Difference between revisions of "Royal Commission report day 46 page 4"

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The Royal Commission evidence for 30/8/1881

(see also introduction to day 46)

F. C. Standish giving evidence

15827 You speak in question No. 47 about the “great disadvantage under which we labored, viz., that the moves of the police in Benalla, Wangaratta, Mansfield, and Beechworth were closely watched by the numerous friends and sympathizers of the outlaws—at Benalla especially; and I may state that if I had determined, without consulting anybody, in the middle of any night to come down to the barracks by myself and to start a party of police, which I could have done in half an hour, I firmly believe that before the men had left the barracks some of those spies would have been galloping off to the outlaws.” Do you consider that, in the face of all that knowledge, that it was good generalship on your part to start parties of police at Benalla for upwards of seven months?— I do not know what you are alluding to.

15828 In the face of this question No. 47, do you think it was good generalship continually to start parties of police for upwards of seven months?— I left off the practice of sending out the search parties after I had been there some time and found they were no use.

15829 There were search parties sent up till May?— We only started them when we thought the was some chance of getting them, but not merely on vague information or on the hope of catching them.

15830 What definite information did you ever get on any occasion?— When I got information I kept it to myself, and acted upon it.

15831 I am asking the question—what definite information did you ever get on which you started search parties?— When you were in charge you were always galloping about over the country without a object.

15832 I am not talking about that; what definite information did you get?— I received information which I thought reliable, and I acted on it.

15833 You say in question No. 54— “Was that Mr. Ramsay?— No, Mr. Berry was Chief Secretary at the time; and Mr. Nicolson being next in seniority, I had to send him up, though I confess I had but little faith in his energy”?— Well, you did very little all the time you were there. You hardly did anything all the time. You displayed what is called masterly inactivity.

15834 Did I show “masterly inactivity” during the time I was previously there?— At the time you were galloping about apparently for no object?

15835 When did I show the “masterly inactivity” —after June 1879?— Yes.

15836 But here you say in June 1879, “I had to send him up, though I confess I had but little faith in his energy.” You spoke of my want of energy previous to that?— Not previous to that. Before I went up there, you were galloping about the country the whole time.

15837 You spoke of a want of energy previous to my going up the second time. I had been only there once before—where was my want of energy?— You doing nothing all the time you were there the second time.

15838 That is a period afterwards—I require an answer?— Well, there is no doubt that the bad health you suffered from impaired your energy—you were in very bad health when you left Euroa.

15839 But the point is that you speak of your having had little faith in my energy when I went up in June, the second time?— Well, I had not much faith in it.

15840 You say I was galloping about uselessly the first time?— Yes.

15841 Then when did I have the opportunity to show want of energy before the second time?— That refers to the second period.

15842 You spoke, in question 57, about my “absurd reticence”?— I could never get anything out of you.

15843 Were you not in the habit of showing my letters, marked “confidential,” to other persons?— I was not.

15844

15845 Did you not do so?— I have no recollection of doing so.

15846 Did you not show them to Mr. Hare?— I might have shown him one.

15847 Do you not recollect my speaking about it at Benalla, and you said you would show them to any one you liked?— I was at liberty to do so.

15848 I am not speaking of that. I ask, did you not show to persons my letters marked “confidential”?— I may have shown one or two to Mr. Hare. I am not certain that I did that. I never showed them to any one else that I remember. I never showed those letters to anyone but Mr. Hare, who had been with me in the Benalla district for six months. We used to talk over the matter.....

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