Difference between revisions of "The Argus at KellyGang 19/5/1879"

Latest revision as of 21:06, 20 November 2015

THE MONK INQUIRY

[BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH]

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT)

MANSFIELD, SATURDAY

The Monk inquiry was continued to day.

Inspector Toohey, further examined by Mr Smyth, stated -Monk came in to Mansfield after the shooting and I asked him to let me see his revolver. I examined it, and said, "Three of these barrels have been recently discharged." Monk said, "Thant may be." I took it from him, and gave him another. I asked him if he had any ammunition. He gave me some at his house at Wombat the same day. The three cartridges I now produce are what I received from him, and are similar to those taken from the mare and saddle. Monk said they were purchased at Rosier's in Melbourne I could tell that three chambers had been recently loaded because the bullets were cleaned and showed grease marks as if carried in the pockets. When shooting at kangaroos on the following Tuesday, while Monk was with us with his mare. I noticed his mare did not shy.

1 went to the scene of the shooting on Thuisday with Spider, the black tracker, and Senior constable James and two other constables. There were no tracks there. There was no appearance of the ground havmg been much disturbed by a galloping horse. I was present on the 8th inst at the big tree when Monk described to Mr Panton how the affair took place. Spider found no tracks of a horse across the log winch Monk pointed out as taken by his horse. The spot pointed out by Monk where the man stood was about 3in or 4in higher than the mare. It would be impossible to make the hole in the saddle from that elevation. The greatest elevatoin there is not more than 9in. My opinion is that the saddIle was put on the ground and filed at with less than the ordiniry charge of powder. There would be no difficulty in reducing the charge of powder. Had the bullet struck the off side of the saddle it would have gone clean through.

The witness produced a saddie in winch he had fired a bullet from a Webley revolver, fully charged which showed iahole near the pommel as shown in Monk's saddle, and passnig thiough the inside of the lining on the off side. The bullet was then cut out and handed to Mr Panton.

Mr Toohey continued - There was no discoloration before I fired at it. The saddle had been newly lined. Witness procluced a second saddle which he had fired at from a distance of about 4ft. The ball had passed through the near side and was found in the linig. The discoloration of Monk's saddle is like the discoloration of the first saddle I produced. If the bullet in the horse's leg had been fired with a full charge. I believe it would have gone through the leg.

Examined by Mr O'Leary - Monk said he suspectcd a solicitor's clerk in Melbourne of writing the threatening letters. When going to Monk's to examine the footprints. I did not dismount but could tell, although the ground was hard, that a man had dismounted. Told Mr Pewtress not to accuse Monk of having fired the shots himself as it would have frustrated all further inquiries. I afterwards went to the King River and on my return called at MCormacks where a boy told me that no one had been there but Jack Byrne, and he had not been there before since the police murders. Monk said Byrne was a Kelly sympathiser. I rode under the hangnig wattle under which Monk is said to have rode, and did not break a twig, but I had to stoop my head. Have been lcangaroo shooting and when I fired the constables reined up their horses as did Monk with his mare.

Mr O'Leary - Do you think that a mare would be more likely to shy at night time if a man suddenly rushed out upon her, and her rider firing also (the man too. firing in front of her), than the same mare would be in the middle of the day when standing by the side of other horses with firing near them?

Witness - No

The Court then adjourned till Monday.  

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