Royal Commission report day 2 page 23
The Royal Commission evidence for 24/3/1881
(see also introduction to day 2 )
Assistant Commissioner Nicholson giving evidence
663 Was that the cause why you did not give your information to Captain Standish?- On my honour, I never kept and information from Captain Standish or Superintendent Hare; I gave them every information I could; and that suggestion that you have spoken of, if it had occurred to me, I would have given it; and it is only since I came to town, and looked among the papers for the Commission, I found the expression I used in the letter to that person.
664 You only desisted in tendering that information when you noticed Captain Standish's manner to you?- I did not desist in tendering information to Captain Standish; I did not keep anything back; but his demeanour towards me was not calculated to develop information.
665 In what way has that arisen?- It is very mysterious to me. It has arisen and shown itself in many ways.
666 Is it jealousy?- I should be very sorry to say so. I entered the force in the humblest position, and have risen to my present position. When I was removed from the mounted police, I was promoted for service some years ago-about the year after I joined, in 1853-and I have been continually on active service since; and I was selected by Sir Charles Mac Mahon to take charge of the detective police when it was organised. I took charge of it, and during that time I was in the heat and brunt of everything that was going on; and when I had to leave the detective force on account of my health breaking down, Captain Standish was not pleased with it, and I went to a quieter district, at Kyneton, to carry on my duty there, and along with other men I arrested Power, though I arose from an attack of fever. I followed him into the district where he was, and made arrangements for his arrest along with Mr. Hare, and took him. I had information that he had passed through a portion of my district, and on that I acted. I was then appointed to the city by seniority. I received no promotion on account of the Power capture. Every step has been simply by seniority.
667 Your position now has been attained simply by seniority?- Yes. My first promotion was for distinction, and after many steps and many years passing my present position has been reached simply by seniority. For fourteen years I was in the detective force, and though rising to first class superintendent, I was receiving less pay than any superintendent in the force, and I would have received that pay still if my health had not broken down, and I fell into the rank of District Superintendent. At that time I was made the subject of much unpleasantness, as Inspecting Superintendent, and on several occasions Captain Standish did not support me.
668 Captain Standish stated that in his evidence as having been before that year?- Captain Standish behaved on several occasions in that way, and I forgave him over and over again. Then it came at last to this. I never made use of political influence, or assistance of any kind in my life, until my position became almost unbearable then I told Captain Standish of it. At last I was appointed Assistant Commissioner of Police.
669 How long ago is that?- A very short time.
670 Did that improve Captain Standish's feeling towards you?- Yes. I felt it necessary to apply for a higher position to protect myself.
671 Have you had any personal quarrel with Captain Standish?- Never, until I received a letter asking me to come down to town on Saturday to have a chat with him, and the first announcement he made was that I was superseded; a junior officer was to go back on the Monday. Then my indignation broke forth.
672 That was just before the capture?- Yes.
673 Did he say why you were superseded by this other person?- That the Government had decided so. I replied to him I did not believe the Government had decided at all; that he had done it; that he had communicated with the Government, and that I would not submit to it, and I would see the Government about it.
674 Were you under the impression that there was a feeling on Captain Standish's part from the time you joined the police in 1853, a feeling as against you from that tine?- No, not until I left the detective force, more particularly after I gave up the City Superintendentship and accepted the Inspecting Superintendentship.
675 I want to know whether the feeling which was evinced yesterday for the first time to our knowledge, as between you and Captain Standish, to your knowledge exists between other members of the force?- Not to my knowledge; and I never in my life heard Captain Standish speak as he did yesterday.
'The witness withdrew. Adjourned to to morrow at Eleven o'clock.
[See report of Proceedings 24/3/81] ..
Previous page / Next page
| ! | The text has been retyped from a microfiche copy of the original. We have taken care to reproduce this document but areas of the original text may been damaged. |
the previous day / next day . . . Royal Commission index RC_index.html
