Royal Commission report day 34 page 4 (2)
The Royal Commission evidence for 29/6/1881
(see also introduction to day 34)
(Copy )
Sir Brisbane , 15th July 1880 .
I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 1st July, giving an recount of your proceedings during the encounter between the police and the outlaws at Glenrowan on the 27th June ultimo, and I regret exceedingly that, so far as I can judge from the very meagre information contained in your report, and the more fully detailed accounts given by newspaper correspondents I am unable to find any cause for congratulation.
Your report, and that given by the correspondent of the Argus, who, it appears, was on the ground, differ widely on some very material points, and it will be a source of great gratification if you are able, as I trust you will be, to show that yours is the correct version.
The portions of the proceedings which chiefly call for explanation are:–
1st. The apparent total absence of discipline or plan with which the affair was conducted from commencement to finish.
2nd. The indiscriminate firing which was permitted, whereby the lives of innocent persons were endangered, and, as it afterwards turned out, were sacrificed; and
3rd. The seemingly unnecessary burning of the premises in which the outlaws and others had taken shelter.
In your report you state that upon Constable Bracken's arrival with the information that the outlaws were in Jones's public house, you “started off at once towards the house, calling the men to follow,” &e., but, “owing to the confusion and noise in taking out the horses, some of them did not respond”, and think about two of your boys were with you. How did you propose to capture the outlaws without your men; and under whose command were those who were left behind?
It seems that each man was left to act as he thought fit–no definite plan of action having been decided upon, and the same want of management appears to have continued throughout.
With reference to the indiscriminate firing which is alleged to have taken place, your report is that “upon getting within about twenty yards of the place one shot, followed by a volley, was fired at us from the verandah; we returned the fire,” &c.; and a little further on you continue, “I kept up a continued fire until the outlaws were obliged to retire into the house. I then heard the cry of a woman in the house, and I cried out ‘Cease firing.’ I sang out, ‘Let the women out,’ which was done, and they immediately came and passed to the rear.”
The Argus report of this portion of the affair is very different; it runs thus– “The police and the gang blazed away at each other in the darkness furiously, it lasted about a quarter of an hour, and during that time there was nothing but a succession of flashes and reports, the pinging of bullets in the air, and the shrieks of women who had been made prisoners in the hotel”; and again, “at about eight o’clock in the morning a heartrending wail of grief ascended from the hotel. The voice was easily distinguished as that of Mrs. Jones, the landlady. Mrs. Jones was lamenting the fate of her son who had been shot in the back, as she supposed, fatally. She came out of the hotel crying bitterly, and wandered into the bush on several occasions,” &e. “She always returned, however, to the hotel,” &e. How do you reconcile this statement with your report? But, supposing that the Argus version is incorrect, the matter is in no better light. The number of occupants whether voluntary or compulsory, the strength and condition of the outlaws, the position of the passages and doors, and all information requisite to ensure the capture could have been obtained from Constable Bracken, who kind himself been a prisoner, had a little more coolness and judgment been exercised on arrival at Glenrowan.
When the premises were set on fire, it appears that an officer of the Victorian police was present in command; you had, therefore, nothing to do with that matter, but it would have given much satisfaction here had you objected to such a course, which hardly seems to have been requisite when so large a body of police was present
In replying to this letter, which you will be good enough to do without delay, you will be careful to abstain from all reference to others further than stating any orders you may have received. All that I have to do with is the conduct of yourself and the troopers placed under your charge.
I have the honor to be, Sir
Your obedient servant.
( Sd. )
D. T. SEYMOUR, Commissioner of Police.
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(Copy )
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