Royal Commission report day 36 page 11

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The Royal Commission evidence for 6/7/1881

(full text transcription)

(see also introduction to day 36)

[[../../people/peD_G/fitzpatrickAPC.html|Const Alexander Fitzpatrick]] giving evidence

12959 Were you ever out with Johnson?— I was with Constable Charles Johnson. He was in charge. We were just sent from Benalla to Lake Rowan . There were two other constables, and himself and I with them, there were only four of us, sent there to seek information on a Sunday afternoon. We just went down to some of the Kelly's friends there, to see if we could see any strange horses about, or get any other information there.

12960 What were you supposed to do with a large party of twenty-five?— Some information that was received I never became possessed of it, but it appears that tracks were seen and picked up on the Warby ranges. This day the party had made it up to follow the tracks, but under some mismanagement or other the party got separated, and Sergeant Steele and some of us were riding wide apart in the bush. I got separated, and went up the hill, and lost the greater part of the party. I was with Sergeant Steele and four other constables. We camped out that night, searching the creeks and ranges.

12961 How long were you lost?— We were not lost as it were, but we just lost a portion of the party, or they lost us at that time. Of course we never went to look for them again. Sergeant Steele acted in charge.

12962 Where did you go in the evening then?— Into Wangaratta.

12963 Did you see your comrades then?— Yes, that evening.

12964 Did you have any conversation with them?— I spoke to some of the men, and just said– asked, “Where did you get bushed to?” something like that as to missing us.

12965 Did you have any conversation about the tracks?— No, I just asked them if they had found anything, and I think they were unsuccessful that day.

12966 They were a good many days?— A good many days unsuccessful, but they might have got some clue to some tracks, or information they had received from time to time. It was badly managed; the parties having to proceed from Wangaratta up to the head of the King River . It was a day and a half journey for the men and horses, and necessitated pack horses, and the men had their rifles and revolvers and ammunition. The horses would never have been able to follow the Kellys if they had come across them after riding the long journeys. If there could have been a temporary station at Glenmore, where the police could have camped, and kept provision there for the men, they could have scoured that country far better than went they did.

12967 Was it ever suggested to them–do you know?— I do not know I am sure.

12968 Did the men always return from the head of the King to Benalla or any other head quarters?— We have camped out. In Sergeant Steele 's party I was with there were eight or ten of us. We camped out on two different nights at Dedongadale, near the Broken River the continuation of the Buffalo River –a branch off that river.

12969 Did you consider the practice of sending out large parties a proper one in searching, or likely to be successful?— No.

12970 How many do you consider ought to constitute a party?— Eight; not more than that, or less. It would have made a good search party.

12971 Would not the dust or the noise of eight men riding together be detected very quickly by the outlaws?— You could hear our men coming for some miles through the bush even if there were only two even; if you were lying silent you would hear them coming through those hilly ranges.

12972 Did the police usually follow the tracks?— They did in any parties I was with if they thought it likely they were Kellys.

12973 It was reported that the Kellys could always see the dust of parties as they passed along– would that be so as a rule?— It would be from the hills where they were. They could not notice unless they had a telescope. They could not identify the persons from where they would see the cloud of dust. You would see it for miles, and that may arise from a team of horses or a bullock wagon going along those bush roads in the summer time.

12574 From the ranges constables were coming up in a body, and could be distinguished at a distance?— They could be.

12975 Did not the search parties travel at night time, very often so they could not be seen?— They would never travel in search, as it were, only to places where they thought they could get particalar information, just close round the district.

12976 You said you camped at Mount Typho at Dedongadale. Where did you come from that morning?— From Wangaratta.

12977 What road did you take up to that place?— The first day we went from Wangaratta we camped at Whitefield.

12978 You told the Commission just now it would be more desirable to have a station at Glenmore?— Yes.

12979 Do you know where Evans's station is at Whitefield, on the King?— I know the place we camped at.

12980 Do you know there was a police station close to that, called Hedi?— Yes, we called there.

12981 Do you know Kerr's public-house there?— I know the hotel we called at.

12982 Do you know there was a police station there?— Yes, we were at it.

12983 Do you know how far that is from Glenmore?— About eight or nine miles.

12984 Is not Hedi called the head of the King?— Yes.

12985 Is that where the Kellys' uncles and relations live?— Yes, the Quins.

12986 You know that?— Yes.

12987 And there was a station there when you went up there?— Yes.

12988 What constable was there?— Carroll there then.

12989 Were any of those stations closed before the Kelly outbreak?— Glenmore station was broken up prior to the Kelly outbreak.

12990 Did you call at the Hedi station at that time?— Yes, coming back–as we were returning.

12991 What constable did you see then?— Carroll.

12992 Was he by himself?— I think there was a foot man there; I am not certain.

12993 You cannot say how many men?— I know there were not more than two. The large party stationed there was stationed there afterwards. There was not accommodation there for a lot of men to remain there.

12994 For a large body to stay for a fortnight or a month?— No, not the accommodation for the men and the horses. I wish to bring something under your notice with respect to my discharge from the police force, and to ask you to be kind enough to look into the case for me. Considering the petition of the inhabitants, surely some notice should be taken of this petition contradicting the report on which I was said to be discharged. My character has been greatly injured in the country through being discharged from the police force and being mixed up with the Kellys .

The Chairman — The Commission will obtain and examine the papers in connection with your case.

The witness withdrew.

Adjourned sine die.

_________________

(Taken at Beechworth.)

[~[[see report of proceedings 6/7/81]|6356]~]

See day after

20/ 7/1881 ....

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