Royal Commission report day 16 page 11

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The Royal Commission evidence for 5/5/1881

(full text transcription)

(see also introduction to day 16)

'Jacob Wilson giving evidence'

4480 What was that?— I saw six horses tied up to Tom Lloyd's garden, and I thought there were more horses, and I went to a cow-shed about a hundred yards from his dwelling place, and a dog came out and detected me.

4481 Did they always keep dogs about the place?— Yes, and when the dog commenced to bark furiously, and a lot of them came out of the house. I could see that by the candle, and I ran away then.

4482 Were they men or women you saw then?— I do not know. I had not time to see.

4483 Was this night-time?— Yes, dark. I ran into the next paddock, and they came after me and “sooled” the dog.

4484 Hunted you with the dog?— Yes, “sooled” the dog after me, and I crept up into a low cherry-tree and they went past me.

4485 Who?— The lot of them. Dan Kelly and young Tom Lloyd. They were within ten yards of me on the other side of the fence, and “sooled” the dog, and called out as if to the police that they would burn the b—. They thought I was the police, I expect, and was watching the place.

4486 Whoever it was, that was what they meant?— They did not say.

4487 Are you satisfied it was Dan Kelly?— I am satisfied it was, because I knew him by his voice.

4488 You knew them for years?— I lived there five years, and knew them since I came there till they took the bush.

4489 How long was this after you gave the information about the hobbles?— It was a week after I found the hobbles before I gave the information. I went to Melbourne and did not want to have anything to do with the police, because every move was in the paper next morning.

4490 Have you any doubt in your own mind that they were the outlaws' hobbles?— No.

4491 Did you give that information?— Yes. I did not give the information at once, because I would not have anything to do with it. I was frightened they would come down and murder me and burn my place

4492 Were you frightened of the Kellys' friends?— Yes, I lived in a lonely place, and they could come and murder me there.

4493 You would not give the information because it would get into the papers the next day, and they would know it?— Yes. On account of my information Superintendent Nicolson sent for me when I was in Melbourne, and when I came back from Melbourne they asked for me to call at the police station at Benalla, and I called there and saw Superintendent Sadleir. I had a long conversation with him about the matter—about the outlaws—and told him about the hobbles.

4494 Was that after the cherry-tree affair?— No, after I was in the cherry-tree; it was the 14 th May I was there, on Wednesday night, and I was there all night.

4495 What information did you give Mr. Sadleir?— About the hobbles, and I was quite sure the outlaws were there off and on; I was quite sure the outlaws were there off and on at that time.

4496 After that did you see any policemen looking at the place where the Kellys had been?— No.

4497 Did you go home after giving the information to Mr. Sadleir?— Yes.

4498 And then you watched the Kellys after that?— Yes.

4499 And saw them at Tom Lloyd's house?— Yes, that was from the 3rd of April until the 14th of May. I did not see anything of anybody about Tom Lloyd's place. I went every night to see if I could see them hanging up their horses.

4500 Did Mr. Sadleir ask you to do that?— Yes, he told me that I should keep a look-out.

4501 Did you ask him to pay you for that?— No.

4502 Did you tell him you would do it if he would appoint your son a constable?— Yes.

4503 Was that the reason?— I applied for my son to join the force in 1879, but Mr. Sadleir said he was too young.

4504 Did you say you would keep a sharp look-out if your son got into the police force?— The superintendent told me if I did anything for them my son would get the place.

4505 Is your son alive now?— Yes.

4506 Is he fit to join the police?— No, he has ruptured himself, and is not fit.

4507 What age is he?— Twenty-one years.

4508 Did you work any further for the police in connection with this matter?— Yes.

4509 Do you think the Lloyds or Kellys knew anything of your working for the police?— They suspected me ever since Mr. Hare had his horses in my paddock.

4510 Did you tell Mr. Sadleir their camp was there in the ferns?— Yes.

4511 Did he send any one out to examine that?— He did not that I know of.

4512 Did you know that any party was sent out to watch this place?— They might have sent out for all I know.

4513 What kind of place was this camp in the ferns?— A whole big bush of ferns in the side of the creek, and there were logs and very high ferns.

4514 Did it look as if it had been used?— It was quite easy to see some one had been lying there.

4515 In June you saw Mr. Hare?— Yes.....

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