Changes

Royal Commission report day 21 page 21

5,776 bytes added, 04:05, 15 November 2015

Import from source

Story of the KellyGang - the Royal Commission evidence

[[Royal Commission report day 21 page 20|previous page]] / [[Royal Commission report day 21 page 22|next page]]

== The Royal Commission evidence for 17/5/1881 ==

''''''

=== full text ===

(see also introduction to [[Royal Commission report 17/5/1881|day 21]])

'''Const [[Const Daniel Barry|Barry]] giving evidence'''

[[#rc7838|7838]] In your opinion, if you had to take command of the front of the building, would you have taken the position that I did—first of all, do you know my position?— I heard of it. I found empty cartridges there of a Snider rifle, and that showed where you were.

[[#rc7839|7839]] ''By the Commission''— Is the only knowledge you have of the position that Mr. [[O'Connor|O'Connor]] and the [[Police Trackers|black trackers]] held by seeing Snider shells or cartridges in the position they were said to be in?— I heard them singing out.

[[#rc7840|7840]] Who?— The boys.

[[#rc7841|7841]] What do you call “boys”?— The black trackers; so I knew they were in that direction, and then finding the cartridges after I came to that conclusion.

[[#rc7842|7842]] ''By Mr. O’Connor''— You are aware they were in different portions of the field, and were not altogether with me?— Not all; there was one with me.

[[#rc7843|7843]] You are not aware of your knowledge that the remainder were with me?— Not of my knowledge; simply hearing them and finding those empty cartridges.

[[#rc7844|7844]] Was there a great quantity?— A good quantity.

[[#rc7845|7845]] Taking for granted that that was the position I was in, do you consider it was a good position for commanding the front of the house to prevent the outlaws escaping?— It was not a good position to shoot; there were better positions than that.

[[#rc7846|7846]] Where would the better place have been in front of the house?— There is another drain between that and the house, and I believe that would have been a better position and quite as deep.

[[#rc7847|7847]] Is this an after consideration of yours, or at the time?— A few days afterwards I was round and came to that conclusion.

[[#rc7848|7848]] Were you aware of all about Glenrowan at the time of that fight—all those drains?— You could not help seeing them, and you were more likely to have seen the one I speak of, because it was nearer towards the house, and going towards it, while the other was going away from it.

[[#rc7849|7849]] You never heard I was in another position?— No, I did not. I heard some of the “boys” were under the culvert; I did not know what that meant.

[[#rc7850|7850]] You said the tracker Hero was near you at that time; did he show any cowardice?— No, not any; he was as plucky and cool as any man could be.

[[#rc7851|7851]] Did you see any of the others show cowardice?— I did.

[[#rc7852|7852]] Which?— [[Jacky|Jackey]].

[[#rc7853|7853]] When was that?— Just when he heard the Kellys were coming, when Bracken sung out that the Kellys were there, and he thought they were coming on to us constables. Constable [[Const William Canny|Canny]] handed tracker Jackey his gun to keep for him, while Canny was taking the horses out of the trucks. When word was passed for us to go forward, Constable Canny came for his gun, and I heard him ask Jackey for his gun, and Jackey could not speak with fear.

[[#rc7854|7854]] Why?— He was speechless with fear. That was the only instance I saw.

[[#rc7855|7855]] Did the man refuse to go forward, or hide himself anywhere?— I could not say that. I did not wait to see.

[[#rc7856|7856]] Because the man did not speak to you, that is your reason?— Yes, he could speak well enough; I feel quite certain he was really frightened.

[[#rc7857|7857]] ''By the Commission''— You did not notice where he got to afterwards?— No; he was singing out loud enough afterwards.

[[#rc7858|7858]] What?— For the outlaws to come out.

[[#rc7859|7859]] You said just now that the position Mr. O'Connor took up, in the cutting, was not the best one for firing from?— No, he could only hit the top of the verandah.

[[#rc7860|7860]] What was it best for?— For safety; for his own safety, for himself.

[[#rc7861|7861]] That would apply to all there?— Yes.

[[#rc7862|7862]] ''By Mr. O'Connor''— Was not the position behind the tree as safe?— Certainly it was, if he remained behind it.

[[#rc7863|7863]] Do you infer from that, that I made no use of my position?— No, not that; but I was in a better position to fire and retreat, when required, and my shots would take better effect than yours possibly could.....

=== Previous page / Next page ===

 

{{MicroficheCopy}} 

'''The [[Royal Commission report day 20 page 1|previous day]] / [[Royal Commission report day 22 page 1|next day]] .. . Royal Commission [[Royal Commission Index|index]]'''

[[Category:Royal Commission]] [[Category:September 1517]] [[Category:Royal Commission]] [[Category:Commisioner Standish]] [[Category:history]]

MediaWiki:Sidebar

{{^|Original page location \documents\RoyalCommission\RC810517_21_21_7838.html}}

Newer edit →

Admin

Bureaucrat, administrator

14,870

edits