Royal Commission report day 11 page 5
The Royal Commission evidence for 12/4/1881
(see also introduction to day 11)
Superintendent Sadleir giving evidence
2036 Did he object before to employ them?— Yes, he had the offer before that, in December I think it was, immediately after the Euroa bank robbery, an offer of black trackers from the Queensland police.
2037 By the Queensland Government?— By the Queensland Commissioner of Police.
2038 Had you not black trackers in your employment from the first?— We had odds and ends of men, such as we could pick up.
2039 And Captain Standish declined the offer in the first instance?— Yes, he did. Mr. O'Connor and his trackers arrived at Albury on the 6th March 1879 , and a party with the trackers was started out on the 11th. I was anxious that they should try this line of country I spoke of a while ago, and what is known to be Power's route. I was with the party, and we examined every place for tracks, and found some tracks and went on them for a day, the whole day until nightfall, following them down to Holland 's Creek and past Fern Hill station. At this time we began to see they were not likely to be the outlaws, and we found next morning that they were the tracks of some stockmen searching the ranges for sheep. The tracking was done very well, and it was over some very difficult ground, stony, burnt; and the tracks were pretty old. Mr. Hare returned from the watch party at Mrs. Byrne's while we were away.
2040 After being out twenty-five nights—was that the time he stated?— Yes; I refer to the same party. I cannot give particular dates without looking at my book. Again, on Wednesday, 16th April, I started again with Mr. O'Connor and the trackers, and some white police, on some imagined good information. We left our horses within a couple of miles or more of where we expected to strike the tracks that we heard of. We came cautiously into the ground, found the tracks right enough, and the circumstances were suspicious, looked promising, but in half a mile or so, or perhaps a mile, the tracks led us to the house of a man named Morphy, whom I knew, and the tracks were his. He had found himself entangled in some fences with his horse, and rather than go round he tore up the fence; and this was what gave rise to the suspicion principally.
2041 Was he the man who is an overseer there?— I do not know—Mr. John Morphy—he was then a selector on the King. We remained out until the 27th, eleven or twelve days, chiefly exploring the country. We went up to the head of the King, both branches, and carefully examined all about, but found nothing whatever about the Kellys. We were called in by special message from Captain Standish. This was the last search party that I went out with; but still the search parties were kept going, and I am not aware that any party had any information about the Kellys, except the one in the case of the man Nolan, whom Mr. Hare spoke about, Mr. Hare left, and was relieved by Mr. Nicolson on the 3rd July. He was thoroughly done up, and then he confessed himself beaten. Mr. Nicolson took charge then from that date. I remember speaking to Mr. Nicolson almost as soon as he came, and saying to him— “I hope to heaven you are not going to continue this fooling any longer with the search parties.”
2042 That is the time Mr. Nicolson relieved Mr. Hare?— Yes, and his answer was that he had had enough of it. The first information after Mr. Nicolson's arrival, I think, was on the 11th July.
2043 I was asking you the other day to describe the way in which Mr. Hare handed over the charge of the department on that occasion?— They were both perfectly satisfied. I do not remember exactly what happened; perhaps I was not present.
2044 On the 3rd July?— On the 3rd July; but Mr. Nicolson was perfectly satisfied that he had all the information he could get from Mr. Hare, no doubt of it. I never heard him express himself to the contrary.
2045 Are you going to pass over where you made the remarkable statement— “I hope to heaven you are not going to continue this fooling any longer;” are you going to make any comment as to what the fooling was with search parties?— I will answer any questions on the subject.
2046 Were you not going to say anything about that?— I did not mean to say anything. I thought it explained itself, but I am quite willing to explain what I meant.
2047 I think it would be well to explain?— Well, I looked upon sending out search parties
2048 This had been continued for six months?— Seven or eight months, from the 27th October to the 3rd July. I considered it fooling to send such parties of police without dome specific information, and I was nearly all the time urging against it. It is very expensive work. It harasses the men very, very much, nothing more so—the men going out without information and coming back without any discovery; and it knocks up horses also. I could see no good in it, and I called it fooling.
2049 Then your opinion with reference to that was, that it was not likely to be successful?— That it was not likely to be successful; that it might go on for twenty years and never catch the Kellys. I was very anxious to know what Mr. Nicolson's views were; he was commanding officer, and I would have to follow any plan he adopted.
2050 Had you previous to this advised Mr. Hare to stop it?— Frequently.
2051 Without good information?— I think he stated so in his evidence.
2052 Did you gather that opinion from the men?— No; from the observation of other search parties and my own experience......
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