Royal Commission report day 34 page 5

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The Royal Commission evidence for 29/6/1881

(full text transcription)

(see also introduction to day 34)

(Copy )

12565.9 Belle Vue House, Brisbane , 19th July 1880 .

To the Commissioner of Police, Brisbane.

SIR,

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated the 15th July, calling upon me for an explanation of the part taken by the detachment of N. M. Police under my command in the late encounter with the outlaws at Glenrowan , Victoria .

My report of the lst July, which you designate meagre, was written hurriedly to catch the mail, and being aware that I would return at once to Queensland I omitted details.

You particularize the features of the encounter requiring explanation as–

1st. The apparent total want of discipline or plan with which the affair was conducted, &c.

2nd. The indiscriminate firing which was permitted whereby the lives of innocent persons were endangered, &c.

3rd. The seemingly unnecessary burning of the premises in which the outlaws and others had taken shelter.

Now, I think it only fair to recall to your recollection the feet that we were sent to Victoria to act as trackers. I was not entrusted with the command or the charge of the party, and was not in any way accountable for the proceedings at Glenrowan or elsewhere. As mentioned in my report of the 1st July, the party of police to which I was attached was under the command of the Victorian officer, Superintendent Hare, and I am unable to say what plan of operation he intended to adopt, as his being disabled at the commencement prevented him from giving me any information in the matter.

The firing was commenced by the outlaws, .and continued on both sides until I heard the voice of a woman, when it was at once stopped until the women were got out. When the women left the house I understood there were only the outlaws in it. The 20 odd prisoners were in a detached building, which I believe not a shot was fired into. The child of Mrs. Jones was wounded in our first volleys, when the gang were on the verandah. The women passed out of the house about ten minutes after the first shot was fired. I cannot account for the newspaper reports, but no women or children were in the house or houses ten minutes after the first shot, but they were crying out all round our lines, and probably the reporters at the cation may have thought that they were in the house all the time. When Mr. Hare called upon me to come on and ran towards the hotel, I followed him, knowing that his men and my boys would follow us as ordered. As regards the burning of the house, I have merely to remark that I was not the officer in command and was willing to form one of a storming party, but it was considered better to fire the house than to risk the lives of the constables. When we fired the building we were aware that only the two outlaws were in it alone, not as otherwise stated a lot of innocent men.

I may state, in conclusion, that the house where “Cherry,” the wounded man, lay was another building, and was standing intact when we left the ground. I shall be glad to furnish the Commissioner of Police with anything further he wishes to know about this matter. I think the Commissioner of Police should express his approval of the conduct of the men under my command, as they behaved very well.

I have the honor to be, sir

Your obedient servant,

(Signed) STANHOPE O CONNOR

Sub. –lnspector.....

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