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04:03, 15 November 2015 Story of the KellyGang - the Royal Commission evidence
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== The Royal Commission evidence for 13/4/1881 ==
''''''
=== full text ===
(see also introduction to [[Royal Commission report 13/4/1881|day 12]])
'''[[Sadleir|Superintendent Sadeir]]''' '''giving evidence'''
<span id="rc2452">[[#rc2452|2452]]</span> ''By the Commission''. —Where did you leave off?— On my last examination the Commission asked me for particulars of [[Telegraph|telegrams]] sent on the day of the [[Euroa|Euroa]] robbery from two o'clock until eight in the afternoon-that is from the time the wires were cut till we spoke to Mr. [[Wyatt|Wyatt]].
<span id="rc2453">[[#rc2453|2453]]</span> You said you could fix the hour then?— I said I could fix the hour; and I find there were eight telegrams despatched from the [[Benalla Police Station|Benalla office]] (my office and Mr. Nicolson's) from two pm. that day, on the [[ev78-12--2Euroa Robbery|10th of December]], the day of the bank robbery. One of those was to the Chief Commissioner of Police. It was sent to the telegraph office at Benalla, which is not more than 150 yards from our office, at 6.45 p.m. , and it was held there until half-past nine: The other telegrams were on lines that were not interfered with.
<span id="rc2454">[[#rc2454|2454]]</span> You say you sent eight telegrams, and the only one between Benalla and Melbourne was this one to Captain [[Standish|Standish]]?— To Captain Standish.
<span id="rc2455">[[#rc2455|2455]]</span> The others were away?— On the Beechworth end and other places.
<span id="rc2456">[[#rc2456|2456]]</span> Were you informed that the line was interrupted?— No, we heard nothing of that. This is the telegram, showing the hour of which I speak; the substance of the telegram is of no importance, only the date. You will see that it was received at 5.45 p.m. , and despatched at 9.30 p.m.- [''handing in a telegram'']
<span id="rc2457">[[#rc2457|2457]]</span> That is simply to show that you had no information about the wires being cut before you started?— No, and not hearing of that telegram being delayed gave us reason to believe that everything was right on the wires.
2458 This telegram shows that clearly?— Yes.
<span id="rc2459">[[#rc2459|2459]]</span> Was there any understanding between the police authorities and the officers of the Telegraph Department with regard to the action to be taken on any alarm or any suspicious circumstance arising?— I think there was not then.
<span id="rc2460">[[#rc2460|2460]]</span> There was afterwards?— There was afterwards.
<span id="rc2461">[[#rc2461|2461]]</span> But up to that time not?— Up to that time not, so far as I know of, but I am not absolutely positive about it.
<span id="rc2462">[[#rc2462|2462]]</span> At some time during the pursuit of the Kellys by the police, was there not some understanding with the Telegraph Department that if any line was interrupted you would be communicated with.?— Yes, after the experience of this, it was made an order that every interruption was to be reported to us at once.
<span id="rc2463">[[#rc2463|2463]]</span> Was there not a test made at a regular time— ten o'clock or some time?— Yes, they were constantly tested by the operators—I do not know the hour. After the time spoken of in my evidence yesterday, there were many things that occurred outside of my own knowledge. Since my statement was begun before the Commission, I have made a calculation, as best I could —I am sure it is not quite complete, but nearly so —of the number of reported appearances of the [[KellyGang|Kellys]] from the time of the murders up to their capture at [[Glenrowan|Glenrowan]].
<span id="rc2464">[[#rc2464|2464]]</span> Consecutively?— Yes; and I have divided them into periods on which different officers were in charge of operations. From [[ev78-10--4Mansfield Murders|October 26 th]]—that was the date of the murders—to December 12th 1878 , I find there were four reported appearances of the Kellys. From December 12th 1878 to [[events 1879-05/ 1879-07at KellyGang|July 3rd 1879]] , when Captain Standish and Mr. [[Hare|Hare]] were the senior officers, there were 40 reported appearances. From July 3rd 1879 , when Mr. [[Nicolson|Nicolson]] again took charge, to [[events 1880-4/ 1880-6|June 2nd 1880]] , there were 18 reported appearances; and from June 2nd, when Mr. Hare finally took charge, to June 28th 1880 , there were two reported appearances. One of these includes the final appearance at Glenrowan.
<span id="rc2465">[[#rc2465|2465]]</span> And the other would be [[Aaron Sherritt|Stherritt]]'s murder?— Yes, at Sherritt's murder. Then I have again subdivided the second division that I have given you, that is from December 12th 1878 —that is the Euroa bank robbery—to [[events79-2_4Jerilderie Robbery|March 6th]], when the [[Police Trackers|trackers]] came from Queensland, occurred 35 of the 40 appearances I have mentioned; and from March 1879 to July 3rd of the same year there were only five reported appearances, and none of those were authentic. That shows that the [[KellyGang|Kellys]] ceased at once to show themselves after the trackers arrived in Victoria .
<span id="rc2466">[[#rc2466|2466]]</span> As you said five were not authentic, can you tell us whether any of the 35 were authentic, from 10th December 1878 to March 1879?— Yes. Some of them were certainly authentic. The [[Jerilderie|Jerilderie]] bank robbery occurred during that time, and there were others.
<span id="rc2467">[[#rc2467|2467]]</span> Touching that-after the Jerilderie robbery, is there no authentic account of their return to Victoria after the robbery in New South Wales ?— Yes, I am sure there was. I propose, if the Commission take any interest in this, to put it all into detailed table showing the informants and places where the things were said to have taken place and the steps taken, or such references to the papers that will explain
2468 And the officers?— Yes; that will take several days.
2469 That will be most important?— Then I will do it, giving the names as mentioned in the key. Then I need not refer to those as I go along. .....
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