Royal Commission report day 23 page 15
The Royal Commission evidence for 31/5/1881
(see also introduction to day 23)
Sgt Steele giving evidence
9052 Would you say it was a revolver or a rifle bullet?— I think a rifle bullet, judging from the manner in which the boot was torn.
9053 How do you account for the rifle being covered with blood?— It was from the left arm that was wounded that the blood came.
9054 On the right?— Yes. His right hand was as right as possible; only the punctured wounds from the shots from the slugs he had got a few seconds before.
9055 I think you said you were at Sebastopol ?— Yes.
9056 Who gave y on instructions to go there?— A constable came out to Myrtleford for me, and I went in in the morning.
9057 Was that verbally or by official dispatch?— I think I had a memorandum.
9058 “Constable Steele will report himself, and attend at such and such a place”?— Yes. “Sergeant Steele to arrive at Beechworth before daylight in the morning”; I think that was the purport of it
9059 You know that district well?— Yes, I know that district as well as any man.
9060 Was Greta a sub-district attached to Wangaratta or Benalla?— Greta is nearer to Benalla.
9061 Which place is it visited from?— By police officers do you mean?
9062 Did you ever go there on duty to see if the station was right?— Yes, I was in the habit of inspecting that station.
9063 Then it would be inspected from Wangaratta?— Yes.
9064 From the sleepy inefficient appearance of Thom did you consider it your duty to report him specially?— Yes, I brought it under the notice of Mr. Smith, who was then in charge of the North-Eastern district.
9065 Can you say of your own knowledge whether the prosecutions for outrages were very frequent at the time Thom had charge?— I cannot remember any.
9066 Do you know that his predecessor had prosecutions at almost every court?— I know that before Thom they had a good number of cases.
9067 Do you consider that that impunity in Thom's time emboldened those men to break out as they finally did?— I think it encouraged them very much in horsestealing.
9068 In connection with bush offences, is it within your knowledge that the criminal classes are chiefly from that horse and cattle stealing class?— Yes, I think so; those that resort to bushranging.
9069 Cattle-duffing and so on?— Yes.
9070 When those men come into Wangaratta, are not they the class you watch principally?— Yes; they usually get a little drink, and are what is called flash, rowdy men.
9071 You are a mounted sergeant, are you not?— Yes.
9072 What is the difference of position in the service between the foot and mounted men?— I do not see that there is any difference; as a rule, I think a foot sergeant generally gets on better in the service; a mounted sergeant is generally stationed in remote places in the country, and has not so good a chance of getting on.
9073 What difference is there in the pay?— The pay is the same; so I understand. I think I get the same as a second class foot sergeant.
9074 In your opinion, is a foot constable in charge of a station which has a large area of bush land as effective in the bush as a man who is accustomed to riding?— I do not think so.
9075 He cannot be, in your opinion?— I do not think so. He should be able to go out himself at any time. I know I have a good deal more confidence in going out myself to knock about in the bush than to send a young mounted constable.
9076 If you were in charge of a station like Wangaratta, how many men would you have under you?— Three mounted men and the mounted sergeant.
9077 How many men have you in immediate charge at Wangaratta?— I had only three before the Kellys broke out.
9078 As sergeant, if you had a special case to arrest in the bush–a man charged with an outrage of a violent character–would you go yourself to execute that warrant?— I certainly would.
9079 Is it the usage for a foot sergeant, in such a case, to delegate that work, which you say you would do yourself, to one of his men?— He might, if he had not a horse himself
9080 As a rule, do they do it?— I think they do not.....
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