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{{Authority Side}}
== ==
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== Importance of SConst Johnston (764) ==
Stationed at Benalla '''Links to the KellyGang''' '''below''', Early Years , Fitzpatrick Incident , [[#26/10/1878|Murders at Stringy Bark Creek]] , [[#7/11/1878|Warby Ranges]] , [[#10/12/1878|Euroa Robbery]] , Jerrilderie Robbery , [[#10/2/1879|Autum 1879]] , Hare replaced by Nicolson , Spring 1879 Early 1880 , Death of Aaron Sherritt , [[#28/6/1880|Glenrowan Siege]] , Ned Kelly's Trial , [[#krb|Reward Board]] , [[#9|Royal Commission]], '''Early service''' , Later service , Family ,
== Links to the KellyGang ==
'''Murders at Stringy Bark Creek in the Wombat Rangers 26/10/1878''' . On the [[ev78-10--4Mansfield Murders|28/10/878]] I received a telegram from SConst [[Benalla Police Station|Maud]], clerk in Mr. Sadleir's office, to proceed to Benalla at once, re the '''KellyGang'''. ([[Royal Commission report day 19 page 45|RC7136]])
'''Photograph''' '''Warby Ranges search party''' 6'''/11/1878''' After the '''KellyGang''' fled to the Murray River they made their way back, and early on the morning of [[ev78-10--4Mansfield Murders|3/11/1878]] they passed under the railway bridge in Wangaratta.
In response we sent out 2 search parties on 6/11/1878 under Det [[Det Kennedy|Kennedy]] and Insp [[Brooke Smith|Brook Smith]]. I went out with Brook Smith towards [[Yarrawonga|Yarrawonga]]. We spent the night there and went to Lake Rowan and passed the [[Joe Ryan|Ryan]] home on 8/11/1881.([[The Argus at KellyGang 7/11/1878|Argus7/11/78]]) ([[Royal Commission report day 33 page 6|RC12361]]) ([[Royal Commission report day 51 page 11|RC17283]])
Const [[Fitzpatrick|Fitzpatrick]] was with me. ([[Royal Commission report day 36 page 11|RC12959]])
There, in the stockyards I saw recent traces of a number of horses. Some of the horses were shod and some unshod. I told Mr. Brook Smith that there had been some horses in the yard. I do not remember what answer he made, but he had gone on in front with some of the other men. About a quarter of a mile from the stockyard I picked up the tracks again of five horses. I coo-ee-d on Mr. Smith and brought him back, and pointed out to him that I believed those were the outlaws; and he concurred with me that it was so.
There were three of them riding singly, and there was evidently a pack-horse beside one of the others. The ground was very soft, and on the flat country it was very easy tracking them. We traced the [[../../things/K_kellys/K_KellyGang.html|'''KellyGang''']] on to the [[Warby Ranges|Warby Ranges]], somewhere about, I should say, about 25 miles. Const [[Const J Dixon|Dixon]] and I did the tracking.([[Royal Commission report day 33 page 6|RC12360]])
I do not believe they were more than 48 hours in advance, that is at the time and from the appearance of the tracks, and from certain hairs that were on the fence, showing that they had taken the brush fence-white hairs, where the horses had scratched themselves crossing the fence. We knew there was one of the police horses had white legs, and there were some white hairs on this brush fence. Insp Brook Smith ordered us back to Wangaratta because we had no provisions. We returned about 9pm to our base at Kitts Hotel.([[Royal Commission report day 33 page 6|RC12374]])
The next morning. 9/11/1878, I got the policemen, including Const [[Const Cameron|Cameron]], and [[Police Trackers|trackers]] ready at 4 am and went to wake [[Brooke Smith|Brook Smith]]. He finally got up at 7 am, but it took a long time to get him going. I remained at [[Brien's orangery|Bryan]]'s Orangery until one o'clock waiting for Insp Brook Smith. Then I suggested to the men the advisability of going on and picking up the tracks and fighting the '''KellyGang''' '''.''' They all agreed with me. ([[Royal Commission report day 33 page 7|RC12395]]) We searched about for about an hour, and different tracks were about where the horses had been grazing. We picked up the pack-horse that the had taken from the police at [[Stringy Bark Creek|Stringy Bark]] Creek. My intention was to put him in the paddock, and leave him there until I sent one of the men in for provisions to Wangaratta, but just on dusk we met Insp Brook Smith. He ordered us back to Wangaratta with the pack horse. When we arrived there I was ordered by Ass Com [[Nicolson|Nicolson]] to hide the pack horse at the police station which we did. I then met him with Insp Brook Smith about 10pm. ([[Royal Commission report day 33 page 7|RC12401]]) ([[Royal Commission report day 51 page 14|RC17327]])
I got up at 3.45am on [[ev78-10--4Mansfield Murders|10/11/1878]] and made sure that the horses were fed and the men ready and breakfasted. We had revolvers and a few repeating rifles. Const [[Const Cameron|Cameron]] one. We did not leave Wangaratta until after 9am even though I tried to wake Brook Smith a number of times. AssCom Nicolson also got Const [[Const Broderick|Broderick]] to wake him ([[Royal Commission report day 33 page 8|RC12426]])
We eventually got going but [[Brooke Smith|Brook Smith]] met up with us before we got to [[Brien's orangery|Brien's]] orangery. He then dragged us back to the place were he had tracked to which was about 10 miles further back. The men were not happy. Thanks to Brook Smith we tacked along the same 10 miles in the place where we found the pack horse four times. ([[Royal Commission report day 33 page 9|RC12449]] [[Royal Commission report day 33 page 9|RC12456]])
After that we followed the track for about 15 or 20 miles on [[Taminick|Taminick]] station before dark. We stayed there overnight. The following day we picked up some tracks again, and ran the '''KellGang''' in the direction of Glenrowan. From the enquires we made madewe found that on the previous Friday ([[ev78-10--4Mansfield Murders|8/11/78]]) night that three men had been seen near the railway station when the train came in.([[Royal Commission report day 33 page 9|RC12461]])
On [[ev78-10--4Mansfield Murders|12/11/1878]] Insp [[Brooke Smith|Brooke Smith]], Ass Com [[Nicolson|Nicolson]], Sgt [[Steele|Steele]], Sup [[Sadleir|Sadleir]] and search parties including me met up and followed the tracks. We went then north-almost directly north-the tracks were going for some few miles, and the tracks led into some thick scrub. The trackers were very slow, and did not appear to like to go into the scrub at all, the two trackers we had. I wanted to go on but Insp Brook Smith wanted to return to Wangaratta. ([[Royal Commission report day 33 page 10|RC12476]]) See also ([[Royal Commission report day 39 page 6|RC14075]])
I was dissatisfied with what happened and the following day, 13/11/1878, applied and left for Benalla with three other men. ([[Royal Commission report day 33 page 11|RC12498]]) See also ([[Royal Commission report day 2 page 7|RC417]])
'''Euroa Robbery 10/12/1878''' I was at the police depot in Benalla on the night of the robbery when [[Nicolson|Nicolson]] and [[Sadleir|Sadlier]] went off to Albury ([[Royal Commission report day 1 page 6|RC38]])
I was a member of the search party from [[Benalla Police Station|Benalla]]. ([[Royal Commission report day 19 page 2|RC5964]])
We searched from the road between [[Mansfield|Mansfield]] and [[Longwood|Longwood]] towards [[Strathbogie Ranges|Strathbogie]]. ([[Royal Commission report day 2 page 15|RC533]]) ([[Royal Commission report day 2 page 16|RC551]])
Later I led a search party hunting the '''KellyGang''' with [[Const Daniel Barry|Barry]]. ([[Royal Commission report day 21 page 1|RC7774.7295]] )
I was appointed a SConst with a pay raise of sixpence a day. ([[Royal Commission report day 6 page 2|RC1257]])
I was sent out to arrest a sympathizer ([[The Argus at KellyGang 12/3/1879|Argus12/3/79]])
'''[[Whorouly (2)|Whorouhly]] Race meeting 3/1879''' I attended the race meeting at [[Whorouly (2)|Whoroughly]] with other police in an attempt to try and catch the '''KellyGang'''. I did not know that area. I was got up as a bookmaker. Mr [[Hare|Hare]] just rode around the place in a buggy([[Royal Commission report day 6 page 13|RC1362]]) See also ([[Royal Commission report day 18 page 2|RC5312]])([[The Last of the Bushrangers Chapter 8 page 5|FH]])
I had been stationed at Violet Town ([[The Argus at KellyGang 8/7/1880 (5)|Argus8/7/80]])
'''Glenrowan Siege 28/6/1880'''
I had been up all night. ([[Royal Commission report 13/5/1881|RC7214]])
'''Arrival at Glenrowan'''
I arrived at Glenrowan at about [[ev80-06-28Glenrowan|11.30]] am ([[Royal Commission report day 19 page 45|RC7133]])
I saw Sup Sadleir at the platform when I arrived. He said to me , "Johnston, you will have to keep quiet and not irritate the men." I suppose I had a bit of a reputation. ([[Royal Commission report day 19 page 46|RC7171]])
Shortly after I got on the ground, I was taken in and shown [[Ned Kelly|Ned Kelly]]'s armour. ([[Royal Commission report day 19 page 50|RC7294]])
I think there were about three shots fired from the Inn at about a quarter to twelve, and about one o'clock there were two fired. ([[Royal Commission report day 19 page 45|RC7142]])
I had proposed to Sup [[Sadleir|Sadleir]] to rush the Inn. I was told there were others. Consts [[Const Armstrong|Armstrong]] and [[Const J Dwyer|Dwyer]] also requested it. (RC7142)
At about two o'clock I saw one of the '''KellyGang''' come to the back door of the Inn. Const [[Const Wilson|Wilson]] and I were on the north end of the hotel. We had a view of the back door, and one of them came to the back door. ([[Royal Commission report day 19 page 45|RC7150]])
'''Setting Fire to Jones's Inn'''
I intended that by setting fire to the Inn we would drive the '''KellyGang''' out. I knew that there were only 2 of them in the Inn. I discussed the matter with Sup [[Sadleir|Sadleir]] and Insp O'Connor. I saw Sup Sadleir at the northern end, and he told me he would go and make arrangements to have a party to fire into the building while I would go up and set fire to it. I had straw and kerosene and set the fire on the Benalla side so that the wind would blow the fire towards the Inn. ([[Royal Commission report day 19 page 46|RC7160]]) See also ([[The Age (6)|Age29/6/80]]) ([[The Argus (6)|Argus29/6/80]]) ([[The Argus at KellyGang 8/7/1880 (5)|Argus8/7/80]]) ([[The Argus at KellyGang 10/8/1880 (5)|Argus10/8/80]]) ([[Royal Commission report day 19 page 48|RC7224]]) ([[Royal Commission report day 19 page 48|RC7235]]) ([[Royal Commission report day 19 page 50|RC7271]])
The police were all round the building, at some distance off, when I went up to set fire.
They were closing on the building as the priest went up. The priest went in at the front door and came out at the back, having gone right through the passage. The police at this time were closing on the building. ([[Royal Commission report day 19 page 46|RC7180]])
I knocked away part of the wall into the room where Steve Hart and Dan Kelly's bodies were after we rescued Martin [[Cherry|Cherry]]. ([[Royal Commission report day 19 page 49|RC7242]])
I saw the positions of the bodies and took out the charred stumps of Dan Kelly and Steve Hart's bodies (RC7246)
I told the newspaper people; 'I set fire to the the [[Jones' Glenrowan Inn|Glenrowan Inn]] in an attempt to get [[Dan Kelly|Dan Kelly]] and [[Steve Hart|Steve Hart]] to surrender. This was at about [[ev80-06-28Glenrowan|3pm]]. We later learned that they were already dead. I put a bundle straw that I had soaked with kerosene up against the Inn. After it had all been consumed there was a time when we thought that building would not burn. But, not very many minutes elapsed before smoke was seen coming out of the roof, and flames were discerned through the front window on the western side. A light westerly wind was blowing at the time and this carried the flames from the straw underneath the wall and into the house, and as the building was lined with calico, the fire spread rapidly. When the house was seen to be fairly on fire, Father [[Matthew Gibney|Gibney]], who had previously started for it but had been stopped by the police, walked up to the front door and entered it...'([[The Argus (13)|Argus]] 29/6/80) ([[Royal Commission report day 13 page 7|RC2864]])
[[Sadleir|Sadlier]] reported on my work at the siege in his report to the Commissioner ([[The Argus (45)|Argus20/7/80]]) ([[The Argus at KellyGang 7/1/1882|Argus7/1/82]])
'''Kelly Reward Board'''
Following the meetings of the [[Reward|Reward Board]] in December 1880 I recieved a reward of about £97 and I was recommened for a special reward
'''Royal Commission''' I gave evidence to the Royal Commission on [[ev81-00---Royal Commission|13/5/1881]] ([[Royal Commission report day 19 page 45|RC7129]]) and [[ev81-00---Royal Commission|28/6/1881]] ([[Royal Commission report 28/6/1881|RC12354]])
What did the press say about my evidence ([[The Argus at KellyGang 16/5/1881 (2)|Argus16/5/81]]) ([[The Argus at KellyGang 30/6/1881|Argus30/6/81]])
The Royal Commission found that the treatment of me by Sup [[Sadleir|Sadleir]], was harsh and unmerited. And that the entries made by Sup Sadleir in my record sheets should be cancelled. The Commission also recommend me for favorable consideration of the Government for promotion. ([[Royal Commission second Report (page 3)|RC2ndReport]]) ([[The Complete Inner History of the KellyGang and their Pursuers (90)|JJK]]) See also ([[The Argus at KellyGang 3/3/1882 (2)|Argus3/3/82]])
'''Early Service''' I joined the police in about 1863 ([[Royal Commission report day 19 page 45|RC7131]])
I had been stationed at '''Tatura''', in the Goulburn Valley. ([[Royal Commission report day 19 page 45|RC7137]])
'''Later Service''' I remained at Violet Town until May 1881
Why was I not promoted as recommended by the Royal Commission ([[The Argus at KellyGang 11/10/1883|Argus11/10/83]]) ([[The Argus at KellyGang 23/07/1884|Argus23/7/84]])
== Family ==
'''wife''' ?... '''children ?.... home ?..'''
'''What happened to SConst Johnston's family''' KellyGang
[[Category:People]] [[Category:People starting with H-J]] [[Category:Johnston]] [[Category:SConst Johnston]] [[Category:Euroa]] [[Category:Whourouly]] [[Category:Glenrowan]] [[Category:Police]] [[Category:history]]
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