Royal Commission report day 24 page 8
The Royal Commission evidence for 1/6/1881
(see also introduction to day 24)
Sgt Steele giving evidence
9356 Do you remember telling me you had not much faith in agents?— I told you I had no faith in Aaron Sherritt. That was the only man I had not faith in.
9357 Do you remember about another man employed in your sub-district, without any reference to you?— No.
9358 Not to watch –– house. You related a story about an agent that had been employed to watch –– house?— I never told you I had no confidence in that agent. I might have related the circumstance.
9359 What was that circumstance? Do you remember me saying “You do not believe in certain agents,” and I said “Why?” and you said, “Why, there was a man employed by Mr. Nicolson to watch the place that he,” Mr. Nicolson, “said nothing to me about, and that the man went straight to the president of the shire, and told him he had been employed by Mr. Nicolson–the man came to me?— I may have mentioned it to you to give you to understand that it was bad policy to keep it unknown to me about agents employed by you, because this agent of Mr. Nicolson's, I made an excuse to go in this neighborhood and see this man, and he was actually an agent, and his being an agent was nearly discovered at the time, through my not knowing it, and it might have been a very serious matter.
9360 Who told you he was an agent at the time?— I heard it, and I mentioned it to Mr. Nicolson I heard it from Mr. Bickerton.
9361 Was he the president of the shire council?— He may have been.
9362 Was he?— I do not think he was. My reason for mentioning this to Mr. Hare was to show the evil of my not knowing the agents, and Mr. Nicolson saw the danger of it himself afterwards.
9363 By the Commission— You said there was a difference in the conduct of your officer, as far as you were concerned, on his second arrival in the district, in his treatment of his sub-officers–what do you mean by that?— He gave me more information, and seemed more disposed to let me know what was going on. At first I knew nothing. When Mr. Hare and Mr. Sadleir came to Wangaratta I knew they were in communication with agents about there; and they went away, and I was just as wise when they left as when they came.
9364 But on Mr. Hare returning to duty, about a month prior to the capture of the Kellys, I understand you to say he went more into the details and consulted you as to the working?— Yes, that is what I mean.
9365 By Mr: Hare— Was there not an officer stationed at Wangaratta senior to me on the previous occasion when I was up–Superintendent Furnell?— Yes, but you know that Mr. Furnell was more in our way than anything else.
9366 I do not know anything about that?— He was there, and he was not recognized by the Chief Commissioner. I was in charge actually.
9367 By the Commission— Why was he not?— He was not able to stand the work. He was a man that had been discharged from the police force and had been taken on again.
9368 Was Mr. Furnell discharged from the force?— Yes.
9369 And then taken on for temporary duty?— Yes; he was not physically fit for the duty.
9370 Was not he gazetted out of the force?— I think so.
9371 Did you recognize him as your senior officer?— I heard Mr. Furnell complain that neither Mr. Hare nor Mr. Sadleir would recognize him, and I think there was some correspondence with the Chief Commissioner about it.
9372 Did you recognize him as your superior officer?— I referred some things to him, and he threw them back to me, and said, “I have nothing to do with those; you have charge of the station.”
The witness withdrew. ....
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