The Royal Commission evidence for 21/7/1881
(see also introduction to day 38)
[[../../people/peA/alexanderRPmc.html|Const Robert Alexander]] giving evidence
13916 Would not Mrs. Sherritt hear it if I said that?— You said it in a whispering manner.
13917 How is it that you heard it then?— Because we were pretty close together; I saw the position of your hands.
13918 And you say you came to the conclusion that it was Mr. Hare they were to tell; you did not hear me say Mr. Hare?— No, you said, “Say they are gone down to watch Byrne's,” and I took it for granted you meant Mr. Hare; and Duross wanted me to say so, and I said I would not say it.
13919 When did he say that?— After that; the time we were getting the guns before we started.
13920 You heard nothing then during this minute only my waving my hand and saying, “Say they are gone to watch Byrne's”?— Yes, I lay my life I heard that.
13921 What motive would I have for saying that?— I could not tell.
13922 The Chairman— You must not ask that. You must deal with matters of fact. ( To Mr. Hare )—Did any of those men tell you that those men were watching?— Certainly.
13923 Did Alexander tell you?— I walked with Alexander all the way from the house.
13924 Be positive if you can?— I cannot say that positively after hearing his evidence, but without hearing his evidence I would have, because it was in my mind; but hearing him swearing that, I would not like to swear it. I thought he led me to believe, up to the time I got to the ground, that they were there.
13925 Do you remember putting the question to him why he was behind when the other men were gone?— Yes.
13926 Do you remember his reply?— No. I said it to the two of them. I do not know that he made any reply, but certainly they both led me to believe what I have said. My impression was that he, more than Duross, did so.
13927 By Detective Ward (to Mr. Hare)— Do you think, hearing the evidence you have heard, that I had time to tell; all that I said just now?— I do not think I lost sight of you.
13928 By the Commission (to Mr. Hare)— Could he have said that in that whispering tone while you were on the road and have made that arrangement?— Yes, he could have done it.
13929 By Detective Ward(to Mr. Hare)— Now, admitting that all this was said, was there any blame due to me whether they were in or out?— No.
13930 Do you know of any motive that I could have in telling those men this; in putting that false oath in their mouths?— No, I expected from what Ward had told me to find them all there alone those four men; I never thought I would have to go down to Byrne’s place. When I found this division, as I thought, of the party, then I made up my mind to see what they were doing.
13931 During the time I was employed under you at any time did you ever find me to tell an untruth, or in any way mislead you, or to in any way keep anything back?— As far as I know, not in the slightest degree. I never knew you deceive or tell me a lie or to hide anything from me, as far as I know.
13932 By the Commission (to Alexander)— Were you or any of the party out at any time during the day cutting wood or wheeling a barrowload of wood?— We were.
13933 Did you consider at the time that it would possibly be the means of disclosing the fact that you were there?— No; when we saw any person coming, we always hid. It was I and Duross and Armstrong and Dowling that used to get wood. The reason why we were so late that day Mr. Hare came was that we could not get a chance during the day.
13934 It would be quite true that you were out during the day?— Yes, Armstrong was quite agreeable we should go out.
13935 By Constable Alexander (to Mr. Hare)— What did I say to lead you to believe that the men were watching?— I do not remember the words, but you were walking beside me that night and Duross behind, and you led me to believe, by implication at any rate, that we were to find the men there.
18936 What did I say?— I cannot tell you. It is thirteen months ago, and I cannot tell what you said.
The Chairman — Mr. Hare was led to believe at the hut that the men were there, and he was not informed to the contrary on the way down.
Mr. Hare — That is it.
13937 By the Commission (to Alexander)— In your evidence you did not say you informed him to the contrary?— No.
The witness withdrew. ....
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