It was only on the persistent request of Commissioner Smith and the urgency of Mrs.John Sutherland, whose son had been killed by an escaping French prisoner at the Kildonan Church camp, that Boulton's life was spared.
Riel, however, seemed to feel that power was slipping from his hands.

He was criticised on all hands for his treachery and for his arrogance.

It is said his followers were dropping off from him, notwithstanding the luxurious lives they had been living on the Company's supplies in Fort Garry.
He determined, though with a divided Council, to make an example, and despite the solicitations of Commissioner Smith, the Rev.George Young, and others, publicly executed, on the 4th of March, outside of Fort Garry, a young Irish-Canadian named Thomas Scott.

It was a cold-blooded, cruelly-executed and revolting scene--it was the act of a mad man.
"Whom the Gods destroy they first make mad." The execution of Scott was the death-knell of Riel's hopes as a ruler.

Canada was roused to its centre.