IMAGE: EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I l^|28 ■ 50 ^^■' 2.5 LU. 125 1.4 1.6 ^ ^ 6" — — » ^^ v: 7 Hiotographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. 14580 (716) 872-4503 '^>A ^ CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/iCMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiquas ^ Technical and Bibliographic Notaa/Notaa tachniquas at bibliographiquas The Instituta has attamptad to obtain tha baat original copy availabia for filming. Paaturas of this copy which may ba bibliographically uniqua, which may v^ltar any of tha imagas in tha reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checked below. D D D D n D Coloured covers/ Couverture de coulaur I I Covers damaged/ Couverture endommagie Covers restored and/or laminated/ Couverture restaur^ et/ou peilicul^e [~~1 Cover title missing/ Le titre de couverture mar.que I I Coloured maps/ Cartes gAographiquas en coulaur □ Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/ Encre de couleur 'i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) I I Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ Planches at/ou illustrations en couleur Bound with other material/ ReliA avac d'autres documents Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin/ La re liure serrie peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distorsion l« long da la marge intiriaura Blank leaves added during restoration may appear within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming/ II S'^ peut que cartaines pagas blanches ajouttos lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans la texte. mais, lorsque cela 6tait possible, ces pages n'ont pas iti film^es. Additional comments:/ Commentaires supplimantaires; L'Institut a microfilm* la maillaur axemplaire qu'il lui a it* possible de se procurer. Las details de cet exemplaire qui sont peui!-*tre uniques du point de vue bibliographiqua, qui peuvant modifier une image reproduite, ou qui peuvant axiger una modification dans la mAthode normale de filmage sont indiqute ci-dessous. r~| Coloured pages/ D Pages da coulaur Pagas damaged/ Pages endommagias Pages restored and/oi Pajas rastaurias et/ou pelliculies Pagas discoloured, stained or foxai Pagas d*color*as, tachaties ou piquies Pages detached/ Pages ditachies Showthroughy Transparence Quality of prir Qualiti inigale de I'impression Includes supplementary matarii Comprend du material supplimantaira Only edition available/ Seule idition disponible r~l Pages damaged/ I I Pages restored and/or taminatad/ rT\ Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ I I Pages detached/ Fyj Showthrough/ r~| Quality of print varies/ I I Includes supplementary material/ r~~| Only edition available/ Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, etc.. have been refilmed to ensure the best possible image/ Lea pages totalament ou partiallement obscurcies par un fauillet d'arrata, une pelure, etc., ont iti filmies d nouveau da facon i ohtenir la meilleure image possible. This item is filmed at tha reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est film* au taux de reduction indiqu* ci-dessous. 10X 14X 18X 22X r 26X XX I / 12X 16X 20X 24X 28X 32X Th« copy f if mad h«r« haa b««n raproducad thanka to tha ganaroaity of: Dtpartnwnt of Rare Books and Special Collectkins, IMoGill University, Montreal. Tha imagaa appaaring hara ara tha iNMt quality poaaibla eonaidaring tha condition and lagibility of tha original copy and in kaaping with tha filming contract spadficationa. Original eopiaa in printad papar covara ara flimad baginning with tha front eovar and anding on tha laat paga with a printad or iliuatratad impraa- sion. or the back eovar whan appropriata. Ail othar original eopiaa ara filmad baginning on tha *!r4l paga with a printad or iliuatratad impraa* jKon. and anding on tha laat paga with a printad or iliuatratad impraaaion. Tha laat racordad frama on aaeh mieroficha shall contain tha symbol — ^ (maaning "CON- TINUED"), or tha symbol V (maaning "END"), whichavar appliaa. L'axamplaira film4 fut raproduit grica i la gin^roaiti da: Department of Rare Boolu and Special Collecttons, MoQill University, Montreal. Laa imagaa auhrantaa ont 4t* raproduitaa svac la plua grand soin. compta tanu da la condition at da la nattat* da raxampiaira film*, at w conformiti avac laa eonditiona du contrat da filmaga. Lac axampiairaa originaux dont la couvartura an papior aat imprim4a sent filmte an commandant par la pramiar piat at an tarminant soit par la dami4ra paga qui comporta una amprainta dimpraaaion ou d'liluatration, soit par ia sacoii^ plat, talon la caa. Toua laa autraa axamplairaa originaux sont fiimte an comman9ant par la pramiAra paga qui comporta una amprainta dimpraaaion ou dlHuatration at an tarminant par la damiAra paga qui comporta una taila amprainta. Un daa symboiaa suh/ants apparattra sur ia damiAra imaga da chaqua mieroficha. salon la caa: ia symbola — »- signifla "A SUIVRE", la symbola ▼ aignifia "FIN". Mapa. plataa. ciiarta. ate., may b« fitmad at diffarant raduction ratioa. Thoaa too larga j ba antiraly ineludad in ona axpoaura ara filmad baginning in thm uppar laft hand co^nar. laft to right and top to bottom, aa many framaa aa raquirad. Tha follo«ving diagrama iliuatrata tha mathod: Laa eartaa, pianehaa. tableaux, ate., pauvam ittra film4a i daa taux da nMuetion diff^rants. Loraqua la document aat trop grand pour itra raproduit 1% un savi elich*. ii aat film* i partir da I'angia supMeur gauche, de gauche i droita. at da haut an baa. an pranant la nombru d'Imagaa nAcaaaaira. Laa diagrammea suivanta illuatrant la m^thoda. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 TW: •■.'«*«:;" — ^ / T^ — -^ 5^^^*^^^^^W^s^^^^ ^?V/ s "% f INVESTIGATION INTO I i J. MEMBER FOR THE ELECTORAL DISTRICT OF MONTMORENCY 1* f) ^ I f ^^<^. \ i » 4 {Translation.) Thursday, May 31st, 1894. The Committee met at 10 A.M., Mr. Girouard in the chair. Joseph P. Turcotte, of the city of Quebec, advocate, sworn : By Mr. Lanyelier : Q. Do you know Mr. Larose and Mr. J, B. Provost, the two witnesses summoned to appear before this committee at the same time with you ? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Did you see them yesterday, or the day before ?— A. On receiving the telegram ordering me to proceed to Ottawa, I placed myself in communication, by telephone, with Mr. Provost. I was answered that he was absent. It was Mr. Larose that answered by the telephone, and informed me that he was absent. Q. Are you sure that it was Mr. Larose who answered by the telephone ? A. Yes, sir, perfectly. It was Mr. Larose that answered me by the telephone. I asked him if he had received a telegram ordering him to go to Ottawa to give his evidence in the Turcotte matter ? He said " yes." I asked him to tell me whether Mr. Provost was at his store. He answered that he was not. I said co Larose, " I will go down to the store this evening to see Mr. Provost." That was on the 29th of May. Accoi-dingly that evening, I went down to the store and saw Mr. Provost, and his partner Mr. Larose. The question came up whether they were bound to come up here. I asked to be allowed to see the telegrams, and told them that the order was imperative. Q. What did Mr. Provost then say to you ?— A. Mr. Provost then replied to me as follows : " I will not go to Ottawa unless I am forced to go there. If they are deter- mined to make me go there, they will have to come for me." Q. And what did Mr. Larose say ?— A. Mr. Larose said : " I will not go to Ottawa unless my expenses are paid in advance." I again asked to be shown the telegrams. I compared them with that T had myself received. I am a lawyer and familiar with tnis mode of procedure. I know that summonses are effected in this way by the Committee on Privileges and Elections. They answered me that they would not come, unless they were forced to do so. Q. Mr. Provost did not speak of money? — A. Mr. Provost did not give any rea- .sons as to money. He simply said he would not come unless he was forced co come. (Translation.) Thursday, 21st June, 1894. The Committee met at 10.30 A.M., Mr. Girouard in the chair. Mr. J. B. Provost, of the city of Quebec, merchant, called and examined : By Mr. Langelier : Q. You were sworn yesterday in relation to this inquiry ? — A. Yes. Q. Under the oath taken by you yesterday will you state what you know of this matter? — A. Yes. Q. You were ordered to produce certain papers and documents ; have you got them now ? — A. I have some documents here. Q. This is a letter, I think, in Mr. Turcotte's handwriting ? — A , Yes -, I hand it in as exhibit No. 2. Q. Will you read the document ? Is the signature at foot of this document, or letter, the signature of Mr. Turcotte, the member for Montmorency ? — A. Yes. Q. What is the date and place? — A. It is dated Quebec, 2nd February, 1893. IJ* Q. Be gootl enough to read the document? — A. " Quebec, 2nd February, 1893. " I hereby undertake to pay to Jean Baptiste Provost the sum of four hundred dollars a year, from the rtrst of January. 1894, on condition that the contract be awanled to Mr. Provost, and failing' the said contract I undertake to pay him but three hundred dollars a year from the said date, and conditioned, o2 course, on my business being prosperous. "A. J. TURCOTTE." Q. What is the contract alluded to in the document you have just read ? A. I had only that contract; I do not see that there was any other ; I hud only that contract for furnishing supplies to the Citadel ; I think it is a contract for furnishing provisions to the Citadel that is alluded to. Q. Wha,t is the contract for the Citadel ( What was it for ?— A. The contract to supply supplies and provisions to the troops. Q. From what date had you that contract ?— A. I do not know ; it would be neces- sary to refer to the tenders I may have made. (Objection taken on the ground that the evidence should be limited to the charges as made and that the charge refers solely and only to the year 1893. Question allowed.) Q. Exhibit 3 is a letter which you also hand in ?— A. Yes ; the letter was sent to us that year because we had made no tender ; the Government notified me that they continued the contract^ as I had not tende;ed. Q. From whom is that ?etter?— A. From the Deputy Adjutant General for the district of Quebec. Q. Mr. Duchesnay? — A. Yes. Q. What is the datT ?— A. 10th January, 1894. Q. Would you read the letter ? — A. EXHIBIT No. 3. " Militia and Defence, Canada, Quebec, 10th January, 1894. " Sib,— I have the honour, by direction of the Major-General commanding, to inform you that your contract for supplying of potatoes and provisions to the active militia for the year 1894 at Quebec has been approved of at the same rates as the past year. " I have the honour to be, sir, " Your obedient servant, " R. DUCHESNAY, ^.i>. 6'. " Mr. J. B. Provost, " Grocer, Quebec." By Mr. Curran : - Q. To whom is that letter addressed ?— A. To myself, J. B. Provost, grocer, Quebec. Q. There is a reference in that letter to a contract you appear to have had with the Government, or the Militia Department, for supplying groceries and provisions to the garrison of the Citadel at Quebec ?— A. Yts. Q, You had that contract for the previous year ? — A. Yes. Q. Examine this document, -which is a tender dated 28th November, 1892, whose signature is aflfixed to it f — A. It is my own signature. Q. Would you be good enough to read it to the Co nmittee ?— A. ; EXHIBIT No. 4. TENDER FOR POTATOES AND (iROCERlES. Accepted. (Sd.) C. Eug. Panet, Col., [ D. M. M. andD.) (To be made in duplicate.) ParticiilarH of service to lie inHertecl here The price or prices to be stated in words without erasure or al- terations, and to be in dollars and cents. No other sam- ples than those furnished from the dei>art- ment shall be considered. Signature of party tender- ing and place of residence. " Quebec, the 28th of Nov., 1892. " Sir,— I hereby promise to furnish potatoes and groceries to the cita- del at Quebec for one year, from January, 189.J, agreeable to the terms of your advertisement, dated the , and the conditions of the contract on the other side of this paper, at the following rates, viz : •' Potatoes at one and a half cents per pound. " Groceries at 4 cents per ration, which consists of one oz. pot barley, 2 oz. cheese, one-third oz. coffee, one-quarter oz. tea, 2 oz. sugar, one-half oz! salt, one-half oz. and one thirty-sixth oz. peper, according to samples shown me by the officers calling for the supplies ; and I do so with the understand- ing, that this tender is to be submitted to the Minister of Militia and Defence for his approval,— hereby agreeing, in the event of such approval being notified to me, to consider it as binding on me as if a formal contract had been entered into. " (Signed) J. B. PROVOST, " Quebec. " Note.— An accepted clieque on a chartered bank for five per cent on the amount of the contract, payable to the order of the Minister of Militia and Defence, must accompany this tender. The amount of the cheque will be forfeited to government in the event of the contractor or contractors failing to carry out the conditions of this tender. Should the tender not be accepted the cheque will be returned. Under no circumstances should tenderers alter the above printed form. Q. Is this the tender you sent to the Militia Department 1 — A. Yes. Jiy Mr. Edgar : Q. It is a tender for supplies for year 1893 ?— A. Yes. Jiy Mr. Lanyelier : Q. To whom did you send that tender ?— A. We sent it as we usually did to the department, I suppose the Militia Department. Q. Did you get an answer to that tender ?- -A. We must have received one ; I think we did, because it is the usual thing. Q. Have you in your possession the answer you think you mus.- have received from the department ? — A. No ; we do not keep them usually. Q. What wab the purport of the reply from the Militia Department 1 (Question objected to as irregular, until such time as document is filed. Objection maintained, pending proof of non-existence of copy or originr.l.) Q. Examine margin of document and read what is there written ? — A. " Accepted (Signed) C. Eug. Panet." Q That is the name of Mi. Panet, the Deputy Minister of Militia?— A. I do not know his signature, but I suppose that is it. By Mr. Girouard : Q. What is that document? — A. It is the same document ; the tender is marked on the -oorner " acce'^ted;" it is exhibit No. 4. V 6 Q. Was it the first time you tendered to the Department of Militia for those supplies ? (Question objected to as irregular and not pertinent. Question allowed.) A. I do not remember. Q- It was not the first time you had » contract for supi>lying the Citadel? A. "We had a contract under the name of Turcotte, Provost & Co., but I do not remember the years and the date of changes of name. Q. At the date when you sent that tender, 28th Novembe •, 1892, you were in partnership with Mr. A. J. Turcotte, the member for Montmorency ? — A. Yes, I was still in partnership with him. Q. How long had you l)een in partnership with him 1 — A. I was in partnership about ten years. Q. Up to what date did that partuership-between you last?— A. Do you ask on what date the partnership was dissolved 1 Q. Yes.— A. I think it was the 11 th February, 1893, it seems to me it was in 1893. Qj From the date of the dissolution of that partnership you ceased to carry on business with Mr. Turcotte ? — A. Yes. Q. You ceased to be partners ? — A. Yes. Q. Did you continue doing business immediately afterwards in your own personal name ? — A. No, T was a year wit.iout doing any business at all. Q. As to that contract which you got from the Militia Department, on your tender of 28th November, 1892, 'did you fulfil it?— A. It was executed by the firm of A. J. Turcotte k Co. Q. Who constituted the firm of A. J. Turcotte & Co. ? — A. It was Mr. Turcotte who did business under that name, it was the firm name. Q. In speaking of Mr. A. J. Turcotte, you mean Mr. A. J. Turcotte, the member for Montmorency in the House of Commons? — A. Yes. Q. It was the firm name under which Mr. Turcotte did business, and he adopted it only after the dissolution of the partnership between you and him? — A. Yes. Q. He adopted that firm name immediately after the partnership between you and him was dissolved ?■ — A. Yes. Q. Before that the firm name was Turcotte, Provost & Co. ? — A. Yes. Q. If I have rightly understood ycu, you were in partnership with Mr. Turcotte under the name of Turcotte & Provost ? — A. Yes. Q. And after that firm was dissolved— as you have stated — it was Mr. Turcotte all alone who did business ?— A. Mr. Turcotte continued doing business during one year under the name of Turcotte, Provost & Co., but alone, doing business under that name. Q. It was after the month of February, 1893 ?— A. After the dissolution of the firm. By Sh' /lector Langevin : Q. You were not a member of that firm ?~- A. No. Bi/ Mr. Langelier : Q. And, if I understand you correctly, it was the firm of Turcotte, Provost &, Co. that carried out the contract you had for the year 1893 ? — A. Yes. (Objected tu as being a leading question.) The Chairman. — I call the attention of the hon. member to the point. We must follow the rules of procedure in the examination of witnesses that prevail in courts of justice. Mr. Langelier. — Mr. Chairman, I am certainly prepared to conform to the rules of procedure in regard to the examination of witnesses, but my only object is to find out what the witness means By Mr. Langelier : Q. That contract lasted during the whole year 1893? — A. Yes. Q. Who received payment of the price of the goods supplied ?— A. It was I myself. Q. You received cheques from the department ? — A. Yes. t I Q. You stated a little while ago, if I am not mistaken, who furnished the iroodij for the carrying out of the contract?— A. It was Turcot* j, Provost & Co. for that year. //y Mr. Cnrran : Q. Did you mention the year ?— A. In 1893. Hy Mr. Langelier : Q. Up to what date in 1893 ?— A. The tender is dated in the month of January and was for one year ; it was for the whole year 1893. Q. Who flelivered the goods ?~-A. Mr. A. J. Turcotte, doing business under the name of Turcotte, Provost & Co. Q. To whcTi were tlie goods or supplies delivered ?— A. To the Citadel, at Quebec. Q. They wtre not delivered to you ?— A. No. Q. Ti oy were delivered at the Citadel for the use of the troops in garrison there ? — A. \eb. Q. Kindly examine these cheques : — 1 cheque, ex hibit 5, dated 13th January 1893. 1 do 6, do Uth do 1893. 1 do 7, do 14 th February , 1893. 1 do s, do 20th do 1893. 1 do 9, do Uth March, 1893. 1 do 10, do Uth do 1893. 1 do 11, do 12th April, 1893. 1 do 12, do 20th do 1893. 1 do 13, do 19th May, 1893. 1 do 14, do 19th do 1893. 1 do 15, do 13th June, 1893. 1 do 16, do 13th do 1893. 1 do 17, do Uth July, 1893. 1 do 18, do 22nd do 1893. 1 do 19, do Utli August, 1893. 1 do 20, do Uth do 1893. 1 do 21, do 16thSeptember,1893. 1 do 22, do 22nd do 1893. 1 do 23, do 20th October, 1893. 1 do 24, do 18th November ,1893. 1 do 25, do 22nd December, 18f».". Q. Be good enough to state by whom they are signed, to whose order they are made and whether they were sent to you and delivered to you ? — A. These cheques are perfectly correct, and endorsedeither by Mr. Larose or by me ; Mr. Larose had a power of attorney to endorse the cheques. Q. A power of attorney from whom ? — A. A power of attorney which I myself had given him. Q. Where is that power of attorney ? — A. He has it with him. Q. To whose order are the cheques made ? — A. To the order of Jean Baptiste Provost. Jean Baptiste Provost is you, yourself 1 — A. Yes. Q. Whose signature is at foot of these ? — A. W. O. Forest Q. Who is he ?— A. I think he is y Forest of Quebec, an employee of the Militia Department. Q. W^hat is his duty in the department 1 — A. I do not know. Q. It was he who used to pay you ? — A. I know he gave us those cheques. Q. I see these cheques are all endorsed " Jean Baptiste Provost" ; have you ascer- tained whether the endorsements on the back of the cheques were written by you 1 — A. As I told you just;now these cheques were endorsed in part by me and in part by Mr. Larose, who held a' power of attorney from me to endorse the cheques. 8 Q. This Mr. Lj>.robP you Hpeak of is the j/iirty who has been NUiiimoned here at* a witnesH ? — A. YeH. (■l Wlmt was he doing at that time 1 — A. He was an eniphtyee of Mr. Turcotte. Q. Now uii most of the.se che<|ue8 I see another endorsement under vours, namely. •' Turcotte, Provost A' Co." I— A. Ye«. ' Q. Here its one of these endoi-aeraents " Turcotte, Provost & Co.," which appears to have l)een .signed "per A. E. I41ro.se "?— A. It war Mr. I^arose who signed it, under a power of attorney from the firm. Q. \Vliat is the meaning of tlia-t endorsement V —A. It is the emlorae.nent by Mr. I^rose in virtue of a power of attorney from the firm of Turcotte, Provost A- Co. Q. I see that all these cheques appear to have j)asijed through the Queliec Uranoh of tha Merchants' Bank ?— A. Yes. Q. How did that happen 1—A. I used to give the chetjues to Mr. Turcotte, and he put them to nis credit. Q. Why did you give aim the cheques ? — A. I did not consider that they were my property. Q. But why did you not consider them your property ? The checjues were made to your order, and tliey were S3nt to you ?— A. T have handed in a certain document hero which shows tiie reason why ; and I hr,d an undertaking with Mr. Turcoite, and could not claim from Mr. Turcotte more than what is bUiU-xI in that document itself. y. Then all that you were to get from th? contracts is mentioned iu the document you have tiled 1 (Objected to as irregular and u leading questi(m. Objection ratointained.) Q. What were you to receive ?— A. What is stated in the document, nothing more. Q. Who was to get the remainder of the moneys paid for the fulfilment of the con- tract, over and above the four hundred dollars ?— A. I have told you that I gave the whole amount to Mr. Turcotte. Q. How did jou come to give him that ; was it in order to lend him money? — A. I gave him the cheques according as I received them ; I used to endorse them and give them to him. Q. With .lat object did you give those cheques to Mr. Turcotte 'I— A. I con- sidered that they were not mine. Q. They were cheques which were given in payment for goods delivered at the Citadel? — A. He used to furnish the goods and I gave him the cheques. Q. It was in payment for goods furnished ? — A. Yes. Q. Was there any contract or arrangement between you and Mr. Turcotte, as to the fulfilment of the contract with the Government or the Militia Department, for the supplies to be furnished to the Citadel ?— A. No contract other than the document I have handed in. Q. What did the supplies amount to (l(X)k at the cheques^ for that year 1893?— A. You can see that by the cheques, and make the addition. Q. The whole amount was paid by these cheques ? — A. Yes. '4. There is nothing else ? — A. Yes. Q. Can you state approximately the amount of profits derived from the carrying out of the contract, for the year 1893?— A. I do not know. Q. Not even approximately '/ — A. No. Q. Now, will you examine this document, which is exhibit No. 26 ? (Question objected to as irregular and not pertinent. (Question allowed.) A. I have examined this tender ; but is not signed by me. Q. Will you read it?— A. It is the tender of 1891, for the year 1892. Q. Will you read it?— A. EXHIBIT No. 26. " Quebec, the 30th November, 1891. "Sir, — I hereby propose to furnish potatoes and groceries to the Militia at Quebec one year, ending December, 1892, agreeably to the terms of your advertisement • • 1 1 I for dated tlu^- -and the conditiotiH of the cuntract on ihe othe:- side of thin .arer I f at the following rates, viz :- " Potatoos, (it i cent jkt ]H)un(l. "Or«)cerie», at 4 cents per ration, w liich oonsistH of on« oz. p jt barley, 2 o*. cheese, one-third oz. coffp >, one (juarter oz. t^a, 2 oz. sugar, one half oz. salt, and one tniity- «ixth oz. pepper, according to pimples shown us by the otficers calling foi the Hup- plies; and I do ho with the understanding that thiH tender is to .submitted ^o the Minister of Militia and Defence for his approval, — hereby agreeing, in the event of such approvnl being notified to me, to consider it as binding on nie as if n formal ontract had bceen entered into, "(Signed) J B. PxtOVOST, •' Quebec." Tiiat signature is not mine. Q. Do you know by whom it is written ?~A. It is the handwriting of Mr. Larose ; the body of the paper is by Mr. Turcotte. Q. Mr. Tuicotte, ,.iie meml)er for Montmorency, — A. Yes. Q. What position did Mr. Larose hold at the time, with Mr. Turcotte or Turcotte «k Provost in 1891 ; was the fir of Turcotte A- Provost in existence then, 30th Nov.. 18911— A. Yes. Q. What position did Mr. Larose hold in the ftrm of Turcotte & Provost? — A, He was our employee. Q. Were you informed , liat that tender had been accepted ? — A. It must have ijeen ; but I do not rememl)er it. Q. But look at the corner of the exhibit, and see what is there .,wu ,ed 1 — A. I see: "Accepled, C. Eug. Panet." By M^. (rirouard (Jfu't/iifH Cnrtier) : Q. What exhibit were you speaking of ? — A. I speak of exhibit 26. By A[r. Lanijelier : Q, Was the contract fuliilled ?— A. Yes. Q. By whom was it fulfilled ; by whom vere the supplies mentioned delivered to the Goverrunent 1 — By the firm of Turcotte k Provost. Q. Of whom did the firm of Turcotte (t Provost consist .rar."h, 1892, onfh^-rsed Turcotte k Provost. By v/hom is tha: endorsement written ? — A. The two signatures ai'M by myself. 11 Q. Here is another of 12th April, 1892, bearing the endorsement of Turcotte Jc Provost, by whom is the endorsement written 1 — A. It is in my own writing. Q. That of 25th August, 1892, is endorsed by whom ? — A. It is endorsed "Turcotte ife Provost" in. the writing of Mr. Turcotte. That of 13th October, 1892, is endorsed "Turcotte et Provost" in the handwriting of Mr. Turcotte, as is also that of 18th November, 1892. Q. We shall now take the cheques for 1893. In whose writing is the endorse- ment of the 12tli April, 1893, unuer the name "Turcotte et Provost'"? — A. Tn Mr, Turcotte's writing. Q. And that of Uth July, 1893?— A. It is endorsed "Turcotte, Provost et Ccm- pagn.e " and it is Mr. Turcotte's writing. Q. It is the same as to that of 14th August, 1893 ? — A. Yes, the same as to that of 14th August, 1893, it is another cheque. Q. The same as to that of 16th September, 1893, endorsed "Turcotte, Provost & Co."— A. Yes. Q. In the same way that of 18th November, 1893, endorsed "Turcotte, Provost & Co." the writing is Mr. Turcotte's? — A. Yes. Q. Thatof 22nd December also?— A. Yes. liy Mr. Edga r : Q. Whilst the firm of Turcotte & Provost existed, where did the money received under these cheques go to, for whom was it received ? — A. The money was received for the firm, and used by the firm, like any other money. Q. What was Mr. Turcotte's share in that business ? — A. The half, we each had half. By Mr. Lnmjelier : Q. After the dissolution of the partnership whether it was in 1892 or in 1893 (you said you were not positive as to the date) to whom did the moneys go which were paid in fulfilment of these contracts for the Citadel ? — A. I handed over, each month, the cheques to Mr. Turcotte : but all I myself got is what is stated in the document marked Exhibit No. 2. Q. How did you get the sum mentioned in exhibit 2 — that is to say — the sum of S400 ; did you deduct it it fram some of the cheques, or how did you get it ? — A. I got Mr. Turcotte's cheque for $400. Q. But why did Mr. Turcotte give yo". the §400 ? — A. ilr. Turcotte was to pay me 8300 a year for the good. will of the business. Q. And as to the other $100 included in the $400, what were they for? — A. He paid me $100 over ; there was no further understanding than that ; when he gave me that document we had agreed upon $300. Q. But apart from the $100 you have just mentioned, did you receive yourself directly or indirectly, any part of the moneys arising frcm the fulfilment of the contracts for the Citadel ?— A. No. Q. Neither in 1892, nor in 1893?— A. No. Q. What you have just stated applies alike to the period of time when the firm of Turcotte ik Provost existed and to the time when it was dissolved ? — A. When the partnership existed I always put the money to Mr. Turcotte's credit, and I derived no benefit from it. Q. After the dissolution of the partnership, what share did you get of the moneys arising from the contracts ? — A. What is stated in that document, exhibit No. 2. Q. $400 ?— A. The $400 mentioned ; $300 arc therein me tioned and $100 for the contract. Q. That is all the interest you had in Mr. Turcotte's business after that ? — A. Yes, that is all. • Q. Did you get a contract for suppl)'ing the Citadel for the year 1894 — for the pre.sent year ? — A, For the year 1894 we made no tenders ; I did not make any tender, 12 but I got a letter from the department — which letter I hand in — whereby the depart- ment informs me that they continue the contract for the present year. Q. This present year have you a grocerj- store yourself ? — A. Yes. Q. Is it yourself who have carried out that contract for this year? — A. It is the firm of Turcotte & Company. Q. To whom does the store of Turcotte »k Co. belong ? What is the firm of Tur- cotte k Co. 1 — A. I think it is Mr. Turcotte, member for Montmorency, who does business under that name. Q. Examine exhibit No. 52, being a cheque dated 20th January, 1894 ; exhibit No. 53, being a cheque of 20th February, 1 894 ; exhibit No. 54, a cheque of 15th March, 1894 ; and exhibit No. 55, cheque of April, 1894, and say what these cheques are, by whom they are signed, to whose order they are made, by whom they are endorsed, and for what they were given 1 — A. These cheques ore endorsed by me and .some by Mr. Larose, under power of attorney. Q. By whom are they signed ? — A. By Mr. Forest. Q. By the same Mr. Forest of whom you have already spoken ? — A. Yes. Q. These are officials of the Militia Department? — A. Yes ; endorsed by me, or by some one holding a power of attorney. Q. Endorsed with the name of Jean Baptiste Provost ? — A. Yes. Q. I see another endorsement, " A. J. Turcotte et Compagnie " ? — A. Yes. Q. Whom does that represent? — A. It is the signature of Mr. Turcotte. Q. Is it his handwriting ? — A. Yes. Q. " A. J. Turcotte et Compagnie," whom does that represent ? — A. I believe Mr. Turcotte does business under that name, but I do not knAw it, Q. You say that all the endorsements " A. J. Turcotte et Compagnie," are in the handwriting of Mr. Turcotte, the member for Montmorency ? — A. Yes. Q. These cheques appear to have passed through the Merchants' Bank, which has a branch at Queliec ; do you know why they went through that bank ? Do you know whei-e Mr. Turcotte does his business ? — A. While I was with him, we did business with the Merchants' Bank. Q. When you used lo receive these cheques yourself in 1894, from the Militia De- partment, what did you do with them ? — A. The cheques were sent to me, the cheques were brought to me by Mr. Turcotte's clerks, and I used to return them to them. Q. Am I to understand that the cheques were sent to you or to Mr. Turcotte? — A. They are made payable to my order ; sometimes they were brought to me by Mr. Turcotte's clerks, and sometimes by carters, and I ret ui'ned them. liy Mr. Leclair : Q You spoke a while ago of cheques bearing the signature of " A. J. Turcotte et Compagnie," in the handwriting of Mr. Turcotte himself? — A. Yes. Q. Do not those cheques Ijear your own endorsement ? — A. Yes, all the cheques bear my endorsement ; they could not l)e paid without my endorsement. Q. And the endorsement of Mr. Turcotte is after yours ? — A. Not all, but either by me or, in the case of certain cheques, by Mr. Larose, who endorsed under a power of attorney and then the endorsement of " Turcotte, Provost et Compagnie." Q. All these cheques appear to have been endorsed either Ijy you, or by Mr. Larose, under power of attorney ? — A. Yes. Q. Who got the cheques for 1894? — A. 1 endorsed the cheques and returned them either to Mr. Turcotte or to his clerk who Ijrought them to me to be endorsed. Q. You received nothing yourself, even indirectly, from the transactions of 1894 ? —A. No. Q. By whom were the cheques brought to you in that way to be endorsed ? — A. By Mr. Turcotte's employees. Q. And you endorsed them, in the way you stated a while ago? — A. Yes. Q. Did you get any share in the proceeds of the payment of these cheques ? — A. Nothing beyond mv contract mentioned. t -A. 13 Q. Then I understand this contract continues for this present year i — A. I think so. Q. According to your statement a moment ago, you tendered in 1891 for the year 1892, in your own name alone, and you were at that time in partnership with Turcotte, under the name of Turcotte ife Provost. Will you say why you made the tender in your own name, in place of making it in the name of Turcotte & Provost, or of Turcotte ife Compagnie 1 — A. Because, Mr. Turcotte being unable to have the contract in his name, it was made in my name. By Mr. Curran : Q. D'd you act in good faith in that matter ?— A. It was in good faith ; like the cheques I returned to the firm. Q. In making your tender, did you act in good faith ? — A. \ es. Jiy Mr. Langelier : Q. In 1894, I see you got the contract? — A. Yes. Q. You said a while ago that it was not you that carried out the contract. Why is the contract in your name, when it was Mr. Turcotte who performed it ? — A. Because I considered myself bound by the paper now on file. Q. Examine exhibits 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 6t, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 and 100, and state whether you know the signatures at foot of the said documents ? — A. The first document is dated 15th March, 1892. Q. These documents are signed "J. B. Provost;" I want to know who J. B. Pro- vost is ? — A. It is I. Q. Was it you who wrote that signature, " J. B. Provost " ? — A. I have not as yet seen any of my own ; I am looking over them. Q. Who signed your name in that way? — A. The employees, I suppose, who received the cheques. Q. Can you recognize the signature ? — A. Some of them were signed by Mr. I^rose. Q. Are there any that were signed by Mr. Turcotte '] — A. No. Q. I speak only of the handwriting? — A. No ; there are none signed by Mr. Tur- cotte ; it was our carters often who went for the cheques and who gave the receipts, but they are all signed with my name. Q. I see that the accounts or vouchers are signed by J. B. Provost in favour of Mr. Forest ; why is that ? — A. These are the monthly receipts when we sent for the Gov- ernment money. y. Then each of these receipts correspond to cheques given by the Government 1 — A. They should correspond. Q. You stated a while ago that you kept a grocery store at Quebec 1 — A. Yes. Q. Since what date? — A. Since t'le 15th March, 1894. Q. Is that grocery store far from Mr. Turcotte's store 1 — A. No ; it is but a short distance. Q. How does it happen that it was not you that performed the contract which was in your name, when you had a grocery store. Was it because you could not do it, or because you did not want to do it ? — A. Because I considered myself bound by my con- tract, that is to say, that I was not to furnish the goods. Q. Bound to whom? — A. To Mr. Turcotte. Q. Hav you again, recently, received cheques on this contract subsequent to those we have here — cheqi ~ from the Militia Department, in pursuance of the contract, since the month of April last ? — (Question objected to as irregular and not pertinent. Ob- jection maintained.) Q. You have no other papers to produce but those you mentioned a while ago ? — A. No. Q. Here is a letter which was read in the House of Commoiis, by Mr. Turcotte, the member for Montmorency, when the charge was made against him ; this letter pur- ports to have been written by you ; it is addressed to L'Eve'nement, and it is dated 2l3t April, 1894; have yo.v. got- think I have it about me. that letter? — A. T think T have pnrt of it ; bat I do not 14 Q. Have you any objection to produce it if you have it in your possession 1— A. Here it is ; I hand it in as exhibit 101. Q. Is it a copy or a duplicate ?— A. It is the copy made for L'Electeur, which did not reach its destination. Q. It is the letter you wrote for publication in L'Ey^nement t — A. Yos. Q. Will you read it 1 — A. " Having been coaftned to the house for seven or eight " days by a rather serious illness, I was unable until yesterday to see the parliamentary "correspondence which appeared in L'Ulecteur on the 16th April last. " In that correspondence it is stated that Mr. A. J. Turcotte, M.P., had secured for " Mr. Provost, his partner, the contract for furnishing groceries to the citadel, and that " after the dissolution of the firm of Turcotte et Provost, I had claimed the profits of the " contract, something like $1,600. " I desire to state here that I secured that contract in the regular way, by tender, " and that at the time when I secured it I was not a member of the firm of Turcotte et " Provost. Moreover, in view of the fact that, just then, I had no longer a store at " my disposal, I made arrangements with the Turcotte firm for the delivery of my goods. " As to the other assertion of your correspondent, that I was to have $1,600 from " Mr. Turcotte, for the fulfilment of my contract, it is entirely erroneous. I did not " make any such claim, and I had no occasion to do so, for 1 was paid personally by the " Government, by cheques to my order. "(Signed) J. B. PROVOST." Q. What is the signature at foot of that document — of that letter 1 — A. It is my own signature. That copy I sent to UEIecteur. I had made two copies, and this one was to have appeared in LEhcteur. Q. And VEUctew sent it back to you ?— A. No ; the party who was intrusted with it thought it was not necessary. I was ill at the time, and I had sent it to L'Ehcteur. . » t j-j • Q. Did you write it spontaneously, or were you asked to write it ? — A. 1 did it ot myself ; no one asked me to write it. Q. For what reason did you send that letter to the newspapers 1 — A. The circum- stances were these : I had been in bed for some days, and my partner, Mr. Larose, came to see me, and said that certain articles were published in the papers, and that he had met one of Mr. Turcotte's employees who told him that I was the instigator of the whole thing ; and it was thereupon that I decided to write that article. Q. You say in this letter : " I desire to state here that I secured this contract in a regular way;" what contract are you speaking of? Is it the contract for 1892, 1893 or 1S941 — A. It was with reference to those tenders I meant to speak. Q, You speak of only one contract, but there were three ?— A. When I wrote that I was not under oath. Q. You say in this letter that " when you secured that contract you had no store at your disposal"? — A. Yes. Q. You were not speaking of a contract you have had since 1894? — A. I was notified in 1893 that I had the contract for 1894. Q. At the time, you had no store ? — A. No. Q. You say in this letter that " you were paid personally by the government, by cheques to your order ? Well you explain that to the committee ?— A. Those are the cheques you showed me just now,— the endorsed cheques ; I copld not have any claims against Mr. Turcotte, otherwise I would have paid myself before endorsing thecheques. By Mr. Girouard (Jacques C artier) : Q. You say the contracts were all in your name ; if Mr. Turcotte had refused to advance the goods, would you have considered yourself bound to procure them elsewhere ? A. Yes ; I should have felt bound to fulfil my contract. By Mr. Langelier : Q. Does the letter you wrote probably. to L Evdnement contain the truth 1 — A. A part, k\ 15 Q. Which part does not contain the truth 1 ■ Witness. — Will you please return me the letter 1 (Witness reads the letter.) ' A. It is the truth. Q. Then your letters contains the whole truth 1 — A. Yes. Q. I have nothing more to ask you. By Mr. Curran : Q. If I understand you correctly, you were ill when that letter was written 1 — A. Yes. Q. And you wrote it spontaneously and of yourself 1 — A. Yes. Q. No one suggested it to you ?— A. No ; I did it of myself without being asked by any one. By Mr. McCarthy : Q. You state in your letter in the English Hansard of the House of Commons, " I may further add that at that time, as I had no place of business of my own, I arranged with the Turcotte firm for the delivery of my goods." Is that correct 1 — A. It is cor- rect ; you see, Mr. Turcotte gave me that paper on the dissolution of the partnership, therefore the contract has existed since the partnership was dissolved. Q. Therefore, the agreement to which you refer is the agreement contained in the paper filed 1 (exhibit No. 2)— A. Yes. Examination adjourned to Wednesday, 27th June instant.