Royal Commission report day 18 page 13
The Royal Commission evidence for 11/5/1881
(see also introduction to day 18)
'Constable Alfred John Faulkiner' giving evidence
5590 Did any of the Sherritt girls ever visit the cave?— I think not, but young Mrs. Sherritt did. None of the daughters did during my time; but Mrs. Sherritt—Aaron's wife—did on one occasion.
5591 Do you know that the Sherritt girls used to visit Mrs. Byrne's house?— One of them told me that she had slept at Mrs. Byrne's.
5592 Where did you see her?— At Sherritt's.
5593 You used to go there?— Yes.
5594 You stated that Ward stated that an entry had been made in your record sheet; do you know whether there was or not?— No.
5595 With reference to your performing duty at the cave?— I cannot say that there was.
5596 You were out with me in the Warby ranges?— Yes.
5597 How often were you out with me?— I think with every party you went out.
5598 Were you out at the Woolshed when I was watching Mrs. Sherritt's place?— No.
5599 With that exception, were you out with every party?— Yes.
5600 Do you think that we were wasting our time when we were there?— I always thought that we were there on information. We had as good a chance as anyone.
5601 Do you know one day we lost when we were out?— No.
5602 What did we do?— Any time we went out on information we went out nine or ten miles in a different direction and after dark returned another road to within a couple of miles of the suspected place, and tied the horses up and walked the rest and surrounded the place before daylight; but when out without information, we used to separate about 150 or 200 yards, as far apart as we could well reach, and cover the range across or the side of a hill.
5603 Did we keep on roads?— No, except we could not really help it.
5604 Between Warby ranges and Benalla?— No.
5605 Are there any roads in the Warby ranges?— No.
5606 Did we go near a road for several days?— No, we kept the range, camping in the bush.
5607 By the Commission. —Is that to the eastward of the Taminick station, or at the back?— At the back. There are no roads in the ranges.
5608 By Mr. Hare. —Do you know a road going across to Wangaratta?— Yes.
5609 By the Commission. —Do you know where a road comes out at Bryan 's orangery?— Yes.
5610 Did you keep along that road?— We might have crossed it.
5611 Supposing the outlaws were there in those ranges, unless you came across them by accident, would it be very difficult to find them there?— The only chance was to come across their camp.
5612 Might they not be close, within pistol shot in the rocks, and you not see them?— Yes.
5613 By Mr. Hare. —What distance apart did we walk?— Sometimes twenty or thirty yards, and in flat country as far as we could see each other.
5614 Do you think there was a chance of catching them in the mountains in the way that we worked?— I was under that impression myself.
5615 Were all the party under that impression?— Yes.
5616 By the Commission. —Is there much of that rocky country?— There are very high ranges, and the rocks very steep.
5617 By Mr. Hare. —Describe to the Commission how we used to work, say from the Taminick station towards Glenrowan. Do you remember going down there one day especially, when Sergeant Fegan was one of the party?— Yes.
5618 Describe that?— When we came to the foot of a hill, Mr. Hare would start so many men round one side, and so many on the other, and so many straight to the top.....
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