Changes

Royal Commission report day 15 page 16

6,232 bytes added, 04:04, 15 November 2015

Import from source

Story of the KellyGang - the Royal Commission evidence

[[Royal Commission report day 15 page 15|previous page]] / [[Royal Commission report day 15 page 17|next page]]

== The Royal Commission evidence for 4/5/1881 ==

''''''

=== full text ===

(see also introduction to [[Royal Commission report 4/5/1881|day 15]])

'''Constable [[Const W Duross|Duross]]''' '''giving evidence'''

[[#rc3846|3846]] What did they say about burning the house?— [[Joe Byrne|Joe Byrne]] said, “We will soon make them come out, we will burn the house;” and [[Mrs Ellen Barry|Mrs. Barry]] said, “Joe, don't burn the house;” and he said, “You go in, I will consider over it.”

[[#rc3847|3847]] Was it to prevent them burning the house you kept the women inside?— No.

[[#rc3848|3848]] Did you not consider it would be the more honorable course to rush out than be burnt out?— We would have had to if it had come to that, but, otherwise, I am certain we could not have got further than the door without being shot.

[[#rc3849|3849]] It would be the same if the house was being burnt?— It would be the same then.

[[#rc3850|3850]] I was under the impression that you stated you had come to the conclusion from something that occurred that the outlaws were going to burn the house, and called on you to come out?— Yes.

[[#rc3851|3851]] You would not go?— No.

[[#rc3852|3852]] Then you said the women went out, and there was a talk amongst them about burning the house?— Yes.

[[#rc3853|3853]] You then stated you prevented the women going out again?— Yes.

[[#rc3854|3854]] Did it come into your mind that they were going to burn you out?— When they whistled they said they were going to burn us out.

[[#rc3855|3855]] Did you come to that conclusion?— I cannot say.

[[#rc3856|3856]] You stated that the outlaws heard, or you believe they heard, you loading your guns?— I know they spoke about it. Byrne said, “Look out, they are loading their rifles.”

[[#rc3857|3857]] Were your rifles loaded?— Yes.

[[#rc3858|3858]] Were your guns loaded when [[Aaron Sherritt|Aaron Sherritt]] was shot?— Yes.

[[#rc3859|3859]] How long had they been loaded?— Mine was loaded from the time I went there, except to clean it.

[[#rc3860|3860]] Were you in the habit of unloading when you came from duty?— Just took the charge out and put it in again at once, after cleaning.

[[#rc3861|3861]] In what place was Sherritt shot?— On the left breast.

[[#rc3862|3862]] And the second shot brought him down in the house?— Yes.

[[#rc3863|3863]] Where was the first?— Close to the same place.

[[#rc3864|3864]] How near was Joe Byrne to him when he shot him?— Joe Byrne was close behind Weekes; he stood one side of the door.

[[#rc3865|3865]] How near to Aaron Sherritt?— About two yards from him, because Mrs. Barry told us that Byrne had his rifle in his two hands swinging like this—[''explaining his meaning by gesture''].

[[#rc3866|3866]] Were there marks of powder on Aaron Sherritt's clothes?— I did not see any.

[[#rc3867|3867]] How long would it have taken you to have got your arms and immediately rushed out?— Our arms were inside the room. It took me a considerable time to get my gun, for we were feeling for it in the dark.

[[#rc3868|3868]] You had no light in the inside room?— No.

[[#rc3869|3869]] Where did you keep them inside the room?— Up against the wall.

[[#rc3870|3870]] How long was the room?— A very small room—not much more than room for five or six to stand in, with the bed.

[[#rc3871|3871]] Were your arms stacked together?— Along together, and the cartridge pouches hanging alongside of them.

[[#rc3872|3872]] When Aaron Sherritt was shot and fell on the floor, did his mother-in-law or wife go to see if he was shot to death—to see whether it was fatal or not?— I cannot say.

[[#rc3873|3873]] Did any of the constables?— Not till afterwards.

[[#rc3874|3874]] How long?— When they brought him inside from the door.

[[#rc3875|3875]] How long?— About eleven or twelve o'clock that night.

[[#rc3876|3876]] In the morning you said that the people in the neighborhood came round?— Yes.

[[#rc3877|3877]] What hour?— The Chinaman was the first.

[[#rc3878|3878]] And when did the people come?— About two o'clock ;—that is, the people from Beechworth, in traps, and there were people before that.

[[#rc3879|3879]] Did any constable there or officer propose you should rush out?— On one occasion one of the men proposed it; I think it was Armstrong.

[[#rc3880|3880]] He was in charge?— Yes.

[[#rc3881|3881]] Is it a fact that one of the constables in the place, when they heard that the Kelly party were going to burn the house down, said, “Let us keep the women in, and while they are here they will not burn the house down”?— That was never said.....

=== Previous page / Next page ===

 

{{MicroficheCopy}} 

'''The [[Royal Commission report day 14 page 1|previous day]] / [[Royal Commission report day 16 page 1|next day]] . . . Royal Commission [[Royal Commission Index|index]]'''

[[Category:Royal Commission]] [[Category:March 1504]] [[Category:Royal Commission]] [[Category:Commisioner Standish]] [[Category:history]]

MediaWiki:Sidebar

{{^|Original page location \documents\RoyalCommission\RC810504_15_16_3846.html}}

Newer edit →

Admin

Bureaucrat, administrator

14,870

edits