~ POLICING AND LAW ENFORCEMENT

submitted by 51h

 

During the early years, the Hudson’s Bay Company
established laws and imposed penalties for infractions of
those laws. In 1835 the District of Assiniboia was divided
into four judicial districts and appointed were Justices of
the Peace for each district. A peace-keeping force of 56
Military pensioners (Chelsea pensioners) were recruited
by the Hudson Bay Company in 1848 to form a part-time
volunteer group to be ready at all times and to act when
called upon. On Oct. 10, 1870 after the arrival of Colonel
Garnet Wolseley and the quashing of the rebel skirmish,
a 20-man mounted police force was formed under the
command of Captain Frank Villiers of the Quebec Rifles.
This force patrolled the various scattered communities
and their journeys to settle claims and provide welfare
took them over a vast area. Then early in 1874 the newly
formed City of Winnipeg created a small policing force
and by 1875 there were five members providing law
enforcement to the south of us.

Meanwhile, since 1870, we had the benefit of con-
stables appointed by the Province of Manitoba. These
Provincial Constables were appointed by Order-in-
Council by the Attorney—General. We list here a few of
these men who travelled widely and administered many
claims both sides of the Red River and up into the Lake
Winnipeg area: In 1871 we had, Charles Brainard,

 

 

 

Joseph McMillan, Daniel McDougall, Alex McBeth,

 

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Agustin Carriere, Cornelius Fidler, John B. Matheson, .

 

Charles Porter, Thomas Peebles and Phillip Thomas.
Most of these men were still filling their positions and
policing up to 1895. Thomas Slater and James Green
were appointed in 1872. Mr. H. Jackson was signed up in
1875 followed by James Matheson and Richard Power in
1876. ’

The year 1877 saw Joseph Clouston, James Mellroy
and Max Goulet added to the list while in 1878 Aviedie
Bissouieete and Guillarnme Desautels were also policing
along with Jean Baptiste J oyal. Just before 1880, W.R.
Robinson, Richard, H. Shore and William Vincent were
appointed as Constables for the Province followed by
Michael Jeffery and John McLeod in 1880. After 1880,
John Flynn was assigned, Richard Gardner in 1894, John
Macdonald in 1895, David Bethel of Beausejour in 1901
as well as Alexander Anderson, of Balsam Bay, in 1901.

Some of the Justices of the Peace that were in place at
the time that the Municipality of St. Clements was first
incorporated were: John J. Winram and James Fullerton
of Crooks Creek, John Gunn of Gonor, David Miller and
Angus Fraserrof East Selkirk. From Selkirk we had
several: Arnos'l-l. Vaughan, James Drake, James

Colcleugh, Sig. Jonasson and F.W. Colcleugh. By the ;
year 1888 we had several more, namely: Alexander Butler :

Rowley of Peguis, John Stace Smith of Beausejour,
William Henry of East Selkirk, Jonas Bergman, James

G. Dagg and Lynas S. Vaughan all of Selkirk, and i
finally, John Buchanan of East Selkirk. Alexander Butler §
Rowley had switched his address to Poplar Park by 1890, .,
Charles H. Michell worked out of East Selkirk and did :