MURDER OR SUICIDE ? 379 



considerable number of individuals, and after travelling nine days, he, to- 

 gether vrith Simpson, Antoine Legros, senior, his son Antoine Legros, junior, 

 and John Bird, left the main camp with the view of travelling more rapidly 

 than the remainder of the party towards St Peters. A few days after leav- 

 ing the main body, Simpson, according to the deponent, complained of 

 being unwell, and wished to return. On the morning of the 14th June, 

 he again insisted upon returning to Red River Colony, and offered a con- 

 siderable sum of money to each of the others composing the party if they 

 would return with him. Simpson, it seems, appeared very restless and 

 uneasy, and is said to have expressed a conviction that he would never 

 recover from his illness. He complained of no special ailment, and when 

 told that he would have the opportunity of consulting a physician at " Lac 

 qui Parle," he is said to have stated that a physician " would do him no 

 good." On the 14th June, he did turn back with his four companions, 

 and, after travelling till an hour and a half after sundown, and arriv- 

 ing at within a mile of Turtle River, he was asked whether he wished 

 to have the tent pitched. He replied that it was "just as the others 

 pleased." Bruce, John Bird, and the elder Legros, then proceeded to raise 

 the tent. While thus engaged, and standing with his back to the leader, 

 Bruce heard the report of a gun, and on turning round saw that Simpson 

 had shot Bird, who groaned and fell dead. Bruce then saw Simpson turn 

 and shoot the elder Legros, who staggered against the camp cart, and in 

 about two minutes fell. Immediately after the report of the second gun, 

 Bruce and the younger Legros started off and ran a short distance from the 

 cart. Simpson now called out to Bruce, asking him if he (Bruce) was aware of 

 any intention to kill him (Simpson). Bruce answered that he had never 

 heard of any such intention on the part of any one. The explorer then 

 told Bruce that he had shot Bird and Legros because they had intended ta 

 murder him that night /or Ids papers, and that the laws of England would 

 justify him for so doing. The elder Legros, who was still alive, then asked 

 Simpson to allow his son to go away unharmed, to which the leader consented. 

 Simpson then offered Bruce five hundred pounds to go back with him to Red 

 River Colony and " keep the affair secret." He afterwards asked Bruce if he 

 knew the road back to Red River, and on being answered " yes," he gave 

 orders to harness the horses. The elder Legros now called to his son, bid- 

 ding him kiss him for the last time. Simpson then asked Legros if it was 

 true that he and Bird meant to kill him, to which the dying man answered, 

 "No." All this time the explorer was standing with his gun in his hand. 

 Bruce and young Legros now went to where the horses were placed, and 

 mounting one each they rode away in the direction of the main camp, which 

 they had so recently left. Immediately after arriving at the main camp, the 

 two fugitives gave the alarm, and having been joined by five men, tlie whole 



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