Const T Dowling

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Importance of Foot Const Thomas Patrick Dowling (2918)

At Aaron Sherritt's home Links to the KellyGang below, Early Years , Fitzpatrick Incident , Murders at Stringy Bark Creek , Sebastopol Cavalcade , Euroa Robbery , Jerilderie Robbery , Autum 1879 , Hare replaced by Nicolson , Spring 1879 Early 1880 , Death of Aaron Sherritt , Glenrowan Siege , Ned Kelly's Trial , Reward Board , Royal Commission, Early service , Later service , Family ,

Links to the KellyGang

Jerilderie Robbery 10/2/1879 In February 1879 I arrived in North Eastern Victoria for the first time and was stationed at Mooroopna. (RC4164) I had also been station at Shepparton.

Photograph Nicolson replaced by Hare 2/6/1880 I arrived in Beechworth on 11 June 1880 and I went out to join Const Armstrong and the other police at Aaron's on 16 June.

Our duty was to watch the Byrne home during the night and to keep away from observation during the day. (RC4170) (RC4688)

When we got home we slept on the kitchen floor. We had to go into the bedroom when visitors came. We spent 2 hours in there once. (RC4699)

I came from Shepparton and went out with Duross. (RC3591)

[[../../documents/RoyalCommission/RC810504_15_06_3585.html|19 June 1880]]

On the Saturday evening previous to Sherritt being shot, 19/6/1880, Mr. Hare and Det Ward came to see us. I was cutting fire wood with Const Armstrong at about 6.30pm. We were up the hill, about 200 yards from Sherritt's home. (RC4176)

We met Mrs Sherritt on our way back, she told us about Hare's visit.

Det Ward met us 150 yards from the home and told us to go down to Mrs Byrne's place as quickley as possible.

We returned from Mrs Byrne's place at about 3am next morning (RC4196)

Det Ward disagreed with my version of what happened. (RC13866)

At about 2 am on 21 June I saw Paddy Byrne riding near by as we watched Mrs Byrne's home. "I was the first to see him, and I said, "D-it, here they are coming along." And Armstrong ran out on the main road, and I told him to keep in where he was, and I do not remember seeing Sherritt there."(RC5101)

I did not know any of the other members of the Byrne family (RC4716)

The Royal Commission was critical of our work during or time ar Aaron Sherritt's (RC 2nd report XIV)

Death of Aaron Sherritt 26/6/1880 Const Duross and Barry have set out many of the details of what happened. The police party was headed by Const Armstrong.

I and Consts Armstrong and Alexander were in the bedroom when Aaron Sherritt was shot. (RC4200)

I was lying on the bedroom floor when I heard a voice outside, at the rear of the hut, saying "Aaron Sherritt, I have lost my way, I want you to put me on the road." Then heard Sherritt say (this was giving me and my mates to understand that he knew who was outside), "It is only Anthony Weekes, a German that lives over the creek, he is in the habit of going astray when he gets drunk." Mrs. Sherritt then said to Sherritt, .... (RC4208)

I then hoped up on a flour bag in the bedroom and looked over the partition between the bedroom and kitchen. (RC3778)

I lost my ammunition (RC12159)

Const Armstrong explained what happened the next morning

Glenrowan Siege 28/6/1880

Arrival at Glenrowan from Beechworth

I arrived at Glenrowan from Beechworth.

I did not seem to play a significant role in the events of the day

Kelly Reward Board

Following the meetings of the Reward Board in December 1880 I recieved a reward of about £42

Royal Commission I gave evidence to the Royal Commission on 5/5/1881 (RC4162 ) and 10/5/1881 (RC4688)

See how the press reported my evidence (Argus6/5/81) (Argus11/5/81)

Det Ward had another go at me and what happened at Aaron Sherritt's at about the time I gave evidence before the Royal Commission. It would seem that he wanted to control Mrs Sherritt and Mrs Barry's evidence against us to save himself. Const Armsrtong gave the Royal Commission chapter and verse. (RC12222)

The Royal Commission made the following finding about me

"10. That the constables who formed the hut party on the night of Aaron Sherritt's murder - viz., Patrick Dowling, etc - were guilty of disobedience of orders and gross cowardice, and - be dismissed from the service. " (RC2ndReport)

After the Royal Commission report came out I was sacked from the police. (Argus3/3/82)

I was called before phase 2 of the Commission. (Argus9/5/82)

Early Service

I started off in the Garrison Artillery

I spent some time at the police station at Shepparton before I went to Sherritt's place

Family

wife ?... children ?.... home ?..

What happened to Const Dowling's family

KellyGang