Royal Commission report day 11 page 7
The Royal Commission evidence for 12/4/1881
(see also introduction to day 11)
Superintendent Sadleir giving evidence
2071 He may have been a slippery man, but you had full confidence in him up to that time?— No, I had not; still I was quite confident of the truth of the story told on this day..
2072 Yet you had not confidence in the man who informed you?— I took the man's manner and demeanour on this occasion as giving me confidence. This was on the 29th September 1879—[reading from a note-book].
2073 Was that a note you made at the time in that book?— Yes, I made that at the time. I will read my notes of that day:— “To Wangaratta, eleven a.m. to six p.m. Saw 'Foot,' who reported seeing the gang on a certain road (named), at eight o'clock on the previous evening. There were five armed men standing together. They were all on foot. Arrangements made for search were altered afterwards.” That is the whole of my note at the time. I will enlarge upon that a little farther now. At this time it was understood between all the officers that if any informant gave particulars, and could indicate the exact spot that he spoke about, it was not considered necessary that he should come and show the police the ground. This man, to my mind, indicated the spot so that we could easily find it. I communicated with Mr. Nicolson, and just before the train started
2074 By Mr. Nicolson. —In what way?— I communicated all of this, word for word, as I have stated.
2075 Where were you?— I was at Wangaratta at the time.
2076 By the Commission. —By what means did you communicate?— By telegraph.
2077 Can we obtain a copy of that telegram?— Yes, they are all here.
2078 Will you see that that telegram is handed in; also the one from Mr. Nicolson to you?— Yes. Just before the train that I wanted to go by started for Benalla, I got a message from Mr. Nicolson, asking me to bring the man to the ground, to save delay in finding the tracks.
2079 That is, to bring the informant?— Yes. I had only ten minutes or a quarter of an hour.
2080 What time did the train leave?— About four in the afternoon. I had to start for it about four. I had about ten minutes to spare, to see the man. I saw him, but I could not get to speak with him. He was being shepherded by some people who, I think, suspected him, and I had to come away without bringing him. I arrived at Benalla at about half-past five or six; saw Mr. Nicolson and Mr. O'Connor, and though the same difficulty was started about the man's not coming, still we agreed that a trial should be made of the tracks.
2081 Did you depend on your memory for the place that he indicated where he would meet you, or did you commit it to writing?— I committed the whole to writing, and I can show the map or rough pen- and-ink sketch taken at the time. We decided to make a start about l o'clock in the night. I went home and had a little rest, and on returning to the barracks at l o'clock I found that Mr. Nicolson had changed his mind without consulting me and of course naturally I felt a little annoyed at the time. I am still of the same opinion I was then, that an attempt ought to have been made. I was able to show Mr. Nicolson on the tracing made from this man's statement the particular place, as I understood, where we should find the spot.
2082 Since then have you ever visited that place?— I have never visited the spot.
2083 Can you say if the description was of such a character that you would have any great difficulty in finding it?— I have no doubt there would have been no trouble to anybody who knew the country well. Constable Ryan, who was called in, said he would have no trouble in finding it.
2084 Was Mr. Nicolson's objection the not being able to find it?— It was one of the objections. He stated various objections.
2085 I think he stated he thought the man who gave the information was thoroughly unreliable?— That was one of the objections.
2086 By Mr. Nicolson. —State all of them?— I cannot state all. One was the difficulty and uncertainty as to finding the spot, and another the difficulty of getting there without disturbing the friends, for we had to go right through the place of one; and another was the personal character of the informant.
Mr. O'Connor . —There was another great objection. It was necessary to pick up the tracks at daylight, for if we remained in that portion of the district after daylight the people coming to work would have seen my native men, and the report would have spread, and the Kellys would have been able to get a hundred miles off.
The Witness . —No doubt there were many objections raised.
Mr. O'Connor . —I pointed out the absurdity of going out. I know when a man states a spot within one or two miles, it is impossible to find it unless he is there......
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