When we went into court the Canadian officer produced his warrant. It was the biggest document I ever saw⁠—a piece of parchment about three feet long, embossed, engraved, and signed and sealed with the seal of Queen Victoria⁠—a formal demand from the British Government on the Secretary of State to deliver us over to the Canadian authorities. He had it in a bag carefully rolled and wrapped in paper. Taking it out carefully, reverently, he placed it in the judge’s hands.

“Where did you get this document?” the court asked.

“From Ottawa, the capital of Canada,” the officer answered.

“Did you go to Ottawa yourself for it?”

“No, it came to Victoria by mail.”

Looking at it closely the judge pointed to a name signed at the bottom. “What’s this?” he asked.

“That is the signature of Lord Aberdeen, governor general of Canada.”