The Argus at KellyGang 20/4/1881
THE POLICE COMMISSION
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13
The Police Commission met again on Wednesday at the Treasury. There were present Messrs. Longmore (chairman), Fincham, Graves , Dixon , Hall, Gibb, and Anderson .
The examination of Mr Wyatt, PM, was resumed.
Mr Wyatt, after making some trifling corrections in his previous evidence, explained the circumstances under which he held an inquest on the body of Byrne, and observed that so as he was a coroner, and was justified in making the coronial inquiry.He to express the opinion that the arrests made of persons alleged to be sympathisers with the Kellys were in some in- stances injudicious, as persons were arrested in some cases without sufficient proof that they were sympathisers with the Kellys.Two of the persons so arrested – Quinn and Wright – had actually assisted and given information to the police. Witness was not sure whether these persons could be induced to give evidence now.
Witness regarded the sentence passed upon the mother of the Kellys as being very severe. She was sentenced for being present at a serious assault upon the police. Representations with regard to the severity of the sentence were made to him, and it was said that the Kellys would have been caught if their mother had been liberated. Wright was one of those who thought that the mother should be liberated, and that that would conduce to the capture of the Kellys and alienate some of the sympathy from them.
Witness then detailed the circumstances under which the telegraph wires were cut prior to the bank robbery at Euroa. Witness claimed to have been the first to give information with regard to the cutting of the telegraph wires. He said that the outlaws were near, and were watching him while he examined the wires. He did not know of any want of co-operation between the telegraph and railway officials. The telegraph officers were at first unaware of the nature of the interruption. Euroa was a junction station, and was in telegraph communication with Benalla and Violet Town . He could not say how soon the interruption on the line was known. There was an operator at Euroa and one at Benalla, and an interruption should be known almost immediately. He could not remember from the depositions or from memory at what time the interruption took place. Witness had been police magistrate for nine years. He was intimately acquainted with the Police Offences Statute, and he had taken a lively personal interest in the maintenance of peace and order in his district. He had frequent intercourse with the police, and good opportunities of judging of them. The Kelly gang was at large from April, 1878, to July, 1880. Witness thought that all that could possibly be done to capture the outlaws was done.
After his experience he thought, and indeed had repeatedly expressed the opinion, that the Kellys would never be caught by mere pursuit, as all circumstances were in their favour, and there were many chances by which they could escape. From his personal knowledge he was satisfied that there was not the slightest unwillingness on the part of the police. There was, on the contrary, an eagerness to continue the pursuit. He thought the Kellys would never be caught by continuous pursuit, because their friends and associates were so numerous. Witness knew of 77 relatives of the gang, some of whom were in Mansfield , others somewhere in New South Wales and others at Wallan, Kilmore, Kyneton, and elsewhere.
Mr GRAVES – It has been stated that they received the general sympathy of the inhabitants of the district. Is that your impression?
Witness – Many of the inhabitants were terrorised, but there were also many heartily disposed to assist the police. In witness's opinion, Mr Nicolson was proceeding on what promised to be the best system, and a better one than Mr Hare's. Witness knew that the outlaws were peculiarly circumstanced; that they were excellent horsemen, that they had good horses (for the purchase of one of which witness was in treaty before it was stolen), and that even when the police got on their tracks it would be almost impossible to ride them down. Witness related one incident in which he met Hart without knowing or being known by him, though Hart subsequently ascertained who witness was and said that had he known sooner, he (Hart) "would have popped him." Witness did not think the police showed any inefficiency at the time of the Euroa robbery. They acted very promptly, more promptly than witness considered desirable, as he recommended them to wait for their officer (Mr Nicolson).
Mr GRAVES – You have said that Mr Nicolson's system was better than the other. What do you mean?
Witness – That it was better to proceed quietly, and lull the people into a sense of security than to make rushes or raids.
Mr GRAVES – Who adopted any other course than that you recommend?
Witness – As far as he could understand, Mr Hare did. He took a course which witness thought would not answer in the district. It might do in the pursuit of one man, but in this district the circumstances were peculiar, and it was best to quietly surround and take men possessing such exceptional advantages, such special sympathy and assistance, and such large means as these men had. Witness knew the place where and circumstances under which Morgan was captured. He heard that Morgan said that he would sooner give himself up than be pursued as he was by the police. But he was a single man, not a large, well armed, well provided party. Therefore, the hunting down might answer with him, and yet fail in the case of a party. The residents of the district generally, witness believed, were ready to aid the police Witness believed the Kellys always had fresh horses available.
