Royal Commission report day 2 page 14
The Royal Commission evidence for 24/3/1881
(see also introduction to day 2 )
Assistant Commissioner Nicholson giving evidence
512 In point of fact you took no steps to ascertain whether the information furnished by Mr. Wyatt of any value or not?- No; I had no time then; in fact my last words to Mr. Wyatt were as I was getting into the carriage-we were just in time to catch the train, and all this occurred in say about three to five minutes.
513 Under the circumstances of that nature, would the station master, at your request, delay the train at Benalla?- I do not know whether he would or not. I know we always met with every facility from the railway people.
514 It might have been a mail train?- Even if it was a mail train, he would have done it, I think there was a train in at half past eleven, that brought up a constable from Euroa.
515 Then the first actual knowledge arrived at Benalla of the occurrence at Euroa?- Yes.
516 How long elapsed?- The outlaws left at eight, that would be three hours and a half.
517 Did you not get the telegram from Captain Standish?- I did, by way of Deniliquin. I was at Albury when his telegram reached me, and I had made all the arrangements with the Albury and Wodonga police, and I returned on receiving his telegram at Albury. I got back with Mr. Sadleir to Wodonga, and went down in the same train in which we had come.
518 Can you fix the time you received that telegram from Captain Standish?- It was within an hour after our arrival at Albury.
519 What time did you receive that telegram of the 10th from Captain Standish in Albury?- It was very late-I believe was after twelve o'clock. It was shortly after the train arrived.
520 Had you liberty to use the telegraph wires at any time, day or night?- Yes, at all hours. There were certain times fixed at which the Railway Department's lines were at our disposal-extra hours
521 What distance is it from Faithfull's Creek to Euroa?- Four to six miles.
522 The outlaws left Faithfull's Creek at eight?- Yes.
523 And what time did you first hear of it at Euroa?- On the return of Mr. Scott, banker, who was taken away with others, between nine and ten, and had been kidnapped at Euroa and carried away to Faithfull's Creek; and the robbery took place at Euroa in the day-the people were moving backwards and forwards quite unconscious of it, and a lot of carpenters working at a house on the railway reserve, opposite the bank.
524 The police officers had liberty to send all messages in preference to any other messages that the telegraph masters might have-do you know that such an order was issued?- I am not aware, but I never found the slightest delay; we always received the utmost assistance from the Telegraph Department. We got a spring cart at Albury, and went across, and got back to the train; we went down in the train as far as Wangaratta, and stopped there. I ran from there to the hospital to get that black I had before- the Queensland black that I had before at Baumgarten's. I found him too sick, and I was sorry I was obliged to come away without him. Mr. Sadleir, by agreement with me, remained there to take out the party of police. I proceeded on to Benalla, and made my way as fast as I could down to the station, and got my horse, and despatched a telegram from Benalla to Mansfield.
525 What men had you with you?- I had no men; and then I went away off as quickly as I could back to the train that was waiting for me, and got into it, and Mr. Wyatt accompanied me.
526 What was the nature of the telegram?- To Mansfield police, telling where I had gone; that I had gone down to Euroa, and that I wished them to send down two trackers from there to me to Euroa- They had three, I think.
527 What hour would that be?- Just before I started.
528 Was it before ten o'clock?- Yes, long before; it was early in the morning-I came down express. ..
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