C.C.143.

September 29th, 1920.

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR GENERAL IN COUNCIL.

The undersigned has the honour to submit herewith the report of the Honourable Mr. Justice Pelletier, in the case of Marie Anne Houde or Gagnon, convicted of murder at the Assizes, held in the City of Quebec during the month of April, 1920, and sentenced to be executed on Friday the First day of October, 1920, together with the transcript of the evidence adduced at the trial, petition in favour of clemency, and other documents relating to the case.

Upon careful consideration of all which, and having regard to and by reason of the fact which has been established that since the sentence, the said Marie Anne Houde or Gagnon has given birth to twin children now less than three months old and that it is of the very first importance, if not indeed indispensable to the health and possibly life of said infant children that they should continue to be nursed by their mother, and the apparent inhumanity of taking the nursing mother from her suckling children to the scaffold, the Under-signed respectfully recommends that the death penalty be commuted to imprisonment for life in the penitentiary at St. Vincent de Paul, Quebec.

Respectfully submitted

[signature]C. J. D.

Minister of Justice.