Royal Commission report day 11 page 10

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The Royal Commission evidence for 12/4/1881

(full text transcription)

(see also introduction to day 11)

[[../../people/peU_Z/wyattMag.htm|Alfred Wyatt, P.M.,]] sworn and examined

2128 Had the train stopped?— No, it had never stopped. I said, “Cannot I help you?” He said, “No, I cannot repair this, line like this,” and I said, “All right then, I will give in your message.” The train never stopped but merely slowed, and my question was put to him with the object of getting down when it did stop, as I then expected it would. The fireman was watching him to see whether he would jump off the foot-plate. At the moment I had some misgivings about letting the man get down there, because I did not know there was any place near. I did not know then of the Faithfull's Creek station there or any other place, and did not like to let the man down “nowhere” and not know where he was to get assistance, but instantly afterwards I saw the Faithfull's Creek station.

2129 What was the Faithfull's Creek station?— Faithfull's Creek station is an out station of Mr. Younghusband's of Faithfull's Creek run, three miles and three-quarters from Euroa, and about 250 yards from the line at right angles to the road running to it. I, looking obliquely across, this being opposite; saw the station there, and saw it for the first time. I said, “Oh, it is all right, you can go, and I will take your message.” He telegraphed to the fireman, jumped off, and went down to the line. I found since that this was all inspected by the Kellys, from the place where they had the people stuck up at the time, and it appears that Watt a few minutes after that was walked up to the station in Mr. Joe Byrne's custody, and that was the end of him for the day.

2130 Mr. Joe Byrne, do you mean one of the outlaws?— Yes, he was one of the outlaws. I went on to Euroa and held my licensing meeting. I should state here for the information of the Commission that all Euroa was that day attendant on my licensing meeting and a funeral. Those things occupied the whole community, so there were few persons about, they were all gone to those two occasions.

2131 What position is the court house, where you held your sitting?— The court house is from the station about half-a-mile. The bank that was robbed was about 200 yards from and in sight of the railway station. The court house was not in sight of the railway station.

2132 You said just now this man jumped out and he was taken charge of by Byrne, the outlaw; was that fact known to you the time?— No. It will come in and meet another part of my statement by and-by.

2133 In reading your evidence at this point, any one would imagine you were a witness of the transaction, and might wonder whether you fled from the outlaws?— I see, but I have now made it clear; I think. Well, in going to the licensing meeting I passed under the windows of the bank while the Kellys were there, as I imagine from what I heard after.

2134 Just specify hours as closely as you can, what time was- the licensing meeting?— The meeting was so short, I was not a quarter of an hour at the meeting in the court, the licenses were all granted unopposed.

2135 Was it between four and five?— I should imagine it was just about five. I then started back to the railway station, and when I had got twenty yards on my journey, I began to reflect upon the telegraph wire being down, and I came to the conclusion that it was doubtful whether it was due to whirlwind as I at first thought—and as I heard two other passengers say they thought when they landed first at the station—or whether it was not some other cause that should be inquired into. I resolved to hire a buggy and go and see for myself. I went to the only hotel, Mr. Hart's, who was then, recently, a purchaser of De Boos's hotel, and asked for a buggy and horse.

2136 How far is De Boos's from the bank?— A good long distance, about a mile I should think.

2137 Are there two De Boos's?— Yes. The hotel to where I went for the horse was a mile distant from the station and the bank, and on the old Sydney road. It was thee only thing I could do to get a horse and trap. I asked Mr. Hart for a buggy and horse. Mr. Hart said to me, “I have got no horse, our horse is turned out in the paddock and could not be got. I have no horse at all.” He then said; “Well, there is an old sort of cart horse that takes the goods out.” “Put him in,” I said, and they did. I started with this buggy and horse, but soon found that I could not get the old horse into a continuous trot.

2138 What direction were you going?— I went first down, expecting to find a lane parallel with the railway and in sight of it, but came to a house—a farm of the elder Mr. De Boos's abutting upon the railway, and found that there was no access that way.

2139 No thoroughfare?— No thoroughfare. I remember some people were building a chimney there, and they told me there was no way excepting by the old Sydney road. I started for the road, but in going about half-a-mile discovered a lane running parallel with the line at the back of Mr. De Boos's premises.

2140 And in the direction of the Faithfull's Creek station?— And in the direction of the Faithfull's Creek station. I went along there till at last it struck me to look at my watch. I took my watch out, and pulled up, and came to the conclusion that, with the horse I had got, it would be absolutely impossible for me to go and come back, and catch the train, and keep an appointment the next day at Avenel, which was essential to be kept. If I had not kept it, all the licenses would have been lost at that place......

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