Royal Commission report day 19 page 30
The Royal Commission evidence for 13/5/1881
(see also introduction to day 19)
'Const Thomas Kirkham giving evidence'
6657 You did not see his position at all?— I did not.
6658 Did you return to the railway station for more ammunition?— Yes.
6659 Did you get it?— On the way Mr. O'Connor called me, and asked me if I was going to the railway station, and I said, “Yes, I was”; and I asked him if he had any word to send to the railway station; and he asked me to see how the ladies were that were in the carriage, and I went over to the railway station.
6660 What ladies?— Mrs. O’Connor and another.
6661 Did you get ammunition?— No, I could not find any.
6662 What did you do?— I got a lot of bread off the platform, and went back to where Mr O'Connor was.
6663 Where was he then?— He was then standing in what has been talked of since as a drain so I intended to return from there to where I came from, but Mr. O'Connor said he would recommend me to stay there.
6664 Was it a secure place from the shot?— Yes, it was a very good position.
6665 Were the black boys close to him?— I only saw two at that time on his left, round the other side of the fence where I came from.
6666 How many rounds of ammunition had you used at this time?— Twenty.
6667 Have you any idea how many you used the whole day?— No, not the slightest idea.
6668 Did you use forty or fifty, or upwards?— I may have used forty.
6669 Where did you get fresh from, and what quantity?— I got some ammunition about eleven o'clock , I think.
6670 Not before?— No.
6671 What quantity did you get then?— I think I got twenty—two packages, ten in each.
6672 You used up the whole of it?— I do not think I did quite.
6673 Did you stay beside Mr. O'Connor all this time?— Well, I think I left him shortly after Mr Sadleir came. Mr. Sadleir sent me over to the railway station to get provisions for the men, to sent it round.
6674 What time?— About half-past five in the morning, as near as I could say. I arrived at three. We were confused all day about the time.
6675 Just about daylight?— Just about daylight he sent me to get provisions.
6676 Where was Mr. Sadleir at this time?— Talking to Mr. O'Connor.
6677 In the drain?— Yes.
6678 You were standing together?— Yes.
6679 Did you carry provisions round without being under cover in any way?— I brought some from the station, and gave it to some of the men.
6680 What men?— I do not know. I think they all refused it but one, that was Constable Kenny. It appeared they had got some, before I got there, from somebody else.
6681 Was there any danger in going round with provisions?— There was danger; you were exposed to the fire of the outlaws.
6682 Did the outlaws fire very rapidly from the building?— Yes. When I left for those provisions, I think Mr. O'Connor and the trackers gave them a volley from there, at the window, so that the outlaws should not get a shot at me when I was going.
6683 Did the outlaws fire very rapidly?— Not at that time; I would not say very rapidly.
6684 What were your instructions with reference to firing high?— I think the first instructions from Mr. Sadleir were to fire high.
6685 What was the meaning of firing high?— I think some of the men had learned before this that there were civilians in the house, and they were lying on the floor.
6686 Could you fire with that accuracy, so that you could know whether you were firing high or not at any part of the morning?— I think so. It was not very dark.
6687 To fire within six inches?— You could see the windows, and fire.
6688 Did you fire just at the windows?— Yes, we fired higher than the windows.
6689 Would you not fire over the men's heads possibly?— It was possible, certainly.....
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