Royal Commission report day 17 page 4 (3)
The Royal Commission evidence for 10/5/1881
(see also introduction to day 17)
Constable Dowling giving evidence
4900 Do you think any other constables there fired as many as you did?— I believe several of them did not fire so many.
4901 How many constables, do you estimate, as far as your knowledge goes, at this particular time were within your vision and would be firing?— There would be seven or eight, perhaps.
4902 Not more?— Not at the north of the building I should think, as near as I could guess.
4903 Do you think those seven or eight men had as much ammunition served out as you had?— I do not.
4904 How much do you think they had?— I do not know; they remained up in the one particular spot.
4905 Can you give any special reason why you should have fired so many more shots than your comrades?— We received orders on two or three different occasions to fire on the house.
4906 It would apply equally to your comrades as to the others?— Yes, but I had a Spencer rifle, with seven rounds, whereas the others had only two; they were armed with double-barrelled breech-loader shot guns.
4907 Do you wish us to understand that there was such an indiscriminate firing into a house where there were only three individuals at most, and one of those known to be shot. What purpose could be served by that—did that strike you?— Well, there were some occasions when we thought we saw them at the windows. In fact, I know I saw them on one occasion.
4908 Do you think the house w as the object, or to fire for any express purpose?— I heard once that the outlaws were seen to put their heads out of the chimney, and we fired into the chimney then.
4909 From the outside?— From the outside.
4910 Did you fire through the boards so that the shots would go through into the inside of the chimney?— No, through the chimney; that is, into the bricks.
4911 Where was the head seen?— Out of the top. I did not see it; I heard one of the constables say so.
4912 What hour was that?— I cannot form any idea.
4913 Did you expect the bullets to go through the brickwork?— We did—that after a few rounds they would.
4914 Did you see the effects of the shots disintegrating the bricks—powdering them down?— No; I did not take much notice. I saw dirt flying every time.
4915 How many shots were fired at the chimney?— Several; I could not say how many.
4916 Did you see any effect upon the chimney?— No, I did not.
4917 As far as your own feeling is concerned, if you had been ordered with the other men to surround the building, would the men have obeyed, and could they have rushed without any great loss, and prevented the delay that occurred?— I believe several of the policemen would have been shot, because the outlaws could have been in one of the centre rooms and seen them from either end.
4918 You were twenty yards from the building, exposed to fire; would you have been in greater danger in rushing, and endeavoring to close with them?— Yes, I believe I would.
4919 You said you were exposed; is that so, or were you concealed behind a tree?— I was exposed at the time one of the outlaws came out of the building.
4920 But you could fall back behind a tree?— No, not at that particular time. I was standing, watching the house at that time.
4921 Were not you in quite as great danger at a distance of twenty yards by expert shots as if you had made a desperate rush on the building with your comrades?— I might have hand a chance if I had lain down.
4922 You are a practised shot, I suppose—you have practised in the use of firearms?— Not since I come into the police. I might have fired five or six rounds at most, in Mooroopna, when I was stationed there.
4923 Then, from the small practice you have had, would you feel any fear of making sure of a man at twenty yards?— No, I would not. ....
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