Royal Commission report day 42 page 10
The Royal Commission evidence for 3/8/1881
(see also introduction to day 42)
Mr James Wallace giving evidence
14734 You are quite sure of that?— I am sure of that. How could I possibly make them the heroes of a tale? I might make them the villains of a tale.
14735 How far did you get with the book?— Nothing more than notes. I did not stick to that idea long.
14736 You wrote some?— I did nothing of the kind.
14737 You obtained information that would guide you?— It was necessary to make some excuse, apart from the right one, for showing interest in the affair.
14738 Have you destroyed those notes?— Yes. Would you like to read them?
14739 I think I can read you pretty well?— Yes.
14740 Did you write a series of articles in the Wangaratta paper against the police?— No, I cannot say that I did.
14741 There was a series of articles came out in the Wangaratta paper—you were not the author?— I was in the habit of writing for the Wangaratta Despatch . I do not know what articles you refer to.
14742 Were you in the habit of supplying this journal with information bearing on the pursuit of the Kellys and the conduct of the police?— Certainly not. I have written various articles for the paper.
14743 You never wrote on this particular question, the pursuit of the Kellys ?— Yes, certainly I have done so. There have been so many articles in the Wangaratta Despatch bearing on the Kellys , I cannot say which you refer to.
14744 How many did you write bearing on this subject?— I remember writing one leading article for them and a series of romance entitled “Christmas in Kelly Land .” That was all I had to do with it.
14745 Those were in no way reflections on the conduct of the police?— I do not think it could be construed in any way into reflections on the police—certainly one article reflected on the backwardness of the rank and file in not carrying the pursuit to a successful termination sooner.
14746 Did you write that article after you had seen Joe Byrne on the road, or before?— I think before.
14747 You carried that out by giving information so long after?— I was not a policeman.
14748 You were in the pay of the police?— I was not; I was only paid expenses.
14749 You received a consideration for your services?— No; I only got my expenses.
14750 Did you render an account of every particular?— No; it was not asked for.
14751 How did you render the account?— I was put to considerable expense travelling about.
14752 Will your books show that.?— I have no books.
14753 Could you give us any idea how you incurred this expense?— Horse-flesh and horse-feed.
14754 You had your own horse there?— But still it would require horse-feed, and horse-feed was expensive, and travelling about from one place to another, and meeting sympathizers and drinking with them, would soon melt the money. Of course, you all being teetotallers, cannot see that.
14755 What time were you engaged in those services?— Seven or eight months, or perhaps before.
14756 What time were you engaged in this work?— Evenings and nights, Saturdays and Sundays.
14757 Never during school hours?— No, that would not have done.
14758 How much did you receive altogether?—£80.
14759 Did not you receive nearly £180?— I cannot say.
14760 Would you be surprised if it was £180?— I would, indeed, be surprised if it was over £100.
14761 Your first letter is August 1879, and your last letter is dated in March 1880; it must be a pretty good drinking outlay to spend all this £180. You commenced in August 1879, your first letter to Mr. Nicolson, and your last letter is 18th March 1880; that is about seven months; that is about £20 a month?— I did not receive £100 altogether, I am sure......
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
