The Argus at KellyGang 10/11/1880 (3)
Patrick Quinn's affidavit
Mr Nicolson asked me if I would assist the police. I said ‘Yes; but I don’t suppose, after what has happened, they will let me know of their movements.’ Subsequently I was asked by Mr Nicolson and Mr Sadleir to meet the police to show them where the outlaws were. I agreed, but though an appointment was made to meet me at my place, it was not kept by the police.
Afterwards Strachan asked me to call on the chief commissioner at Benalla. I went there, but only saw Mr Hare and Mr Sadleir. Mr Sadleir said, ‘Are you not surprised you have not been arrested as a sympathiser?’ I said ‘No.’ Mr Hare asked me if I would show the police a place at the head of the King River. I said ‘Yes,’ and afterwards accompanied the police to the place desired, but could not see the spot in question for a bush fire. Some time after this, Strachan said to me, ‘We’ll never catch the Kelly’s until we arrest you.’ I said, ‘All you want is to get the reward raised and promotion, and to put the country to trouble and expense, all of which might have been saved but for your blundering, and threatening to shoot the Kelly’s.’”
He (Mr Gaunson) further stated that the execution had been fixed at an earlier date than usual.
Mr T P Caulfield also made some observations, in the course of which he said public feeling was so strong on the subject that it was his firm impression if the man was hung on Thursday, the matter would not end there. A member of the deputation, who on being pressed for his name, replied that it was “Williamson,” said that in this case there was a link behind the chain that needed investigation. Another member of the deputation rose to speak, but declined several times to give his name. He then said it was Patrick Quinn, and he knew all about the case from beginning to end. The case had arisen from the offer of a reward. The opinion of the people in the neighbourhood he came from was that a Royal commission out to be appointed, and if one were appointed something would come out of it. He certainly was willing to speak his mind openly and fearlessly on the matter.
Mr Berry, in reply, said every consideration had been given to the case, and no steps whatever had been taken by the Government to place any obstacles in the way of those who were acting to get a reprieve or a re-consideration of the case. Those persons could see the Government at any time.
Mr W Gaunson. The Governor refused to see a deputation.
Mr Berry. The Governor received one deputation, and, of course, there was a limit to deputations, unless they had new facts to submit. That night no new facts had been submitted, unless the document which had been read might be considered new. If the facts, however, stated in it were within the knowledge of the person now stating them, the trial was the proper time when he should have appeared, and made his statement. He could not go into the question of whether the statement was correct know, and if it were to have had any effect on the matter they were discussing it should have been made long since. With regard to the request that the case should be again considered by the Executive, he would see that that was done next day.
Mr Caulfield. And an extension of time?
Mr Berry. It was for the Executive to consider that. He did not, however, wish by a single word to raise a hope in the mind of anyone that there would be any alteration in the case. There had been no hurry whatever in the case. A long time elapsed between the apprehension and the trial. As to the remark about the execution being fixed at an earlier date than ordinary, that was not correct. The usual plan was to appoint the Monday following the day on which the Executive decided that a man must be executed as the day on which the sentence should be carried out. In this case the decision was arrived at on Thursday, and a full week was given before the sentence was to be enforced. He and his colleagues in the Ministry had gone through the petitions which had been presented in the case, and without giving any expression of opinion about the petitions he must say that whole pages of them were written by the same hand, and the names of whole families down to the young children were attached to the petition. As he said, there were no new facts in the case.
Mr W Gaunson. There is Quinn’s document.
Mr Berry. That is not sworn to. It was all very well for the man to come forward now with the document when it could not be at once answered. If the statements made in it had been made at the proper time the officer who was referred to would have had the opportunity to reply to them. The Executive would again consider the case, but, as he said, he could not hold out the slightest hope of any alteration. Some people might talk about the condemned man and what he had suffered, but the many cruel murders he had committed, the widows he had made, and the lives he had destroyed, could not be ignored.
The deputation then withdrew, and Mr W Gaunson, from the Treasury steps, informed the crowd outside of the result of it.
end
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