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Story of the KellyGang - the Royal Commission evidence
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== 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]] giving evidence'''
<span id="rc9103">[[#rc9103|9103]]</span> Is it an understood thing that it would be an irregular thing for one man to go and arrest such characters as the Kellys?— I do not recollect. I know if I were sending men out I would send a couple.
<span id="rc9104">[[#rc9104|9104]]</span> Would that be from the orders you received, or from your opinion of what was safe?— I do not recollect receiving such an order, but I would not send a man out in that locality by himself to arrest a man.
<span id="rc9105">[[#rc9105|9105]]</span> That would be a wise discretion on the part of any man?— Yes; perhaps more, if they were available, and they had to arrest more than one.
<span id="rc9106">[[#rc9106|9106]]</span> Have you been promised promotion by any of your officers?— No, quite the reverse.
<span id="rc9107">[[#rc9107|9107]]</span> What do you mean by that?— In making that statement I had forgotten that Mr. [[Nicolson|Nicolson]] did hold out an inducement to me–that I seemed to be neglected in the service, or something of that sort; and he said that if I took a prominent part in the capture of the Kellys that it would tend to my promotion. That was long before they were arrested.
<span id="rc9108">[[#rc9108|9108]]</span> Was that from seeing the active character of your pursuit?— I think so.
<span id="rc9109">[[#rc9109|9109]]</span> It has been stated in some report in the paper, or otherwise, that the Kellys had suffered some insults, or otherwise, or ill-treatment, from either [[Strahan|Strahan]], you, or [[SConst Flood|Flood]]–is it true, as far as you are concerned?— I think I only went once to the place, and then I treated [[Mrs Ellen Kelly|Mrs. Kelly]] with every courtesy.
<span id="rc9110">[[#rc9110|9110]]</span> Have you ever insulted any member of the family?— Never in my life. I tried to pacify all, and treated all as well as I could, under the circumstances of my being obliged to arrest them.
<span id="rc9111">[[#rc9111|9111]]</span> Do you know constables Flood and Strahan?— Yes.
<span id="rc9112">[[#rc9112|9112]]</span> Have you any reason to believe there is the slightest truth that the [[Kelly family|Kelly family]] have-suffered insult from those men–the female branches of it?— I could not say, not of my own knowledge. Strahan is rather a gruff and he says some queer things to people, that might annoy them, but I think it is more a jesting manner. He has made some remarks, I believe, but not with any bad motive.
<span id="rc9113">[[#rc9113|9113]]</span> Was Flood at the station?— Yes. Strahan was there only a short time before the Kellys broke out.
<span id="rc9114">[[#rc9114|9114]]</span> Would a man then be of the least use for keeping those outrages in check if he were unacquainted with the country and the people?— It would he much better to have a man that was acquainted, but of course a smart man that took an interest in his duty would soon become acquainted; it is only a limited locality there, and could be known in a short time.
<span id="rc9115">[[#rc9115|9115]]</span> Are you aware on the removal of Flood and other efficient men the shire councils and inhabitants petitioned Captain Standish not to remove his efficient men, or that results disastrous to the country would ensue?— I am not aware.
<span id="rc9116">[[#rc9116|9116]]</span> Were you there when Flood was removed?— Yes, I was at Yackandandah. He was stationed with me at [[Yackandandah|Yackandandah]] when he went to [[Greta|Greta]].
<span id="rc9117">[[#rc9117|9117]]</span> Was there any complaint made amongst the police or the civilians about the three days Mr. Smith was out after the Kellys?— Yes, there was some.
<span id="rc9118">[[#rc9118|9118]]</span> That he had neglected that duty?— They blamed him for not following up the tracks.
<span id="rc9119">[[#rc9119|9119]]</span> Would that not be a neglect of duty?— Yes, certainly it would.
<span id="rc9120">[[#rc9120|9120]]</span> Do you know whether Mr. Nicolson was then at [[Wangaratta|Wangaratta]]?— He came into Wangaratta afterwards, I believe. He came in, I think, the same evening that one of the horses were found.
<span id="rc9121">[[#rc9121|9121]]</span> If an outrage is committed in your district, as a sergeant, what action are you bound to take upon hearing of it?— I report it to the superintendent of my district; or I would start myself and make enquiries into it, and do the best I could to try and find the offenders.
<span id="rc9122">[[#rc9122|9122]]</span> Without waiting for any instructions how you were to proceed?— I would not wait for any instructions how to proceed.
<span id="rc9123">[[#rc9123|9123]]</span> Is it your duty to repress outrage and arrest offenders as soon as you hear of it?— Yes, I would in my district. I report the matter if I could to my superintendent and circulate information generally to the surrounding police stations.....
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[[Royal Commission report day 23 page 16|previous page]] / [[Royal Commission report day 23 page 18|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]] giving evidence'''
<span id="rc9103">[[#rc9103|9103]]</span> Is it an understood thing that it would be an irregular thing for one man to go and arrest such characters as the Kellys?— I do not recollect. I know if I were sending men out I would send a couple.
<span id="rc9104">[[#rc9104|9104]]</span> Would that be from the orders you received, or from your opinion of what was safe?— I do not recollect receiving such an order, but I would not send a man out in that locality by himself to arrest a man.
<span id="rc9105">[[#rc9105|9105]]</span> That would be a wise discretion on the part of any man?— Yes; perhaps more, if they were available, and they had to arrest more than one.
<span id="rc9106">[[#rc9106|9106]]</span> Have you been promised promotion by any of your officers?— No, quite the reverse.
<span id="rc9107">[[#rc9107|9107]]</span> What do you mean by that?— In making that statement I had forgotten that Mr. [[Nicolson|Nicolson]] did hold out an inducement to me–that I seemed to be neglected in the service, or something of that sort; and he said that if I took a prominent part in the capture of the Kellys that it would tend to my promotion. That was long before they were arrested.
<span id="rc9108">[[#rc9108|9108]]</span> Was that from seeing the active character of your pursuit?— I think so.
<span id="rc9109">[[#rc9109|9109]]</span> It has been stated in some report in the paper, or otherwise, that the Kellys had suffered some insults, or otherwise, or ill-treatment, from either [[Strahan|Strahan]], you, or [[SConst Flood|Flood]]–is it true, as far as you are concerned?— I think I only went once to the place, and then I treated [[Mrs Ellen Kelly|Mrs. Kelly]] with every courtesy.
<span id="rc9110">[[#rc9110|9110]]</span> Have you ever insulted any member of the family?— Never in my life. I tried to pacify all, and treated all as well as I could, under the circumstances of my being obliged to arrest them.
<span id="rc9111">[[#rc9111|9111]]</span> Do you know constables Flood and Strahan?— Yes.
<span id="rc9112">[[#rc9112|9112]]</span> Have you any reason to believe there is the slightest truth that the [[Kelly family|Kelly family]] have-suffered insult from those men–the female branches of it?— I could not say, not of my own knowledge. Strahan is rather a gruff and he says some queer things to people, that might annoy them, but I think it is more a jesting manner. He has made some remarks, I believe, but not with any bad motive.
<span id="rc9113">[[#rc9113|9113]]</span> Was Flood at the station?— Yes. Strahan was there only a short time before the Kellys broke out.
<span id="rc9114">[[#rc9114|9114]]</span> Would a man then be of the least use for keeping those outrages in check if he were unacquainted with the country and the people?— It would he much better to have a man that was acquainted, but of course a smart man that took an interest in his duty would soon become acquainted; it is only a limited locality there, and could be known in a short time.
<span id="rc9115">[[#rc9115|9115]]</span> Are you aware on the removal of Flood and other efficient men the shire councils and inhabitants petitioned Captain Standish not to remove his efficient men, or that results disastrous to the country would ensue?— I am not aware.
<span id="rc9116">[[#rc9116|9116]]</span> Were you there when Flood was removed?— Yes, I was at Yackandandah. He was stationed with me at [[Yackandandah|Yackandandah]] when he went to [[Greta|Greta]].
<span id="rc9117">[[#rc9117|9117]]</span> Was there any complaint made amongst the police or the civilians about the three days Mr. Smith was out after the Kellys?— Yes, there was some.
<span id="rc9118">[[#rc9118|9118]]</span> That he had neglected that duty?— They blamed him for not following up the tracks.
<span id="rc9119">[[#rc9119|9119]]</span> Would that not be a neglect of duty?— Yes, certainly it would.
<span id="rc9120">[[#rc9120|9120]]</span> Do you know whether Mr. Nicolson was then at [[Wangaratta|Wangaratta]]?— He came into Wangaratta afterwards, I believe. He came in, I think, the same evening that one of the horses were found.
<span id="rc9121">[[#rc9121|9121]]</span> If an outrage is committed in your district, as a sergeant, what action are you bound to take upon hearing of it?— I report it to the superintendent of my district; or I would start myself and make enquiries into it, and do the best I could to try and find the offenders.
<span id="rc9122">[[#rc9122|9122]]</span> Without waiting for any instructions how you were to proceed?— I would not wait for any instructions how to proceed.
<span id="rc9123">[[#rc9123|9123]]</span> Is it your duty to repress outrage and arrest offenders as soon as you hear of it?— Yes, I would in my district. I report the matter if I could to my superintendent and circulate information generally to the surrounding police stations.....
=== 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]]'''
[[Category:Royal Commission]] [[Category:November 1531]] [[Category:Royal Commission]] [[Category:Commisioner Standish]] [[Category:history]]
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