Royal Commission report day 49 page 12

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Story of the KellyGang - the Royal Commission Report

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The Royal Commission evidence for 6/9/1881

(full text transcription)

(see introduction to day 49)

Sup John Sadleir giving evidence

16746 By Mr. Nicolson— I wish you to go over the question of time occupied by myself and Mr. Hare in the office?— I must only judge by comparing other times. I do not know that I looked at the clock when Mr. Hare came. I take it he arrived by the train at a quarter past eleven . I am judging that he would take fifteen minutes coming up from the railway station to my office, where the interview took place. That would bring the time up to half-past eleven. There were a few minutes taken up in preliminary conversation, about things indifferent, and then the business of the interview was commenced, I think by Mr. Hare stating what we all knew he came for. I have, under pressure, fixed what I think the minimum time taken in explaining matters, and I would rather trust to my evidence on circumstantial matters then, because I have read and spoken so much about it since, and my recollection then was better than my recollection now—that is as regards time; but to go on with the events of that interview, the subject of the Kelly business was spoken of by you both. I think what Mr. Hare alludes to is the statement of the claims of the different agents, that was all ready on paper.

16747 Was much time taken about that?— No, I do not think so; just a little time to look it over. You then, both of you, addressed yourselves to the Kelly business. I think I have stated in my evidence before, that, after some explanation had been begun by you, it was interjected, I think by Mr. Hare , that you should come to the latest events, or the latest information that was received.

16748 How do you say it was, you think, suggested by Mr. Hare—was there any other person present?— I am satisfied it was by Mr. Hare, and I presume you did so—I know you did—and the conversation until the party broke up continued on those subjects alone.

16749 By the Commission— Did Mr. Hare seem satisfied with the explanation?— Yes, he seemed perfectly satisfied, and Mr. Nicolson appealed to me (I was partly occupied at a side seat), asking me if in what he was stating he was omitting anything, and on that appeal I replied— “No, I can see nothing that you are omitting.”

16750 Were you possessed of all the information Mr. Nicolson had?— Yes. He began by being diffuse, by enlarging on the business of the past and his experience, and he was brought to this point by

Mr. Hare 's interjection —“Give me the latest dates.”

16751 By Mr. Nicolson — “What was the last you heard?”—Yes, that was it, and the hat we heard of them was news perhaps of only a week or ten days before.

16752 What news was that—do you remember anything about the appearance at Chiltern, at Byron's?— Yes, I remember you mentioning it as Lord Byron's.—[ The evidence at Questions 2614-5 was read to the witness.]

16753 You say Mr. Hare left the office leaving you and me together?— Yes.

16754 Do you recollect the next thing?— You asked me, “Did I leave anything out?” or words to that effect, and my answer was that there was nothing I knew of that you had left out, and that is my honest opinion, the fairest evidence that I can give at this period of time, and I remember distinctly at the time not knowing anything within the limits you fixed of recent information that you omitted to give Mr Hare.

16755 By the Commission. –Had you arranged with Mr. Nicolson, previous to this, to dispense with the services of those agents at Beechworth?— No, there was no arrangement to dispense with any agents; but in keeping them on, those who did not know Mr. Hare I was to see and consult them as to their willingness to work with him. We had not the power of transferring one man from another in that way.

16756 By Mr. Nicolson . –Mr. Hare left the room before me?— Yes.

16757 Do you know what hour it was?— No, I could not tell you.

16758 You know the hour when people generally take their lunch up there is one o'clock ?— Yes five or ten minutes to one you generally leave.

16759 Do you remember at what hour you reached your house?— I think I was quite late for lunch, but I do not know whether I remained behind you.

16760 After I left, did Mr. Hare, on any occasion whatever for the rest of the time he was there (upwards of three weeks), make any complaint or allusion to my not having given him information?— No, not that I can call to mind.

16761 By the Commission. –Did he not complain about those agents being discharged?— If you can call it a complaint— He asked an explanation of the telegram sent by Mr. Nicolson to Mullane on the evening he left; he asked me about that the next day, and I could tell him nothing about it.

16762 Were you astonished when you found that Mr. Nicolson had done that?— I did not know the import or meaning of it at all, therefore I did not feel astonished. I was simply asked if I knew anything about a telegram of that sort that was sent to Beechworth.....

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