Royal Commission report day 11 page 13
The Royal Commission evidence for 12/4/1881
(see also introduction to day 11)
[[../../people/peU_Z/wyattMag.htm|'Alfred Wyatt, P.M. giving evidence']]
2171 Did you see Mr. Nicolson go to the railway guard and speak to him before he left?— I did not, but I have no doubt he did, and the reason why he got no information from the railway guard was possibly this, perhaps he did not know Mr. Nicolson personally, and I had expressly cautioned the railway guard, the driver, and the engineman to give no information as to what they had seen excepting to say — “It looked like a whirlwind.”
Mr. Nicolson . —It was Mr. Sadleir who went to the guard.
The Witness . —I wish to make one brief remark with regard to what Mr. Sadleir said about excluding him from the room. I believe what he says is true, but there is this explanation, there was no room available but that, and there were some other persons going to come in, including some ladies, and I remember being very much shocked at being obliged to exclude ladies from their own room, together with everybody else who may have been coming in, including, it appears, Mr. Sadleir; but I did not see Mr. Sadleir, and was quite unconscious he was amongst those I was excluding. I would, of course, have invited him gladly to give his advice if I had seen him.
2172 You say you invited Mr. Nicolson into the room?— I had forgotten it, but I remember it now, because I remember having to exclude the ladies from their own room.
2173 Then you took Mr. Nicolson into a room at the railway station, for the purpose of conveying this information to him secretly?— I suppose I did.
2174 Then you really felt in your own mind that the information you were conveying was of very great importance?— I did feel that it was of very great importance, and when Mr. Nicolson and Mr. Sadleir both left in the train I felt rather nonplused, because I had expected one of them would go back with me to Benalla to my hotel, and receive full details of all the information I had to give, especially the fact so important to them that Watt had not returned.
2175 What length of time dove the train stop there?— Fifteen minutes.
2176 But some little time would elapse before you noticed Mr. Nicolson?— Yes, I did not find them immediately, I think they could not be found, but I was not looking for them; I was looking for a policeman of some sort and could not see any one for a long time, and I recollect thinking of going off to Benalla proper by a trap, when I by chance saw them both standing by a railway carriage door. Whether they had only arrived just then I do not know, but I did not see them for a long time, and I imagine I was not in conversation with them for more than five minutes altogether.
2177 Did you tell Mr. Nicolson that Watt, the line repairer, had not been seen after?— No, that is one of the facts I would have communicated if I had had the opportunity of seeing him afterwards; I am certain I did not remember to tell him that.
2178 Did not that impress you as one of the most important features of the whole case, the non-return of Watt?— Yes, that was one of the things that led me to come to the conclusion that something was wrong, that was why I said to Gorman “There is something up,” when I knew the man was not back. because I knew so many hours, from four to seven, he had been away, and was quite enough opportunity to walk the three and three-quarter miles, there and back to the station-master's, where it was his duty to report.
2179 Did you convey to Mr. Nicolson that you would like, if time permitted, to give fuller information?— I cannot give you any further information as to what I said or did, and I would rather trust to Mr. Sadleir for that.
2180 But he cannot state what was in your mind?— I can only say that the interview was too short to admit of any information about surrounding circumstances; and I feel sure I did not communicate that Watt had not returned; and I am the more sure of that as I find I did not communicate it to Captain Standish after I went to Benalla proper, to my hotel, a mile and a half from the railway station.
2181 Did you walk?— I think that one thing and another made me miss the cab, and I walked, so that I do not think I got to my hotel till past eight considerably; but I cannot be certain as to time just there.
2182 Did you ask the station-master at Benalla to telegraph to Melbourne ?— No, I did not there, and I had a reason for that, nor did I send any message to Melbourne for the distinct reason. I at first thought of doing so, but afterwards thought to myself, “Well, Mr. Nicolson and Mr. Sadleir can do what they think right—they have not thought it right to do that, and I do not like to fire a shot over their heads to their superior in a manner that may look like opposing my judgment to theirs.” I remember distinctly thinking that, and that was the reason. After I got to the hotel I remained for more than an hour before I took any step; but after much reflection I at last came to the conclusion that in such a case etiquette must go to—some other place. I felt it was important to communicate the information straightway to Captain Standish, therefore I resolved to do so. I went across to the telegraph station, which was within fifty or sixty yards of my hotel, a mile and a quarter from the railway station, and said to them, “You know the line is down;” and I had a conversation with Mr. Saxe, and said, “You know all about it by now—can you send a message to Melbourne; I suppose you can send round by the Sydney side?” and he said, “Yes.” “Well,” I said, “Can you call Captain Standish while I go up to the police and find what can be done? that will give you time to put yourself in communication with Captain Standish in Melbourne, while I go to the police office and find what can be done in the way of sending a special train, or what.”.....
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