Royal Commission report day 26 page 1

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(see also introduction to day 26)

Jacob Wilson further examined

Present:

The Hon. F. LONGMORE, M.L.A., in the Chair;

G. W. Hall, Esq., M.L.A., W. Anderson , Esq., M.L.A.,

E. J. Dixon, Esq., J.P., G. C. Levey, Esq., C.M.G.,

J. H. Graves, Esq., M.LA., J. Gibb, Esq., M.L.A.

G. R. Fincham, Esq., M.L.A,

10009 By the Commission— Do you wish to add anything to your former statement?— Not more than to be examined before Superintendent Hare, for him to prove that he actually did engage me. The report in the Age stated that I was not engaged, and I wish now to prove before Mr. Hare that he did engage me.

10010 Do you state you were engaged by Mr. Hare?— Yes, I was.

10011 What purpose were you engaged for?— He sent out a constable to me with a written note asking me if I would come in to see him on urgent business.

10012 Have you that note?— I burned all the letters.

10013 What was the constable's name?— Ryan.

10014 What purpose were you employed for?— When I came in he asked me would I take a man out to my place — a detective — and I said I would, provided he would protect me if anything happened to me in undertaking it; and Mr. Hare told me to go with the man and to show him how to work the ground.

10015 You want Mr. Hare to be examined to say if he did give you such and such instructions?— Yes.

10016 Anything else?— No. I was engaged by Mr. Hare a year before to examine a bridge for some horses. I would ask you if you would be kind enough to intercede with the Chief Secretary to get me a situation. I am now getting an old man, and am not able to make a start for myself again.

10017 What employment do you want?— Gatehouse-keeper.

10018 Or anything that will be a living?— Yes.

10019 What you want the Chairman to do is to represent your case to the Chief Secretary, as you cannot go back there?— Yes.

10020 You have received no compensation from the Government for the services you have rendered?— No, I never got anything for it.

The witness withdrew.

[[../../people/peC/carringtonTPress.html|Thomas Carrington]] sworn and examined

10021 By the Commission. —What are you?— Artist. (JJK)

10022 You are connected with the Press?— Yes.

10023 Were you present at Glenrowan, when the Kelly gang were caught?— Yes.

10024 Will you kindly state things as you saw them?— From the time I left Melbourne ?

10025 From the time of your arrival by the train at Glenrowan?— Well, when the train drew up at the station, someone, I forget who it was, gave the orders to get the horses out, and the police commenced doing it, opening the sides of the trucks and getting the horses on to the platform. They were in the middle of this work when a man rushed up in a very excited state, whom I afterwards found to be Constable Bracken, and pointing over to the hotel he said, “They are over there, for God's sake look sharp or they will get away,” or something like it. We found afterwards it was in the direction of Jones's hotel he meant. He was out of breath.

10026 Previous to that had you seen Mr. Hare?— Yes.

10027 Did you see where be went before Bracken came?— He disappeared for a time.

10028 You did not know where?— I did not know where. There was a stampede among the horses, they dashed off the platform towards the Benalla end and disappeared, most of them. Then I heard Mr. Hare call out, “Come along, boys,” and there was a general rush and they disappeared. It was a dim uncertain kind of light. We could see them disappear towards the Glenrowan hotel.

10029 Here is a plan which will perhaps assist you?—[The witness looked at the same] They took the direction of Jones's hotel after leaving the platform, and went straight away to the railway wicket gate, as near as we could see in the dim light. Of course they opened out, but that was the direction they took.

10030 Did you notice who was the first to leave?— Mr. Hare was the first.

10031 Did you notice any other of the constables or officers that you knew by sight or that you could now distinguish by name that accompanied Mr. Hare?— No, they were all muffled up in great coats.

10032 Did you see Mr. O'Connor that morning?— I did. I saw him on the station.....

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