Royal Commission report day 10 page 12
The Royal Commission evidence for 7/4/1881
(see also introduction to day 10)
Sup John Sadleir further examined
1887 Mr. Nicolson, I see, entered on the 1st December 1862 , and I see that Mr. John Sadleir entered on the 1st December 1852 ?— Yes, I received pay from that day. We had an agent, his name is immaterial—we had two agents—two men who promised to work for us, and who were very near the friends of the Kellys at this time, and the substance of their information was that the Kellys were near, and that the sisters were conveying provisions to them.
1888 About what date?— That was as early as the middle of November, the 11th November. The first agent kept us well informed of what was going on about the Kelly's hold. The only information was that the provisions were being prepared in Mrs. Skillion's house, and being conveyed by her during the night.
1889 Did you ever take steps to trace the provisions?— Yes, we did, and it is impossible to do it.
1890 When you say provisions prepared, do you mean meat cooked and bread baked?— Bread baked in such quantities that it could not have been for the ordinary family.
1891 The inference would be that the outlaws were frightened to light fires?— That is a very probable inference.
1892 Or the delay there would be in baking bread?— I do not know the object in doing it, but it was done. We tried to follow them, but any person accustomed to bush will know you cannot follow them if they are on horseback, because you have to follow on horseback, and if you let them out of sight, unless you have trackers, you have to gallop up, and the chances are you come out right on before them, and they discover you before you are aware of them. Mr. Hare described about Mrs. Skillion being discovered sitting on a log by the police. I believe that is quite true.
1893 We want to know what steps were taken to see, at that time, if the operations of Mrs. Skillion were in any way checked?— We did try, I cannot recall the particulars. I think it was only by trying to follow her that it was done, and that was found impossible. I cannot tell what steps were taken at the time. I know we expected better information from this man every day, and he did himself.
1894 Mr. Nicolson was then in the Benalla district?— Yes.
1895 I understand he took special charge of the Kelly business?— Yes.
1896 While you attended more to the general business?— Yes, and I gave them my best assistance in all matters.
1897 If you received reliable information and you now forget what steps were taken, if any, was it in consequence of Mr. Nicolson taking a greater responsibility of the Kelly business than yourself?— No; I do not forget anything important I am sure.
1898 This seems important. Provisions prepared at the hut and conveyed at night?— If my memory serves me, the man was so confident of getting us better information that we, after an effort or two, did not try to follow Mrs. Skillion.
1899 What were those efforts?— I think it was we tried with our police in the neighborhood if the could make anything out by following her; we did it more than once; Mr. Hare described it.
1900 That was a long time after; this is within sixteen days after the outrages at Wombat Ranges that you had this information about the provisions?— Like Mr. Nicolson, I was a great deal away, and things may have happened without my knowledge. I know Mr. Nicolson kept better notes than I did at that time.
1901 Did you give any specific instructions as to what was to be done?— I cannot remember; we did what was best to be done according to our judgment.
1902 What was the nearest station?— I think Greta was broken up; it would be about an equal distance between Wangaratta and Benalla—no, nearer to Benalla.
1903 The house where the provisions were cooked—eleven miles from Benalla and fourteen from Wangaratta those being the two nearest stations?— Yes, if Greta was broken up at that time. Mr Nicolson. —It was not broken up at that time.
1904 By the Commission. —Was that where Thom was?— He was not there then. I have no record that any steps were taken. I am entirely speaking from memory when I say there were.
1905 Would you not keep a diary of all the events of the slightest importance that transpired at this time?— The agreement between Mr Nicolson and myself was that he would keep a diary of details at the first. He was a very accurate man in keeping details of particulars, more so than I was, and he has kept most of the records of that time. My records are very few......
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