Maître Joseph Napoléon Francoeur

Defence counsel in the trial of Marie-Anne Houde and of Télesphore Gagnon. Born on December 13, 1881, in Cap St. Ignace, the son of Auguste Francoeur, a farmer, and Avila Caron. He completed his studies at Laval University and was admitted to the Bar in 1905. He served as a Liberal Member of the Legislative Assembly (1908-1936) and as a Member of Parliament (1937-1940). At the time of the Gagnon affair, he was the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly (1919-1928). He was a minister on several occasions in the cabinet of Louis-Alexandre Taschereau: he was Minister of Public Works (1930-1936), of Labour (1930-1931 and 1935-1936), and of Mines (1936). He was appointed Judge of the Court of King's Bench on February 9, 1940. He retired for health reasons in 1945. He died in Quebec City on July 25, 1965, at the age of 85.