Difference between revisions of "Royal Commission report day 26 page 8"

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The Royal Commission evidence for 7/6/1881

(see also introduction to day 26)

[[../../people/peL_M/melvinJPress.html|Joseph Dalgarno Melvin]] sworn and examined

10155 By the Commission— What are you?— A reporter on the Argus.

10156 You have heard Mr. Carrington's evidence?— Yes.

10157 Is there anything in that evidence that you disagree with, or is there anything omitted that you would like to tell the Commission?— Well, I do not take the same view as he does. I should rather like to make a statement of my own.

10158 In what direction?— Merely as to what took place at Glenrowan.

10159 Can you let the the Commission know the point exactly where you differ from him. Did you hear Mr. Hare call the men to come along?— Yes.

10160 Did you see Mr. Hare come back?— Mr. Hare, on hearing from Bracken where the outlaws were, called out, “Come on, boys,” and made for the hotel. All the police and black trackers, and Mr. O'Connor accompanied him. For a minute or two the reporters on the platform did not know where the outlaws were, and waited in suspense till the first shot was fired—the first volley — then of course we saw where the Kellys were. I ran up then to the ditch.

10161 Which ditch?— The continuation of the one Mr. O'Connor was in.

10162 Was it near the first crossing?— I came out to the end of the platform, and it must be this ditch—[pointing to the plan].

10163 The first ditch from the railway station?— Yes.

10164 About fifteen yards from the end of the platform?— Yes I saw firing all about the front of the hotel, and then I tried to get nearer. Went close up to the railway fence in this direction—[pointing out on the plan]—where I supposed there was the stump of a tree, but it was merely bushes, no protection at all; and I returned to the platform. A few minutes after that Mr. Hare returned, wounded.

10165 How many minutes would that be from the time Mr. Hare left the platform?— At the most ten minutes, I think.

10166 May it have been ten minutes from that time?— Yes, it may have been.

10167 What occurred after you bandaged his arm?— He returned towards the hotel, went down the platform, and disappeared from our view.

10168 Did you see him after that?— He seemed to be going toward the gate here [pointing out on the plan]

10169 That is the second time?— Yes.

10170 How long was he away then?— Perhaps five minutes, or over. I could not exactly say.

10171 Did he say anything when he returned?— He returned, hardly able to walk, tottering and faint, and sank upon some bags which lay upon the platform.

10172 Up to that time had you seen Mr. O'Connor?— No.

10173 I mean from the time that Mr. O’Connor left with Mr. Hare and others until Mr. Hare returned the second time in a fainting state had you seen Mr. O'Connor?— No.

10174 You heard Mr. Carrington describe what occurred—it is almost a waste of time to go over all that again—did you agree with his description as he went along, or is there any point you wish to notice?— There seemed to be some doubt as to the ladies, when they returned to Benalla.

10175 What time did they return?— Mr. Hare was quite unable to return to the field, so we got him into the railway carriage along with the ladies, and it was intended that he should be taken down to Benalla with them. They seemed rather afraid of taking charge of him, and Mr. Rawlins, one of the volunteers there, agreed to go along. Then one of the railway officials, the guard I think, explained, that they could not run the whole train down to Benalla quick enough—they would probably meet the other one coming up with reinforcements; but that if Mr. Hare would go on the engine he would run him down in ten minutes. That, of course, involved leaving the carriage with the ladies, and Mr Hare was then put on the engine and taken away. Then the next thing after that was, I think, a messenger from Mr O'Connor to Mrs. O'Connor. I am not sure who it was, but a policeman certainly came and spoke to Mrs O’Connor.

10176 Do you know which constable it was?— I should know him if I saw him again.

10177 Was it Kelly?— No.

10178 Was it Dwyer?— No.

10179 Was it Kirkham—a smart fair fellow?— That answers to the description of the man I saw.

10180 Did you hear any of the instructions that were sept by the constable to the ladies?— No, I did not, I did not listen. He asked where Mrs. O'Connor was, and I pointed out the carriage.

10181 You have heard the description of taking Ned Kelly, by Mr. Carrington—do you remember anything different from that?— Well, when Ned Kelly made his appearance, the police, of course, turned to fight him, and Senior Constable Kelly and Dowsett were together, between us who were on the platform and Ned Kelly. They were in our view all the time, and those two men, Senior Constable Kelly and Dowsett, advanced together upon him from tree to tree, and got within about fifteen yards of him. I saw it stated that Senior Constable Kelly turned and ran away, but that is literally untrue.....

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