The Argus at KellyGang 30/3/1881 (3)
Nicolson giving evidence
Witness: - With regard to the rifle practice, I have paid prizes out of my own pocket and at such contests provided the ammunition used out of my own purse.
Stanhope O'Connor, the next witness, deposed, - I am at present living on my means. Was formerly sub-inspector of Queensland police. At the time I applied for this inquiry, had no intention of leaving the Queensland police. Have left the Queensland police. Came down to Victoria at first at the request of the Victorian Government. Came down in March, 1879, with six black troopers and Senior-constable King. On 8th March, 1879, having met Captain Standish at Albury, we left that place and went to Benalla. On March 11, Captain Standish ordered us out on our first trip. I was first sworn in as a member of the Victorian police force. We left Benalla in the morning of the 11th with Superintendent Sadleir and five or six Victorian constables. Prior to leaving told Captain Standish I only required two of his men. Was told I must take six Victorian constables with me. Captain Standish told me I was in charge of the party, that Superintendent Sadleir was not over me. Mr Sadleir and I were always on the best terms. Returned to Benalla on March l8, owing to the fact that the party was not sufficiently supplied with necessaries, such as blankets and food, and that Corporal Sambo, one of the trackers, was ill. Had to send Sambo to Benalla on March 15. He died of congestion of the lungs on March 19. Do not attribute any blame to the Victorian authorities for that. Captain Standish showed my men every kindness.
On April 16, 1879, we again started out, the party consisting of about the same number of men, or about 14. We had no information the first or second time. We went up the King River, and on April 21 arrived at Degamaro station. Met ---, who informed us of his having found on the run a horse answering the description of one of the horses ridden away from Jerilderie by one of the outlaws. --- offered to show us the place. As we were going to start, we got a letter from Captain Standish, saying if we were not on anything good, we had better return, and that Mr Hare thought he had found some traces on the Warby Ranges. Mr Sadleir and I conferred, and sent Captain Standish word of what we had been told, and that we had decided to follow our own information, but would return if he sent us orders to do so. This he did next day, and we returned immediately.
That was on the morning of the 23rd. At this time Captain Standish was in charge of the north-eastern district, Mr Hare being also there. Subsequently, after Mr Nicolson took charge, the horse just alluded to was found, and was discovered to be one that had fallen into the possession of the Kellys. Captain Standish took no notice of and laughed at the information about the horse. Up to this time, and a little later, Captain Standish and I were on intimate terms. In my report, dated September 7, I stated that Captain Standish treated me discourteously for 16 months. I should have said 14. He often expressed a wish that I would join the Victorian force after the Kellys were taken. He showed a great want of interest in the Kelly pursuit. This was observed by myself, Mr Sadleir and Mr Hare. They can corroborate my statement. Mr Sadleir often told me he could never get two minutes conversation with Captain Standish about the Kelly business, that the moment he began to talk about the business with Captain Standish that gentleman would take up a novel. Mr Hare also remarked the indifference of the then chief commissioner to his work.
About the beginning of May, 1879, Captain Standish, in official letters, began to show his dislike to me, and wanted to take my men from my command, and place them in different townships Could not do that on account of official instructions from my Government. [Read a telegram from the Queensland Government containing such instructions] I never objected to let my men go out whenever I was asked without my accompanying them. Never found any difficulty in working with Mr Hare, who always treated me with great kindness, and frequently remarked the insolent manner of Captain Standish to me. He and I went out on different expeditions, and on such occasions Captain Standish told me markedly Mr Hare was in charge. Mr Hare told me, after observing the efficiency of the trackers, that we ought not to go out except on the best information, as something important might turn up during our absence. Mr Hare's usual plan of operations was to scour the country with large bodies of men, not on any information, but on the chance of dropping across the outlaws. Aaron Sherritt was employed by Mr Hare, who firmly believed in him. Once a letter was sent to Aaron from Joe Byrne, asking him to meet the writer at Whorouly Races, to ride his (Joe Byrne's) horse. It told Aaron where to meet the writer. Mr Hare and several men went to the races, but Captain Standish would not allow myself and party to go. Mr Hare, on his return, said Aaron alleged he could not meet the outlaw. On another occasion Mr Hare received a note stating that the four outlaws were in a certain hut, and that they could be easily captured. Captain Standish sent out Mr Hare and a large party, about 11 men. After Mr Hare had proceeded some distance, the party met a man whom some of the party recognised. The party surrounded the hut and the door was opened by the man seen on the road, but there was no sign of the outlaws. It was on this occasion that the chief commissioner would not let me go. When I complained of the folly of refusing me permission to go out he said,
"I will endeavour to catch the Kellys without your assistance." His refusal to allow me to go out on the occasion just referred to was conclusive evidence to my mind that such was his idea. Captain Standish, in his evidence, spoke about a train of baggage waggons with the trackers, and that we worked so slowly. He would not let us go out without six or seven Victorian police, and we were not slow. Once a tracker was following a track four miles ahead and went so quickly that a party of constables could not catch him up. In Queensland the native police have to deal with white criminals as well as blacks. I have myself travelled 30 or 40 miles a day on a track.
The commission adjourned until 11 o'clock next morning.
end
| ! | The text has been retyped from a microfiche copy of the original. We have taken care to reproduce this document but areas of the original text may been damaged. |
