Image: Battleford Hangings - Bias of the Judge, Article from the Saskatchewan Herald, December 14th, 1885

Description: An excerpt from the Saskatchewan Herald from December 14th, 1885. In addition to the bias which was allegedly held by Judge Rouleau, the Battleford Eight were sentenced to hang without the benefit of translators at their hasty trials. The Battleford Eight were hanged on November 27th, 1885. The text of the telegraph notes that as late as November 24th, 1885 there were significant concerns with bias held by Judge Rouleau in his passing sentence on the men that was raised with the Federal Department of Justice. The text of the article reads: "JUDGING A JUDGE The following Ottawa telegram is going the rounds of the press: "It was reported to-day (Nov. 24) that representations have been made to the Government respecting the conduct of Stipendiary Magistrate Rouleau of Battleford, which may cause a postponement of the execution of the eight Indians sentenced to be hanged at Battleford on Friday next. He is reported to have threatened that every Indian and Half-breed and rebel brought before him after the insurrection was suppressed, would be sent to the gallows if possible. In view of all the circumstances, and particularly as Judge Rouleau was a heavy loser pecuniarily by the Indian outbreak at Battleford, it is contended that he should not have been allowed to preside at the trial of the prisoners. A memorial has been received by the Department of Justice asking that the matter be investigated." In all this it will be noticed that Judge Rouleau is not charged with straining the statutes or disregarding evidence, or that the sentences were not well-merited. In fact, if the people of Battleford were a cavilling, fault-finding class they would put the Judge in a very disagreeable position by condemning him, as many of them do, for being too liberal in giving the prisoners the benefit of doubts that presented themselves in their favor. The memorialists may have been indulging in loud talk and are taking this course to let themselves down softly."
Title: Battleford Hangings - Bias of the Judge, Article from the Saskatchewan Herald, December 14th, 1885
Credit: University of Saskatchewan Library
Author: The Saskatchewan Herald
Usage Terms: Public domain
License: Public domain
Attribution Required?: No