Royal Commission report day 23 page 8
The Royal Commission evidence for 31/5/1881
(see also introduction to day 23)
Sgt Steele further examined
8935 You were stationed at Wangaratta all the time?— Yes.
8936 And had taken an active part in the search for the Kellys?— Yes.
8937 And you are not in a position to say the Kellys were in the country for two or three months prior to the shooting of Sherritt?— I could not swear it.
8938 Have you seen the agent recently?— No, not since just before Mr. Nicolson left the district.
8939 Have you heard from any of them that they declined giving further information to the police?— No, I did not. I heard a great deal of talk about it.
8940 Do you think now there would be a great difficulty in getting secret agents in case of an outbreak?— I am afraid it would be a great difficulty.
8941 Why?— From the names getting publicity, and the thing being so much talked about. It is generally known now who were the agents.
8942 You do not know for certain that they would not act?— I merely speak from conversation throughout the district.
8943 From the men themselves?— No, I have not spoken to an agent except one since, and he seems very much afraid; and he said, if he had known as much he would have been very afraid to act for the police.
8944 You are not aware of any threats?— No, I am not aware of any threats.
8945 And from private individuals have any statements been made to you, that if they were in a position they would not give information?— The only agent I spoke to said he would not.
8946 You have read the evidence before the Commission, in the press?— Yes.
8947 Can you point out in that any cases where the names of agents have been given where they ought to have been suppressed, during the whole of this enquiry, that would he likely to militate against further information being given?— There may not have been names mentioned, but those people who have been knocking about in the country
8948 Is there any portion of the evidence, and by whom given, that would militate against other people giving information in the future?— I do not think they would undertake the duty.
8949 There is a broadcast statement reflecting on some one, and you have read the evidence through, and you believe the people would not give the information; will you point out any evidence or names in it where they have made revelations that they ought not to have done?— No, I do not think I could. I have not given that particular attention to it.
8950 You state that a great deal of information was kept at Benalla and you were not supplied with it?— Yes.
8951 Do you think from what you have since heard–from the information obtained from secret agents–that you, as an active officer stationed at Benalla, ought to have been informed of that?— I do, certainly. I will give an instance: when the police went to the races at Whorouly, I think I had a perfect right to have been told there about it; and in many other cases I think so too, whether the information was correct or not.
8952 Why should you have been informed about the police at the races?— My station was nearer to Whorouly than it was to Benalla, and the men were run up by special train right past that place..
8953 Are there any other cases that information was in the possession of any of the officers that you consider would have been an advantage to the public if you, as an officer at Wangaratta, had been informed of it?— For some months I received no information at all. I did not know what was going on, further than being sent out on the ranges with the men and came back, and I would generally report the result that I could see nothing–find no tracks.
8954 I gathered from your statement that there was information in the possession of officers at Benalla that you considered that you ought to have been made acquainted with. Can you point out any other instances, from information that you have since obtained, that information ought to have been given to you at the time?— Yes, from the information supplied to this Commission that the officers were in possession of; I heard nothing of it.
8955 Will you state any other cases specifically?— For instance, the whole of the information that Mr. Hare received about the Warby ranges. He was under the impression that he had some good tracks there, or something to lead them on. I knew nothing of that till some time after.
8956 That was while he was out with a search party?— Yes.....
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