Story of the KellyGang - the Royal Commission Report
The Royal Commission evidence for 2/6/1881
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full text
(see also introduction to day 25)
[[../../people/peC/chomleyPsup.html|Sup Hussey Malone Chomle]] [[../../people/peC/chomleyPsup.html|y]] giving evidence
9838 What would the arrangement be, that they were all to receive double pay?— That is what I understand.
9839 Do you know whether the black trackers received Queensland pay?— No, they received double pay from our department; that is all I know.
9840 Are there no documents that would give you more information?— No, not on that point.
9841 Mr. O'Connor— I saw Captain Standish when I came over to Benalla, and he showed me written instructions he got from Queensland; he showed them me at the Benalla office, and I read them; they were written on white foolscap without any lines; I remember it well.
The Chairman read the following letter:–
“ Melbourne Club, 25th May 1881.
“Dear Sir–In reply to your letter of the 23rd instant, I beg to inform you that when retiring from the public service I did not take away any official documents of any kind from my office. Any copies of telegrams or correspondence on the subjects referred to in your letter, if not made away with, must be in the office of the Acting Chief Commissioner of Police. I have no private correspondence with the Queensland authorities on the above-mentioned topics.
“Yours faithfully,
“F. C. STANDISH.
“James Williams, Esq., Secretary.”
The Witness — Those particular documents, it appears, Captain Standish had in New South Wales himself, so he must have taken them.
9842 Having heard Captain Standish's letter, and having heard the state of things here, are you in a position to inform the Commission whether there are any other documents in the office?— I am not aware if any search has been made. Mr. Moors has made search all through the papers and could not find any.
9843 All that were in the office have been forwarded to the Commission?— Yes.
9844 Are you aware that the Commission made a recommendation that, pending the enquiry here, Mr. Sadleir should be relieved from duty?— Yes.
9845 Is his return to duty indispensable to the public service?— No.
9846 Have you made provision for his duty?— Yes, to fill up his place. He is not going back to the North-Eastern district.
9847 Is he absolutely required in any other district?— He is not absolutely required.
9848 Is this a copy of the report you forwarded to the Chief Secretary, dated 1st May 1881 ?— Yes [ The same was handed in and read, Appendix .4]
9849 In the second paragraph you state “That in consequence of the disclosures made before the Police Enquiry Board, and the references made to persons who assisted the police with information during the Kelly outbreak, it is now utterly impossible to obtain information as to the movements of the sympathizers.” Will you indicate what portion of the enquiry that refers to?— No, I cannot; I was told it. The information was given to me.
9850 From whom did you obtain that information?— Mr. Sadleir and others.
9851 No, that is your own report, and you state it as your own?— It is all from what I have been told.
9852 Who told you?— Mr. Sadleir, Mr. Baber, and, I think, either Sergeant Steele or Sergeant Whelan.
9853 It is not from your own knowledge?— No, I was only in Benalla three hours then.
9854 Have you read the reports in the press of this present enquiry?— Yes.
9855 Have you not been furnished with copies of the official evidence taken?— Yes.
9856 Can you point to any part of that where the disclosure of persons or places is likely to have that effect?— No, I cannot do that, but I can quite understand they would. I committed myself in that report on the statements of those officers.
9857 And not from reading the evidence?— No, I did not know west effect it would have upon the people up there.
9858 You went up to Benalla by one train and came down by the next?— Yes.
9859 That was all the opportunity you had of judging of the state of the district?— Yes, and the reports that came to the office from the district.
9860 Are those reports in the office?— They are in my pocket at present, at 1east some of them.
9861 Upon which you founded that report?— Yes, and some conversations I had with people. This is the first I received, I think, from Mr. Sadleir, dated April 22nd, 1881 It is written as a private letter, as he was relieved from duty at this time.....
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