d that he would surrender so that he could continue to defend the Mtis' cause. Riel was taken to Regina. Dumont, tried unsuccessfully to bring back Batoche. When he heard that Riel had given himself up, Dumont left for the United States. The rebellion was over. Poundmaker surrendered on May 23, but Big Bear finally gave himself up on July 2. On July 6, 1885, Riel was charged with high treason. The trial opened on July 20, with Riel pleading not guilty. This trial was to have bad consequences for Riel and for Canada. The jury was all Protestant. Riel's lawyer wanted to plead that Riel was insane and not responsible for his acts. Riel was against to this plan that his lawyers had the judge rule that he did not have permission to speak.The witnesses testimonies were damning. They insisted that Riel had been mentally unstable before and during the rebellion. Towards the end of the trial, Riel was allowed to speak.After a moment of prayer, he reviewed the troubles in the North-West, beginning with the sufferings his people had suffered and the government's not doing anything about this. He said that he was not insane and that he did not want to be set free by reason of insanity. He did not reject that he had previously been in a mental hospital, but pointed out that the doctors had certified that he was cured.Riel was sentenced to hang on September 18. Than is was postponed to November 16. On the day of the execution got a visit from his family and on November 6, he wrote his will.During the night of the 15th and the early hours of the 16th, he wrote one last letter to his mother and received the last finances. At 8:00 a.m., he climbed the stairs to the stage for his execution. On November 19, a service was sung for the rest of Riel’s soul at St. Mary's Church in Regina. On December 9, his body was returned to St. Vital where it layed for 2 days in his mother's house. A funeral song was sung December 12 at St. Boniface Cathedral and...
