Royal Commission report day 15 page 2
The Royal Commission evidence for 4/5/1881
(see also introduction to day 15)
'Ispector Montfort giving evidence'
3511 How could I have been doing that?— That is my recollection of it.
3512 You stated that you protested against the first suggestion of the abolition of the station at Glenmore?— Yes.
3513 At whose instigation did you do that?— At yours.
3514 You did not say that yesterday?— I did not think there was anything in it. I certainly did not claim any credit for doing it.
3515 Is that your signature?— Yes.
3516 Is this what you mean to say, “In conclusion, I consider the withdrawal of any of the police at Glenmore, or breaking up the station, would be a great mistake, and, now that the police stables have been burned, such a step would be most disastrous to the prestige of the department in north-eastern Victoria,”?— Those are my sentiments still.
3517 Are you not aware that the reward for Power was promised before his arrest to the informer?— I was told so.
3518 Therefore how could we take a portion of it?— I do not know what the reward was, but I understood from the conversation between you and Mr. Hare, in the Royal Victoria Hotel, on the occasion that you were writing the report concerning the arrest of Power, I understood from both you and Mr. Hare that you would not accept, either of you, any pecuniary reward for the arrest of Power—that the only thing you wanted was my promotion.
Mr. Nicolson. — There was a great deal made of our magnanimity in not taking that. I must strip the thing of that illusion, for we had no chance of getting it, so there was no credit due to us—it was no feather in our cap.
3519 By the Commission (to Mr. Nicolson). —If the reward had been available by you instead of by the informer alone, what would have been your feeling as an officer as to taking it?— I would not have taken it.
3520 Is not that the general feeling?— Yes.
3521 That a reward should not be taken, but let it go to the general fund, and every man to do his duty?— Yes.
3522 Would not the taking of rewards lower the standing of the lower officers of the force?— Yes.
3523 Could anything be more calculated to lower them?— No.
Mr. Sadleir —[handing in a paper with names on it.]—That is a list of persons looked upon by the police as belonging to the criminal class in the North-Eastern district.
3524 By the Commission {to the witness). —Will you read those names over?— [The witness did so.]
3525 Are those persons known as criminals in the district?— I know six of those by repute, but I cannot speak of those I do not know.
3526 Do you consider that criminals of the type of the Kellys should be allowed to select in the district?— No.
3527 By Mr. Nicolson. —I go further than that. Should persons whom we may know by experience as likely to help offenders have facilities to settle in the district—is it a good policy, and tending to the peace of the district, to allow them to settle, especially in remote mountainous parts?— It is a difficult question to answer, because if they are in the habit of helping criminals, they are criminals themselves, and my first answer covers that.
3528 Suppose they are criminals, or ready to assist, is it desirable to let them take up selections in mountainous lonely places?— I do not think so. I think, on the contrary, it should be resisted most strenuously on every occasion.
3529 John Quinn, you know him?— Yes.
3530 Has that man ever been convicted?— No. He was in my mind, for though he was never convicted, yet at the same time he is a most undesirable man to be allowed to select, more especially on the verge of civilization.
3531 By Mr. Sadleir. —Is he not, taking him all in all, a dangerous man?— He is, undoubtedly.
3532 Would it not be desirable to prevent men of that class, and women also, settling in any district so as to form a community or band of criminals?— I think if it were possible to prevent it it would strike the greatest blow at horse and cattle stealing, and crimes arising therefrom, that could be struck. It is the aggregation of those families that has been the bane of the North-Eastern district.
3533 By the Commission. —That list of names has been submitted to you, and you have answered generally upon it. Will you look at the names marked No. 1 and No. 3. Do you know those of your own knowledge to belong to the class of men such as would be undesirable as occupiers of land?— I know nothing of my own knowledge of the first one.....
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