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Story of the KellyGang - the Royal Commission evidence
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== The Royal Commission evidence for 13/5/1881 ==
''''''
=== full text ===
(see also introduction to [[Royal Commission report 13/5/1881|day 19]])
'''[[Kirkham|Const Thomas Kirkham]] '''giving evidence''''''
<span id="rc6925">[[#rc6925|6925]]</span> Was there any firing after they came out?— I think there was, but I cannot swear.
<span id="rc6926">[[#rc6926|6926]]</span> At what time were you placed in any position to take charge of the [[Police Trackers|black trackers]], I mean the O'Connor trackers?— I got charge of them at Heathcote, at the time of the Lancefield robbery.
<span id="rc6927">[[#rc6927|6927]]</span> That would be in the month of August 1879?— Yes.
<span id="rc6928">[[#rc6928|6928]]</span> And you remained in that position till the time that Mr. O'Connor left?— Yes.
<span id="rc6929">[[#rc6929|6929]]</span> You have also been in charge of the black trackers brought from Queensland since?— Yes.
<span id="rc6930">[[#rc6930|6930]]</span> Do you think, from the experience you have gained in connection with the trackers, that you are now competent to take charge of them for a similar purpose to that for which they were first brought here?— I think so.
<span id="rc6931">[[#rc6931|6931]]</span> Would the black trackers of themselves be of any practica1 use in tracking a gang like the Kelly outlaws, if they came upon them for the purpose of attack, would they fight?— Not without white police, that is my opinion.
<span id="rc6932">[[#rc6932|6932]]</span> Then would you, from the knowledge you have gained, take say six of those black trackers for the purpose of tracking a gang similar to the late Kelly gang?— No.
<span id="rc6933">[[#rc6933|6933]]</span> What mode would you adopt under similar circumstances as those during the Kelly business?— I consider two of them quite sufficient for a party.
<span id="rc6934">[[#rc6934|6934]]</span> If you thought you were on the tracks of four desperate men, like the Kelly outlaws, what other force would you take besides the two trackers?— Six or eight whites.
<span id="rc6935">[[#rc6935|6935]]</span> Men that have had experience in bush life—just describe the six or eight men you would like to take, suppose you were after them in real earnest?— Men used to the bush.
<span id="rc6936">[[#rc6936|6936]]</span> And any other requisites?— Men of known courage.
<span id="rc6937">[[#rc6937|6937]]</span> Good horsemen, men of known courage, and good shots?— Yes.
<span id="rc6938">[[#rc6938|6938]]</span> Then you do not believe in the system of taking six blacks, and only one or two Europeans for the purpose of tracking a gang like the Kellys?— I cannot say I do; I say I consider two sufficient for a party.
<span id="rc6939">[[#rc6939|6939]]</span> Do you think, from the information and from the knowledge you have gained of the trackers now, that you could, under circumstances similar to the Kelly business, conduct a band of men with two black trackers for that purpose—you have some opinion of your own pluck and ability?— A little.
<span id="rc6940">[[#rc6940|6940]]</span> Do you think you could pick out another half dozen men and two black trackers, and be efficient for that work?— Yes.
<span id="rc6941">[[#rc6941|6941]]</span> Equally with any other officer who has been in charge of those black trackers?— Yes.
<span id="rc6942">[[#rc6942|6942]]</span> You do?— Yes.
<span id="rc6943">[[#rc6943|6943]]</span> You have had some experience of the ability of those men for tracking purposes under ordinary circumstances?— Yes.
<span id="rc6944">[[#rc6944|6944]]</span> What is the conclusion you have arrived at either as to Mr. O'Connor's or the present lot?— Well, I saw a good deal of both parties, and from what I saw of Mr. O'Connor's “boys” and the present lot, I must say I think the present lot superior to Mr. O'Connor's “boys,” as far as tracking goes.
<span id="rc6945">[[#rc6945|6945]]</span> Are some individuals superior to others in tracking?— Yes.
<span id="rc6946">[[#rc6946|6946]]</span> I suppose you cannot account for that?— No.
<span id="rc6947">[[#rc6947|6947]]</span> Are those men abstemious men?— They are.
<span id="rc6948">[[#rc6948|6948]]</span> Total abstainers?— Almost, they will drink nothing.
<span id="rc6949">[[#rc6949|6949]]</span> In that respect how do they compare with Mr. O'Connor's men?— Mr. O'Connor's “boys” touched nothing, unless he gave it himself.
<span id="rc6950">[[#rc6950|6950]]</span> In that respect they are both about equal?— Yes.
<span id="rc6951">[[#rc6951|6951]]</span> Did you, during the day you were at Glenrowan, hear any one volunteer to rush the hotel?— Yes.
<span id="rc6952">[[#rc6952|6952]]</span> Who?— Constables [[Const T Dwyer|Dwyer]], [[Const Montiford|Montford]], and [[Const Armstrong|Armstrong]].....
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[[Royal Commission report day 19 page 37|previous page]] / [[Royal Commission report day 19 page 39|next page]]
== The Royal Commission evidence for 13/5/1881 ==
''''''
=== full text ===
(see also introduction to [[Royal Commission report 13/5/1881|day 19]])
'''[[Kirkham|Const Thomas Kirkham]] '''giving evidence''''''
<span id="rc6925">[[#rc6925|6925]]</span> Was there any firing after they came out?— I think there was, but I cannot swear.
<span id="rc6926">[[#rc6926|6926]]</span> At what time were you placed in any position to take charge of the [[Police Trackers|black trackers]], I mean the O'Connor trackers?— I got charge of them at Heathcote, at the time of the Lancefield robbery.
<span id="rc6927">[[#rc6927|6927]]</span> That would be in the month of August 1879?— Yes.
<span id="rc6928">[[#rc6928|6928]]</span> And you remained in that position till the time that Mr. O'Connor left?— Yes.
<span id="rc6929">[[#rc6929|6929]]</span> You have also been in charge of the black trackers brought from Queensland since?— Yes.
<span id="rc6930">[[#rc6930|6930]]</span> Do you think, from the experience you have gained in connection with the trackers, that you are now competent to take charge of them for a similar purpose to that for which they were first brought here?— I think so.
<span id="rc6931">[[#rc6931|6931]]</span> Would the black trackers of themselves be of any practica1 use in tracking a gang like the Kelly outlaws, if they came upon them for the purpose of attack, would they fight?— Not without white police, that is my opinion.
<span id="rc6932">[[#rc6932|6932]]</span> Then would you, from the knowledge you have gained, take say six of those black trackers for the purpose of tracking a gang similar to the late Kelly gang?— No.
<span id="rc6933">[[#rc6933|6933]]</span> What mode would you adopt under similar circumstances as those during the Kelly business?— I consider two of them quite sufficient for a party.
<span id="rc6934">[[#rc6934|6934]]</span> If you thought you were on the tracks of four desperate men, like the Kelly outlaws, what other force would you take besides the two trackers?— Six or eight whites.
<span id="rc6935">[[#rc6935|6935]]</span> Men that have had experience in bush life—just describe the six or eight men you would like to take, suppose you were after them in real earnest?— Men used to the bush.
<span id="rc6936">[[#rc6936|6936]]</span> And any other requisites?— Men of known courage.
<span id="rc6937">[[#rc6937|6937]]</span> Good horsemen, men of known courage, and good shots?— Yes.
<span id="rc6938">[[#rc6938|6938]]</span> Then you do not believe in the system of taking six blacks, and only one or two Europeans for the purpose of tracking a gang like the Kellys?— I cannot say I do; I say I consider two sufficient for a party.
<span id="rc6939">[[#rc6939|6939]]</span> Do you think, from the information and from the knowledge you have gained of the trackers now, that you could, under circumstances similar to the Kelly business, conduct a band of men with two black trackers for that purpose—you have some opinion of your own pluck and ability?— A little.
<span id="rc6940">[[#rc6940|6940]]</span> Do you think you could pick out another half dozen men and two black trackers, and be efficient for that work?— Yes.
<span id="rc6941">[[#rc6941|6941]]</span> Equally with any other officer who has been in charge of those black trackers?— Yes.
<span id="rc6942">[[#rc6942|6942]]</span> You do?— Yes.
<span id="rc6943">[[#rc6943|6943]]</span> You have had some experience of the ability of those men for tracking purposes under ordinary circumstances?— Yes.
<span id="rc6944">[[#rc6944|6944]]</span> What is the conclusion you have arrived at either as to Mr. O'Connor's or the present lot?— Well, I saw a good deal of both parties, and from what I saw of Mr. O'Connor's “boys” and the present lot, I must say I think the present lot superior to Mr. O'Connor's “boys,” as far as tracking goes.
<span id="rc6945">[[#rc6945|6945]]</span> Are some individuals superior to others in tracking?— Yes.
<span id="rc6946">[[#rc6946|6946]]</span> I suppose you cannot account for that?— No.
<span id="rc6947">[[#rc6947|6947]]</span> Are those men abstemious men?— They are.
<span id="rc6948">[[#rc6948|6948]]</span> Total abstainers?— Almost, they will drink nothing.
<span id="rc6949">[[#rc6949|6949]]</span> In that respect how do they compare with Mr. O'Connor's men?— Mr. O'Connor's “boys” touched nothing, unless he gave it himself.
<span id="rc6950">[[#rc6950|6950]]</span> In that respect they are both about equal?— Yes.
<span id="rc6951">[[#rc6951|6951]]</span> Did you, during the day you were at Glenrowan, hear any one volunteer to rush the hotel?— Yes.
<span id="rc6952">[[#rc6952|6952]]</span> Who?— Constables [[Const T Dwyer|Dwyer]], [[Const Montiford|Montford]], and [[Const Armstrong|Armstrong]].....
=== Previous page / Next page ===
<br />
{{MicroficheCopy}}<br />
'''The [[Royal Commission report day 18 page 1|previous day]] / [[Royal Commission report day 20 page 1|next day]] . . . Royal Commission [[Royal Commission Index|index]]'''
[[Category:Royal Commission]] [[Category:July 1513]] [[Category:Royal Commission]] [[Category:Commisioner Standish]] [[Category:history]]
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