Changes
Import from source
Story of the KellyGang - the Royal Commission evidence
[[Royal Commission report day 23 page 7|previous page]] / [[Royal Commission report day 23 page 9|next page]]
== The Royal Commission evidence for 31/5/1881 ==
''''''
=== full text ===
(see also introduction to [[Royal Commission report 31/5/1881|day 23]])
'''Sgt [[Steele|Steele]] further examined'''
<span id="rc8935">[[#rc8935|8935]]</span> You were stationed at Wangaratta all the time?— Yes.
<span id="rc8936">[[#rc8936|8936]]</span> And had taken an active part in the search for the Kellys?— Yes.
<span id="rc8937">[[#rc8937|8937]]</span> And you are not in a position to say the Kellys were in the country for two or three months prior to the shooting of Sherritt?— I could not swear it.
<span id="rc8938">[[#rc8938|8938]]</span> Have you seen the agent recently?— No, not since just before Mr. [[Nicolson|Nicolson]] left the district.
<span id="rc8939">[[#rc8939|8939]]</span> Have you heard from any of them that they declined giving further information to the police?— No, I did not. I heard a great deal of talk about it.
<span id="rc8940">[[#rc8940|8940]]</span> Do you think now there would be a great difficulty in getting secret agents in case of an outbreak?— I am afraid it would be a great difficulty.
<span id="rc8941">[[#rc8941|8941]]</span> Why?— From the names getting publicity, and the thing being so much talked about. It is generally known now who were the agents.
<span id="rc8942">[[#rc8942|8942]]</span> You do not know for certain that they would not act?— I merely speak from conversation throughout the district.
<span id="rc8943">[[#rc8943|8943]]</span> From the men themselves?— No, I have not spoken to an agent except one since, and he seems very much afraid; and he said, if he had known as much he would have been very afraid to act for the police.
<span id="rc8944">[[#rc8944|8944]]</span> You are not aware of any threats?— No, I am not aware of any threats.
<span id="rc8945">[[#rc8945|8945]]</span> And from private individuals have any statements been made to you, that if they were in a position they would not give information?— The only [[agents|agent]] I spoke to said he would not.
<span id="rc8946">[[#rc8946|8946]]</span> You have read the evidence before the Commission, in the press?— Yes.
<span id="rc8947">[[#rc8947|8947]]</span> Can you point out in that any cases where the names of agents have been given where they ought to have been suppressed, during the whole of this enquiry, that would he likely to militate against further information being given?— There may not have been names mentioned, but those people who have been knocking about in the country
<span id="rc8948">[[#rc8948|8948]]</span> Is there any portion of the evidence, and by whom given, that would militate against other people giving information in the future?— I do not think they would undertake the duty.
<span id="rc8949">[[#rc8949|8949]]</span> There is a broadcast statement reflecting on some one, and you have read the evidence through, and you believe the people would not give the information; will you point out any evidence or names in it where they have made revelations that they ought not to have done?— No, I do not think I could. I have not given that particular attention to it.
<span id="rc8950">[[#rc8950|8950]]</span> You state that a great deal of information was kept at Benalla and you were not supplied with it?— Yes.
<span id="rc8951">[[#rc8951|8951]]</span> Do you think from what you have since heard–from the information obtained from secret agents–that you, as an active officer stationed at Benalla, ought to have been informed of that?— I do, certainly. I will give an instance: when the police went to the races at [[Whorouly (2)|Whorouly]], I think I had a perfect right to have been told there about it; and in many other cases I think so too, whether the information was correct or not.
<span id="rc8952">[[#rc8952|8952]]</span> Why should you have been informed about the police at the races?— My station was nearer to Whorouly than it was to Benalla, and the men were run up by special train right past that place..
<span id="rc8953">[[#rc8953|8953]]</span> Are there any other cases that information was in the possession of any of the officers that you consider would have been an advantage to the public if you, as an officer at Wangaratta, had been informed of it?— For some months I received no information at all. I did not know what was going on, further than being sent out on the ranges with the men and came back, and I would generally report the result that I could see nothing–find no tracks.
<span id="rc8954">[[#rc8954|8954]]</span> I gathered from your statement that there was information in the possession of officers at Benalla that you considered that you ought to have been made acquainted with. Can you point out any other instances, from information that you have since obtained, that information ought to have been given to you at the time?— Yes, from the information supplied to this Commission that the officers were in possession of; I heard nothing of it.
<span id="rc8955">[[#rc8955|8955]]</span> Will you state any other cases specifically?— For instance, the whole of the information that Mr. Hare received about the [[Warby Ranges|Warby ranges]]. He was under the impression that he had some good tracks there, or something to lead them on. I knew nothing of that till some time after.
<span id="rc8956">[[#rc8956|8956]]</span> That was while he was out with a search party?— Yes.....
=== Previous page / Next page ===
<br />
{{MicroficheCopy}}<br />
'''The [[Royal Commission report day 22 page 1|previous day]] / [[Royal Commission report day 24 page 1|next day]] . . . Royal Commission [[Royal Commission Index|index]]''' [[RC_index.html|RC_index.html]]
[[Category:Royal Commission]] [[Category:November 1531]] [[Category:Royal Commission]] [[Category:Commisioner Standish]] [[Category:history]]
MediaWiki:Sidebar
{{^|Original page location \documents\RoyalCommission\RC810531_23_08_8935.html}}
[[Royal Commission report day 23 page 7|previous page]] / [[Royal Commission report day 23 page 9|next page]]
== The Royal Commission evidence for 31/5/1881 ==
''''''
=== full text ===
(see also introduction to [[Royal Commission report 31/5/1881|day 23]])
'''Sgt [[Steele|Steele]] further examined'''
<span id="rc8935">[[#rc8935|8935]]</span> You were stationed at Wangaratta all the time?— Yes.
<span id="rc8936">[[#rc8936|8936]]</span> And had taken an active part in the search for the Kellys?— Yes.
<span id="rc8937">[[#rc8937|8937]]</span> And you are not in a position to say the Kellys were in the country for two or three months prior to the shooting of Sherritt?— I could not swear it.
<span id="rc8938">[[#rc8938|8938]]</span> Have you seen the agent recently?— No, not since just before Mr. [[Nicolson|Nicolson]] left the district.
<span id="rc8939">[[#rc8939|8939]]</span> Have you heard from any of them that they declined giving further information to the police?— No, I did not. I heard a great deal of talk about it.
<span id="rc8940">[[#rc8940|8940]]</span> Do you think now there would be a great difficulty in getting secret agents in case of an outbreak?— I am afraid it would be a great difficulty.
<span id="rc8941">[[#rc8941|8941]]</span> Why?— From the names getting publicity, and the thing being so much talked about. It is generally known now who were the agents.
<span id="rc8942">[[#rc8942|8942]]</span> You do not know for certain that they would not act?— I merely speak from conversation throughout the district.
<span id="rc8943">[[#rc8943|8943]]</span> From the men themselves?— No, I have not spoken to an agent except one since, and he seems very much afraid; and he said, if he had known as much he would have been very afraid to act for the police.
<span id="rc8944">[[#rc8944|8944]]</span> You are not aware of any threats?— No, I am not aware of any threats.
<span id="rc8945">[[#rc8945|8945]]</span> And from private individuals have any statements been made to you, that if they were in a position they would not give information?— The only [[agents|agent]] I spoke to said he would not.
<span id="rc8946">[[#rc8946|8946]]</span> You have read the evidence before the Commission, in the press?— Yes.
<span id="rc8947">[[#rc8947|8947]]</span> Can you point out in that any cases where the names of agents have been given where they ought to have been suppressed, during the whole of this enquiry, that would he likely to militate against further information being given?— There may not have been names mentioned, but those people who have been knocking about in the country
<span id="rc8948">[[#rc8948|8948]]</span> Is there any portion of the evidence, and by whom given, that would militate against other people giving information in the future?— I do not think they would undertake the duty.
<span id="rc8949">[[#rc8949|8949]]</span> There is a broadcast statement reflecting on some one, and you have read the evidence through, and you believe the people would not give the information; will you point out any evidence or names in it where they have made revelations that they ought not to have done?— No, I do not think I could. I have not given that particular attention to it.
<span id="rc8950">[[#rc8950|8950]]</span> You state that a great deal of information was kept at Benalla and you were not supplied with it?— Yes.
<span id="rc8951">[[#rc8951|8951]]</span> Do you think from what you have since heard–from the information obtained from secret agents–that you, as an active officer stationed at Benalla, ought to have been informed of that?— I do, certainly. I will give an instance: when the police went to the races at [[Whorouly (2)|Whorouly]], I think I had a perfect right to have been told there about it; and in many other cases I think so too, whether the information was correct or not.
<span id="rc8952">[[#rc8952|8952]]</span> Why should you have been informed about the police at the races?— My station was nearer to Whorouly than it was to Benalla, and the men were run up by special train right past that place..
<span id="rc8953">[[#rc8953|8953]]</span> Are there any other cases that information was in the possession of any of the officers that you consider would have been an advantage to the public if you, as an officer at Wangaratta, had been informed of it?— For some months I received no information at all. I did not know what was going on, further than being sent out on the ranges with the men and came back, and I would generally report the result that I could see nothing–find no tracks.
<span id="rc8954">[[#rc8954|8954]]</span> I gathered from your statement that there was information in the possession of officers at Benalla that you considered that you ought to have been made acquainted with. Can you point out any other instances, from information that you have since obtained, that information ought to have been given to you at the time?— Yes, from the information supplied to this Commission that the officers were in possession of; I heard nothing of it.
<span id="rc8955">[[#rc8955|8955]]</span> Will you state any other cases specifically?— For instance, the whole of the information that Mr. Hare received about the [[Warby Ranges|Warby ranges]]. He was under the impression that he had some good tracks there, or something to lead them on. I knew nothing of that till some time after.
<span id="rc8956">[[#rc8956|8956]]</span> That was while he was out with a search party?— Yes.....
=== Previous page / Next page ===
<br />
{{MicroficheCopy}}<br />
'''The [[Royal Commission report day 22 page 1|previous day]] / [[Royal Commission report day 24 page 1|next day]] . . . Royal Commission [[Royal Commission Index|index]]''' [[RC_index.html|RC_index.html]]
[[Category:Royal Commission]] [[Category:November 1531]] [[Category:Royal Commission]] [[Category:Commisioner Standish]] [[Category:history]]
MediaWiki:Sidebar
{{^|Original page location \documents\RoyalCommission\RC810531_23_08_8935.html}}
