Royal Commission report day 16 page 12
The Royal Commission evidence for 5/5/1881
(see also introduction to day 16)
'Jacob Wilson giving evidence'
4516 What occurred?— He sent a constable out to my place, stating that he wanted to see me on urgent business. That was on the 10th of June, and I told the constable I would see the Superintendent the next day, the 11th. He asked me if I could conceal a man in my house, and I told him if he would guarantee my safety I would be willing to do anything for him.
4517 What did you mean?— If any of the outlaws came upon me, that he was to guarantee to protect me.
4518 Did he send a constable then?— Yes.
4519 What name?— George Stephens.
4520 Was that the man known as the groom from the Faithfull's Creek station?— Yes.
4521 Did that man go there?— Yes.
4522 Did he remain there?— Yes; he remained with me for a fortnight. He came to my place on the 14th of June. I worked with him every night after at Tom Lloyd's place. We thought we could do better if we could get a night-glass to look at Lloyd's house at night to see who came in it. George Stephens went into Benalla on the 28th of June, and when he got in there at night Kelly was captured and he came back to me on the 29th, Tuesday, for his blankets, and I told him I was not satisfied with him leaving.
4523 Why?— He might have stopped there for a month after, as the men might have had suspicion of me harboring detectives.
4524 Was he removed?— Yes, he told me he would be in Melbourne that night.
4525 What became of you?— I was left there by myself.
4526 Did you stay then?— Yes, from June to the 17th October.
4527 Why did you come away then?— When the Kellys found that the man at my place was the groom at Younghusband's station, and he had also been in the law courts at Beechworth, and he had been stationed at Glenrowan three months as a porter on the railway, they told me. They called me all the names they could, and said I would harbor the police, and they came at night and often insulted me.
4528 Who came?— Patrick Lloyd came first, in the afternoon. He is brother to Tom Lloyd. He came riding past my paddock, I was sitting on top of my fence, and he said to me, “You b — old b — , we will have it in for you.” I did not say one word to him, and he said, “We will make it hot for you.” This was on the 16th, Saturday night. Two other men came to my place. I did not know them because it was dark. I ran away into my paddock, through stones and grass in my place, and yelled out. I ran away and went in the morning at four o'clock. Walked 13 miles into Benalla.
4529 Have you been driven out of your place solely in consequence of what you did in the Kelly matters?— Most decidedly.
4530 Do you believe the outlaws kept about that quarter?— At times they came there very often.
4531 To Tom Lloyd's?— To Tom Lloyd's very often. I knew that all along they came there very often.
4532 Did you know Byrne?— I did not.
4533 But you knew Dan Kelly and Ned you say?— I never knew other than those two.
4534 What means of support has Patsy Lloyd; how do they occupy their time?— They never do anything but ride about.
4535 Did you ever hear of them as connected with horse-stealing, or anything of that kind?— I often heard them say so, but I knew nothing about it. I know that is what they are supposed to live on —they must live on something.
4536 They did not occupy themselves in any honest work—farming, and so on?— No.
4537 Is there much connection between the house of the Lloyd’s and the Kellys?— Yes, they are always back and forwards.
4538 Are there always a lot of people stopping at Lloyd's?— Yes, strangers.
4539 Are they residents, or were they strange faces?— They are all friends; that is, a meeting of the whole of the outlaws' friends.....
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