Royal Commission report day 12 page 22
The Royal Commission evidence for 13/4/1881
(see also introduction to day 12)
Superintendent Sadeir giving evidence
2731 After the Sebastopol affair?— Yes, and I think we did nothing with him till afterwards; Mr. Hare picked him up and made use of him.
2732 By Mr. Hare. —Who were the agents you were to see—I never heard of it till this present moment?— That is a mistake—for instance, the “diseased stock” man I was to see. The point is that you heard nothing about the arrangement about seeing the agents.
2733 Did you see them?— Yes.
2734 By the Commission (to Mr. Hare). —You said in your direct evidence there was a man who said he would not work for you?— Yes, that was the man I met in Benalla, mentioned just now.
2735 The Witness. —The other principal agent I was to have seen and asked him to work for Mr. Hare. We had not his authority at the time to say he would do so.
2736 In fact you did not know what mode of procedure Mr. Hare would follow?— No, I could not tell what was in his mind at the time.
2737 You say you had authentic information when Mr. Hare came of the outlaws being seen at Mrs. Byrne's house. Did Mr. Nicolson give Mr. Hare all the information about the watch party and so on?— Yes, when the outlaws are supposed to visit a place, and a search party went to visit the place there was an end of them.
2738 Mr. Hare knew all about this watch party?— No, I cannot say that.
2739 Would it not have been one of the most important points to have given him information on, as to what steps had been taken recently to watch the Kellys?— My impression is that that watch party was put there to meet the contingency of Mr. Nicolson going out, and making search and driving the outlaws across the other search party.
2740 When Mr. Nicolson was informing Mr. Hare that the Kellys had been seen at Byrne's place and he had a watch party there, was not that the time really to have reported that Armstrong hand a party there watching?— My impression is that the party would then have been left watching for nothing.
2741 But they were withdrawn by a telegram from Mr. Nicolson?— Suppose this watch party, as I believe was the case, was put at a certain place to meet the Kellys in case they were running away from another search party on their tracks, that watch party's use ended as soon as the pursuit party was called in, and that is what was the case.
2742 Why were they continued there afterwards?— I do not know; Mr. Nicolson says through l forgetfulness on his part.
2743 Do you not think that at the time Mr. Nicolson was informing Mr. Hare that the Kellys had been seen at Byrne's place within a week before that date, that that was the time Mr. Nicolson would have naturally thought to have told Mr. Hare he had a watch party there?— Mr. Nicolson did not speak to Mr. Hare about that watch party.
2744 Does not it appear strange that an officer giving over charge should have forgotten that information so recent?— I think it more strange his forgetting the watch party altogether, and that they ought to be withdrawn.
The witness, withdrew.
Adjourned to to-morrow at Eleven o'clock
[~[[See report of Proceedings 13/4/81]|5883]~]
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