised to divide the country into seven equal portions, one of which was to be the new Ireland of the new North-West.  He said the rebellion of fifteen years ago was not a patch on what this would be.

THOS.  McKAY, a loyal half-breed, was next called, who testified that he joined the Volunteer contingent from Prince Albert which formed part of Major Crozier’s command at Duck Lake.  Previous to that engagement he accompanied Mr. Hillyard Mitchell in his mission to Batoche, where the rebels had their headquarters.  His object in going to Batoche was to point cut to the French half-breeds the danger they were getting into in taking up arms.  On arriving at the village he was met by an armed guard who conducted him, with Mr. Mitchell, to the rebel council room, where he was introduced to Riel “as one of Her Majesty’s soldiers.”  We here quote part of the examination, by Mr. Christopher Robinson, of this Witness.

Q.—­Who introduced you to the prisoner?

A.—­Mr. Mitchell introduced me to Mr. Riel as one of Her
Majesty’s soldiers.

Q.—­That is Mr. Hillyard Mitchell?

A.—­Yes.  I shook hands with Mr. Riel and had a talk with him.  I said, “There appears be great excitement here, Mr. Riel.”  He said, “No, there is no excitement at all; it was simply that the people were trying to redress their grievances, as they had asked repeatedly for their rights; that they had decided to make a demonstration.”  I told him it was a very dangerous thing to resort to arms.  He said he had been waiting fifteen long years and that they had been imposed upon, and it was time now, after they had waited patiently that their rights should be given, as the poor half-breeds had been imposed upon.  I disputed his wisdom and advised him to adopt different measures.

Q.—­Did he speak of himself at all in the matter?

A.—­He accused me of having neglected my people.  He said if it was not for men like me their grievances would have been redressed long ago, that as no one took an interest in these people he had decided to take the lead in the matter.