The Argus at KellyGang 1/6/1881 (3)

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(full text transcription)

Sgt Steele giving evidence

It was his opinion that at the time the Kellys were in some unsuspected person's. Witness considered the secret agency system the only one likely to lead to the capture of the outlaws. But for the agents the outlaws might not have been caught for many years. Witness had received information from a secret agent. It was from a secret agent that he learnt that the outlaws were seen, or believed to be seen, at a time when witness firmly believed that the Kellys had left the country. He did not receive certain information that the men seen were beyond doubt the Kellys.

To Mr HALL - He was afraid there would be a great difficulty in getting agents in the future. The proceedings of the commission were so much talked about that the names of the agents were known and he feared there would be a difficulty in gathering information. He had not heard any threats or positive statements, but he expressed his fear. He could not point to any instance in which the press had published names, but the names had been made known.

To the COMMISSION - Information received of the presence of the outlaws in any portion of the district ought to have been communicated to the police in other localities, so that if the outlaws were disturbed and had to shift their quarters, a special watch could have been kept. The sub-officers generally complained, in Mr Hare's time, that the Bourke constables were employed by him as a rule to the exclusion of the local members of the force. Jealousy was caused thereby. It looked as if it was intended that the Bourke men only should catch the outlaws. On the morning of the Glenrowan affair he was at Wangaratta, when he heard the volley-firing which was going on 10 miles off. Constable Bracken rode to Wangaratta and told him that the special train had stopped at Glenrowan, and that the gang was there.

Witness got all the available men and rode to Glenrowan, arriving there about 5 am . He took up a position behind a tree near one of the back corners of the hotel on the Wangaratta side. Stationed two of the Wangaratta men at the back. Heard a noise in the hotel as of plates of iron being moved about. Recollected what he had been told about the armour, and concluded the outlaws had cuirasses. A woman - Mrs. Reardon - came out and said, "For God's sake let me and my children out." She passed out, and just then the outlaws came on to the front verandah at the Wangaratta end of the hotel and fired. Did not fire at her. A man came out of the hotel and witness challenged him hut he would not reply or stop, and persisted in coming on on his hands and knees. Witness then fired at him and simultaneously there was a heavy volley all round from the police. The man turned out to be young Reardon. Witness fired two shots at him with his gun, which was a shot gun. Only fired four shots altogether, two at Reardon and two at Ned Kelly.

Witness was temporarily disabled during the capture of Ned Kelly, and took no further part in the attack. Had received no orders before Mr Sadleir arrived. Witness was the nearest constable to the hotel. Heard what he thought was Mr O'Connor's voice, calling on any innocent people to come out of the hotel, and witness repeated the summons. Witness considered he was the senior officer on the ground until Mr Sadleir's arrival.

About daylight Ned Kelly came down into the circle of the police from the direction of the ranges. Saw him firing a pistol twice at Constable Arthur, who was running towards the railway station. Constable Phillips fired at Kelly, as did also Constable Healy. There were several remarks made as to Kelly's appearance by the police about. He had a long coat on, and looked like a tall black man. Witness went towards him, and Kelly fired at him. Kelly fired five shots, and hit no one. Witness saw it was no use firing at Kelly, and called out to the police to rush him. Witness fired low at him, just as he was taking aim at some people standing at the railway station, and hit him on the leg, and witness's second shot hit him on the hand. Kelly then dropped down, saying "That s enough; I'm done." His helmet fell off.

Witness rushed up and seized Kelly's revolver, which he fired off while witness was holding it. Kelly, after being secured, was taken to the railway station. Witness sustained an injury while capturing Kelly, and so he mounted guard over the prisoner during the rest of the day. Kelly was perfectly sober when arrested. Thought the mounted police should be armed with a rifle. Preferred, as a general rule, a Martini-Henry rifle to a shot gun. There were four or five dangerous people now in the Greta district. Had been to Mrs. Kelly's place once, and then treated her with the greatest courtesy. Had never behaved otherwise to any of the females of that family. There had been complaints amongst some of the men about Mr Brook Smith's having failed to follow up the outlaws tracks when a horse left by them was picked up. If witness had heard information about the outlaws, he would have reported the matter to his superior officers and at once taken action on the information to capture the outlaws. There were no charges against Byrne and Hart at the time of the outbreak of the gang.

Generally speaking, harm was done through the newspapers publishing information received from the police. Had sometimes gained information from the papers. Would not have the slightest objection to taking charge of Greta or any other station. Mr Nicolson never promised witness promotion in the event of the return of the Berry Ministry, and had never written to him to that effect. Had seen promotions which could only have been made through political influence.As a sub officer, it would injure himself to give particulars. His position had not improved since the capture of the outlaws. A remark he had made about local magistrates had tended, he feared, to his own injury in the service, the matter having been the subject of correspondence in the department. He had not had a fair opportunity to defend himself.

The commission adjourned until 11 am next day.

end

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31-aug-10