Royal Commission report day 20 page 12
The Royal Commission evidence for 14/5/1881
(see also introduction to day 20)
'James Reardon giving evidence'
7678 Had they any knowledge while you were there that Ned Kelly was taken?— They did not. Some of the people asked where was Ned Kelly, and they said they did not know, they thought he was done.
7679 What time was that?— A little before we got out, at break of day.
7680 Did they miss Ned Kelly before Byrne was shot?— Yes; they said he was gone, and supposed he was done.
7681 Did they say they wished he was amongst them?— No.
7682 “Done “ meant “shot”?— Yes.
7683 Did they miss Ned Kelly before Byrne was shot?— I would not be sure; I wish to be correct, as Mr. O'Connor's statement about he considered there were about eighteen or twenty came out of the house—friends and sympathisers of the Kellys. I am quite sure I am not a sympathiser.
7684 At the time that Steele, you say, was firing upon you and your wife escaping, were the outlaws firing from the hotel?— No, I am positive sure they were not. (JJK)
7685 Why?— Because they were standing still, and I could hear if they did.
7686 Did they say they would not fire until you had escaped?— They said they would not.
7687 Sergeant Steele told you that he had shot your son?— Yes, Sergeant Steele told me, and several others.
7688 In saying so did he assign any reason?— Yes, he said he did not hold up his hand.
7689 Did he say he called on him to hold up his hands?— No; the boy had a child in one hand and held up his other hand.
7690 Was it daylight when you came out of the house?— Yes, when we got clean out.
7691 It was not daylight at the time you had to return?— No.
7692 Was it daylight when Mr. O'Connor spoke to you from the culvert?— No.
7693 How could you tell?— From where he spoke. I was half-way between the verandah and the fence, and the others, Ryan and his family of three, and my children were on the right just over the culvert, and the voice sang out from under the culvert— “Who comes there?” and Ryan said, “Women and children.”
7694 What did they do then?— They went on and they continued to fire.
7695 Ryan escaped through the gate?— Yes, but it was so hot for me, I went back with my wife and son and child.
7696 What time was it, as near as you can make it, when you first proposed to go out?— I would not swear to the time. I daresay it might be about—I could not say exactly.
7697 How long was this before your son was shot?— About an hour, as near as I can remember.
7698 Did you see Mrs. Jones's child shot?— I did not, but I heard him sing out, “I am shot, I am shot.”
7699 Your son was shot?— Yes.
7700 Mrs. Jones's son shot and daughter wounded?— Yes.
7701 Did you see this man who asked you to take up rails; did you see him carry out any of the wounded children from the house, I mean McHugh?— No, I was in another room; I was told he did.
7702 Do you knew the wounded child was carried out?— Yes, and carried to my place.
7703 Can you fix about the time it was by any circumstance?— About the second volley fired by the police.
7704 Can you fix the time that McHugh carried out Mrs. Jones's child?— No, I would not swear to it.
7705 Was it before or after you attempted to escape?— Before, and I followed them half an hour after.
7706 That would be an hour and three-quarters before your son was shot?— Yes.
7707 The point is this: the second volley the police fired was fired within ten minutes after the commencement?— Yes, and less.
7708 Within seven minutes?— Perhaps less still.
7709 The second volley was the time that Mrs. Jones's child was shot?— Yes.
7710 How long after the child was shot did McHugh run out with it?— A few minutes after.
7711 Then that would be within twenty minutes after the police commenced to shoot?— It would be about that.....
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