Royal Commission report day 15 page 22
The Royal Commission evidence for 4/5/1881
(see also introduction to day 15)
Constable Duross giving evidence
4053 Were you somewhat confused after the brick warming?— A little, but not as much as I was at Sherritt's hut.
4054 You do not seem to remember time well?— I do not remember the time at all.
4055 Did you see Constable Kelly that day?— I saw him.
4056 Did he come round to you at any portion of the day?— He did not speak to me personally, but he was going round.
4057 Was he actively engaged going about?— Yes.
4058 More so than Mr. Sadleir?— No, I could not say that.
4059 Did you see Mr. Sadleir continually moving about after eleven?— I could not say “continually.”
4060 Where did Mr. O'Connor go after you knew it was Mr. O'Connor?— I saw him giving the trackers lunch, and I may have seen him afterwards, but I did not take particular notice.
4061 Did you see Sergeant Steele?— Yes.
4062 Was he actively engaged?— Yes, he was in the room where Kelly was when I saw him first that day.
4063 Did you know him?— No, because he had shaved from the time I knew him before.
4064 Did you expend all your ammunition?— I had two or three rounds left.
4065 Did you put in a claim for this Kelly Reward Fund?— Yes.
4066 What was your claim?— Through being at the capture at Glenrowan. I stated the part I took in it. Arrived there at nine, and left in the evening by the train.
4067 Was that a written claim you put in?— Yes.
4068 Were you examined before the Board?— No.
4069 In your claim did you claim anything for the great anxiety that you suffered on the night of the 26th?— No.
4070 How long have you been in the police force?— Since 1874, and I was in the barracks previous to that.
4071 Was your father a constable?— He was in the detective police.
4072 Are you a foot constable?— Yes, and always was.
4073 Where?— Stationed in the city of Melbourne .
4074 Had you had much practice in the use of firearms before you went up?— Never.
4075 You could fire a gun?— I could.
4076 You did not consider yourself a “shot”?— No.
4077 Were you not trained at the barracks?— No target practice.
4078 The ordinary manual platoon practice?— Yes, artillery drill with no ammunition, and blank cartridge with the big gun.
4079 Were you not shown how to discharge the gun and aim with the rifle supplied to you?— Very; little of it.
4080 Have you been accustomed to guns?— Only to drill with them—shoulder arms, and so on.
4081 After passing the military barracks did you go direct into the police?— We go to the Richmond barracks for a little. I was there for a month.
4082 What did you learn there?— Ordinary police duty.
4083 You were not taught anything. You get your manual and you have to learn it. Have you passed any examination in that?— No.
4084 Was the practice in your time to draft from the artillery barracks into the police?— Yes.
4085 Did you undergo no examination as to whether you were accustomed to firearms?— No.
4086 Were you not asked?— No.
4087 You only put off one uniform and put on another, and got the book?— Yes, that is the regulation book I got.
4088 And went on duty at once?— Yes.
4089 In the North-Eastern district?— No, five years before that, in Melbourne .....
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