The Argus at KellyGang 2/6/1881
At the sitting of the Police Commission yesterday it was resolved to dispense with the further attendance of officers. The resolution was adopted while the commission was sitting with closed doors, but we are informed that it was arrived at on the two following grounds -That the sub officers and constables appeared when giving evidence to be swayed by the presence of the officers and that the officers in the questions they put seemed to be frequently influenced more by a desire to injure one another than to elicit the whole truth in the public interests. From what has since transpired we are led to believe that the commission will be asked to reconsider the matter.
THE POLICE COMMISSION
Wednesday, June 1
Present – Messrs. Longmore (chairman), Fincham, Gibb, Graves, Anderson, Dixon, and Hall.
Before the board proceeded to take evidence,
Mr GRAVES called attention to the absence from the documents in the possession of the commission of the correspondence with the Queensland Government with regard to Mr O'Connor's appointment.
Mr O'Connor, having briefly referred to the manner in which he was appointed, pointed out that not only were these documents missing, but also some documents about the hut party which he considered most important, could not be found.
Mr Nicolson pointed out that at the previous sitting a member of the commission was reported to have asked him whether he (Mr Nicolson) reprimanded Captain Standish. He took exception to the word “reprimand."
The Commission asserted that that was not the exact term used. It was probably "reprove."
Sergeant Steele to Mr O'Connor. – Remember Senior-constable Kelly giving a statement of what had happened at Glenrowan when witness arrived. He mentioned that Mr Hare had been wounded in the first part of the fight. Did not hear of Mr Hare firing several shots after being wounded. Heard Senior-constable Kelly state something to the effect that the heaviest indiscriminate firing was on the part of the Queensland police.
Mr O'Connor. –Would that be a fact? Were not all firing when they liked, without restriction?
Witness. – Yes. There appeared to be no restriction. There were one or two heavy and general volleys fired. After the capture of Kelly, witness went to the railway station, and stopped there till after the burning of the hotel. Saw Mr O'Connor about half an hour after the capture. In his opinion, anyone on the field who knew Mr O'Connor must have seen him.
To Mr Sadleir – The time at which he said that the crime of horse stealing was very rife was before Mr Sadleir took charge of the district. The Mansfield police of which he had charge were not responsible for that state of affairs. There were some very active, energetic and efficient men among those police. The period to which he referred was before Mr Sadleir came to the district. The inefficiency of the constable at Greta, the Fitzpatrick affair, and the horse stealing, were all before Mr Sadleir went to the district. Mr Sadleir's instructions to him to go on to Rats' Castle at the time of the Kellys passing through Wangaratta would have left him free to follow the outlaws in- stead of going to Rats' Castle, if there had not been a party at Wangaratta strong enough to follow them. He was sorry that he could not follow them himself, but there were enough men at Wangaratta to followed them. Remembered sending in a report of his share in the affray at Glenrowan, which was endorsed by Mr Sadleir, who believed that his statement was correct, and that it was from his fire that Kelly fell, and that he was the first to lay hands on him. Witness believed that but for him Kelly would not have been taken alive, and he considered that Mr Sadleir had not done justice to him. Witness was the only one to interrupt Kelly when trying to get into the hotel. Witness called upon the other constables to come up. Senior-constable Kelly was the first to come up. The others cleared away. He saw several constables fire at Kelly. Those at the railway station could have seen what was going on at the hotel.
Mr HALL directed attention to the report of Guard Dowsett, narrating his version of the affray at Glenrowan. He cited this because Sergeant Steele had not mentioned the guard.
Witness said it was not correct to say that Guard Dowsett took off Kelly's helmet, and wrested the revolver from him. It was not true that Senior-constable Kelly was coming up to the outlaw Kelly when witness fired at and took him. Dowsett certainly did not wrest away Kelly's revolver. Witness took it. Dowsett and Marsden were near at hand. Kelly did not retreat after the shot of Constable Arthur and other constables. Remembered Kelly saying to Constable Arthur – “Look out, you are running against a snag," and firing at him afterwards. Constable Arthur was the first to fire at Kelly, but he afterwards retreated unnecessarily.
Mr Hare – Do you think the entire credit of the capture is due to you?
Witness – I shot him, and I took him, Mr Hare.
Mr Hare – Did not others fire?
Witness – Yes. I shot him in the foot, and in the arm. Before I fired he seemed to be walking all right. We had afterwards to carry him to the station.
Mr Hare – Did you not hear that he was shot in the morning early?
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This document gives you the text of the report about the KellyGang for this day. The text has been retyped from 31-aug-10Library of Australia's system. We have taken care to reproduce this document but areas of the original text may been damaged. We also apologise for any typographical errors.
