Royal Commission report day 10 page 15
The Royal Commission evidence for 7/4/1881
(see also introduction to day 10)
Sup John Sadleir giving evidence
1950 Will you tell us what steps you took to ascertain that the hollow log was in existence, and whether provisions were being conveyed there from the Skillian's house?— The police at Greta, I suppose, were put in possession of that information.
1951 Will you name the police officer in charge at Greta?— I cannot, for they were constantly changed. As they came in fagged other men were sent out. I think Senior-Constable Strahan probably know about it. If he was the man he was put in possession of that information and directed to go and search (he knew the places and endeavor to find out, and to do it quietly. It was necessary to be done without any person observing, and if he had found it we could have taken further steps. He did not find it.
1952 Was he informed verbally or by letter?— I cannot say.
1953 Why?— It would depend on who was the responsible officer at that time at Benalla.
1954 He would have been informed by the responsible officer there?— Yes.
1955 I would like to know the ordinary practice of the police regulations when any party of men is selected for any mission whatever. Is any notice taken in writing of the purpose for which they are sent and the mission they are on?— Yes, in ordinary cases every detail of a man's duty is given the hour, the places he goes to, the time he is out, and so on.
1956 If so, in every instance it would be convenient to refer to the books?— No doubt that is the proper way of doing.
1957 Was that carried out in this case?— I would have to take the books of forty-nine stations perhaps, and I would have to get information from New South Wales and other places. Unless I knew what you wanted I should fill this room with books.
1958 All diaries containing information given by yourself are important to have on the table?— There is a diary kept at every station, and I should have to get every book. It is a book 24 inches square, and it is impossible to know beforehand what book would be required.
1959 In these cases is not information given verbally?— Yes.
1960 You would have a daily note-book, would you not, in every attempt you made. Every expedition you were on you would take a note-book and jot down the most important events?— Not unless they were of special importance.
1961 Not so important an expedition as that?— No. Of course I can tell for the last twenty-eigh years where I was and what I did.
1962 And what men were under you, and the service they were in?— Yes.
1963 Several questions of that sort have been asked you, and you said you did not know?— I have been asked on memory. The records are very, very extensive, and I am only prepared with matters connected with the Kelly search—documents put under my care at the office, and besides those there are minute books and diaries without number. If I bring them here, I will answer for it they will take twelve months to explain.
1964 Will you, between this and the next day of meeting, look through the papers and see if any instructions were given to the police at Greta respecting the food planted in the hollow log?— My papers will not show me that. I will have to consult the man.
1965 Is this the nature of your evidence—that after the murders, about the 30th of October, you got private information, which is here, from some person who told you the probable movements and action of the outlaws—certain things connected with their movements and intentions?— Yes.
1966 Then about the 11th of November information was received from a reliable agent that Mrs. Skillian, the sister of the Kellys, was preparing provisions in excess of what were the requirements of her own establishment, and that you were under the impression, from the information received from this agent, that those were cooked for and conveyed to the outlaws?— That was our supposition.
1967 And that was further confirmed by your agent informing you that Mrs. Skillian went out early in the night, returning in the morning, and your agent was under the impression that they were conveyed to or left for the outlaws in that way; can you tax your memory to say if any and what action was taken to trace those provisions or stop the supply, because, at the time, the Outlawry Act was in operation, and the 5th section provides that it is a punishable offence supplying them with provisions. I think you went on to say you did not think there was special action taken, because you daily expected more reliable information or something more important. Is that the fact?— I amended my first statement by saying that this document (previously handed in by the witness) shows there was action taken. We searched for that log by the means I have mentioned, and this man's presence as our agent shows there was action taken on that also. This is the way we took such action. We put an agent into a likely place. We get him in as near as we can to it. That is part of our action, and perhaps our principal action. One is the result of the other, and bears on the other. All these things act and re-act......
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