Royal Commission report day 23 page 14
The Royal Commission evidence for 31/5/1881
(see also introduction to day 23)
Sgt Steele giving evidence
9035 That was the third shot you had seen him fire and missed on each occasion?— He fired five rounds the first occasion. He did not seem to hit any person. He would bring his hand very steadily, like this–[indicating by gesture]. They were a long distance from him–no man within fifty or sixty yards of him except Healy, who stopped till he came thirty yards up, but he had not a charge in his revolver because he presented his revolver at Healy but it did not go off. '
9036 Have you a high opinion of Ned Kelly as a marksman?— I did not think anything of him as a marksman. I was between him and the house. I can only judge from the remark he made that he thought I was “foxing” when the dirt had been thrown up in my eye as I was kneeling down. I ran up to him, then I saw the shot hit him about the hand, and he jumped back a little, and he called out, “Come out, boys, and we will whip the lot of them.” He was then on sideways to me, and he was taking an aim at the railway station when I fired the first shot at him.
9037 Was he firing at the railway station?— People collected about at the fence.
9038 The reporters, and so on .?— I think so. My intention was to club him, but he saw me coming as he passed by, and he turned round and covered me with his revolver, and tried to bring it to hear on me, so I shot him on the outside of the right leg, about the knee. He staggered back from the first shot I gave him–a yard or so back, and he was in the act of raising his hand up when I fired a second shot at his hand and hip, as he tried to raise his hand. He was trying to raise the revolver again, and when he got the second shot he dropped, and sang out, “That is enough; I am done.” I then ran towards him. When I got within about two yards of him he put the revolver back, and the helmet fell off his head at the moment he touched the ground. I saw at once who it was. He put his revolver back. and I ran round and caught the revolver, and he fired it off and blew my hat off and just missed my ear. I wrenched the revolver out of his hand, and seized him by the beard till Senior-Constable Kelly, Constable Bracken and others came up.
9039 Did you then take him down to the station?— I helped to take him down to the station. I was holding him down when the constables came up. There was a little water-way close by a sandy creek, and the men in turning him over threw him over the top of me. I was holding him down, and I had my leg severely hurt in the groin, and I helped to carry him down; but when I sat beside him I could scarcely sit, and I could not knock about after without the assistance of a rifle to lean on. When we carried him down–Constable Bracken and I carried him down–we took him into the van; it was a little above the station, and Mr. Sadleir and some others came into the van. There was a bullet or something struck there, and Mr. Sadleir considered it was not safe, and told me I had better take him into the station house.
9040 Was that the first time you saw Mr. Sadleir?— Yes.
9041 By Mr. Sadleir— You heard my voice?— I heard your voice coming down from the train. Mr. Sadleir could have been about without my seeing him.
9042 By the Commission— I only ask was that the first time?— That was the first time I saw Mr. Sadleir to speak to.
9043 Do you know anything further about the Glenrowan affair?— No, I did nothing during that day. I saw occasionally; I would limp outside and have a look; I could see the men firing in the house. It was about, I should think, a quarter to seven in the morning that Kelly was arrested–a little before the sun rose; and from that time until I left I was looking after Ned Kelly, except just occasionally I was relieved for a moment. I mentioned to Mr. Sadleir I was hurt, and he said I had better look after Kelly.
9044 Did he smell of spirits?— Not when he was arrested.
9045 Do you think he was under the influence of drink at the time you arrested him?— No he spoke quite soberly. He said “Steady, do not break; my fingers,” when I wrenched the revolver out of his hand.
9046 Did you look at his wounds then?— We did.
9047 How many wounds were fresh and how many old?— He seemed to have a mark on the foot by the toe and on the arm.
9048 Were those recent?— No, old wounds; but all the shot marks and wounds in his hands were fresh. They did not bleed till I seized his wrist, when the blood shot out.
9049 Those would be done by double-barrelled guns?— Yes, they were slugs, for, as I seized his hands, the blood gushed out.
9050 Did you see the mark where he was shot in the foot?— I did.
9051 Was that a bullet or slug?— I think it was a bullet.....
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