Royal Commission report day 42 page 19

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The Royal Commission evidence for 3/8/1881

(full text transcription)

(see also introduction to day 42)

Mr John Sherritt Jn giving evidence

14896 By Mr. Nicolson — You remember the Wangaratta agricultural show in 1879?— Yes.

14897 Do you remember coming to me with Wallace ?— Yes; Wallace told me who you were.

14898 That is 12th September 1879 . You were engaged then?— Yes.

14899 By the Commission— Then from that time, right through, you were continuing your correspondence?— Not the last few weeks they committed the murder, but within the last month.

14900 At the time you were corresponding, did you know where they were located?— No.

14901 You had no means of knowing?— No; they never told me.

14902 Had you any personal interview with any after that one at Sandy Creek ?— No, I never met them anywhere—they had been at the house—only Byrne.

14903 You saw them at your house?— Yes.

14904 How often did they come?— Well, I could not tell you. On several occasions when I was not there, and on one occasion Byrne came after that. I will tell you about a letter I got. I received several letters before the time I was appointed to meet Byrne at Sandy Creek . I forwarded all those to the police, and this letter was only short written, quick, and this my sister brought me from Mrs. Byrne's, and I was to see him at Sandy Creek; and I forwarded the letter to Mr. Ward, and he said he forwarded it to Mr. Nicolson, and that Mr. Nicolson instructed him to tell me to keep the appointment; and I got a horse of my own, and went to the place, and the man at whose house they were to meet had left.

14905 You did not meet Byrne?— Not at that time or the day appointed, but on the next morning,— coming back, about ten or eleven o'clock , I met

14906 What was the nature of your conversation with him?— It was about sticking up the Yackandandah bank and some other bank he mentioned. I forget the name.

14907 Was he wanting you to help him stick up the bank?— Yes; and he said a lot about Mr. Hare and Mr. Nicolson .

14908 Against them?— Yes. He said that. He asked me if I knew Mr. Hare , and I said “No”; and he said, “That is the old buck that caught Power.” I said, “I do not know.” He said he believed he was a smart old “cove “; and he asked me if I knew Mr. Nicolson, and I told him I knew no one; and I was to go to Yackandandah and see how many police were stationed there, and to let him know. I was to go to Yackandandah and see how many police were there, and see if I could detect any police in private clothes, and loaf round there and see where the police went in to have tea, and all particulars about their movements.

14909 What did you do with him then—did you arrange to go?— Yes, and bring him the information. He had no horse, but he had a pair of long boots, and his trousers were all over blood. He had long spurs. I asked where his mates were, and he said, “Not very far off.”

14910 He did not tell where they were?— No.

14911 Did he make any arrangement for you to come back?— Yes. I was to meet him at Evans 's Gap a short time afterwards.

14912 Did you carry it out?— Before the day appointed, when I was to see him at Evans 's Gap, he came himself to my mother's place.

14913 What did he do then?— He came inside, and stopped there for a considerable time, and said they had abandoned the idea of sticking up the Yackandandah bank—that it was not safe; that they intended to stick up the Beechworth bank.

14914 Who came to your mother's place?— I remember now it was Dan Kelly came first, and I was not in, but I was not far away. I was over in the paddock. He came to see me, and he asked if I was in, and my mother said, “No,” and he looked in the rooms to see if I was inside, and he said he would be back at eight o'clock .

14915 What time was it?— Just about dusk.

14916 What time of year was it?— I cannot say, but I could find that out.

14917 Was it light?— Just between day and dark.

14918 Was it after the sticking up the bank at Jerilderie?— Yes, after that.....

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