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2. I am surprised to learn from you that the men who have left the Department complain of ill usage as I am certain none have cause but the case or cases ought to be stated, the in- dividuals complaining and the person against whom they com- plain named as the charge is made in such general terms it is impossible to rebut it except in the case of Heroux which is stated by Chief Factor Keith in explanation of which I have to observe that Heroux was employed in hauling logs to the saw mill. Crate who was in charge of the mill gave Heroux some orders which he refused to obey and a quarrel arose. I do not know who struck first but Mr. Forrest happened to come at the time, found Crate on the ground and Heroux beating away on him most brutally and some of the men stand- ing around looking on. Mr. Forrest pulled Heroux off Crate and indignant at seeing a stout man like Heroux beating away as he was on a small man like Crate told Heroux to stand up as he had to do with him, but Heroux seeing he had his match would not answer the call and Mr. Forrest gave him two or three cuffs when Heroux took to his heels and came and com- plained to me and told me so pitifull a story that he affected my feelings, and supposing he had been ill used I wrote to Mr. Forrest for an explanation when Mr. Forrest came down with Crate who gave a true version of the affair. Heroux had not mentioned to me that he had disobeyed Crate's orders, and in such a case, allowing that Crate had struck him he was perfectly justified by the circumstances and it would be no excuse for a stout man like Heroux to be beating away on a little man as Crate, though it is not surprising that a man capable of acting as he did should misrepresent the affair. But how am I to account for people well acquainted with the char- acter of these men and who know that their statements in such cases can never be depended on, bringing forward such charges in general terms. If Mr. Keith wanted to bring forward this charge, why did he not enquire into the cause of Heroux's complaining and against whom it was made, but the best evi- dence that there was no just cause of complaint is that the
