Royal Commission report day 24 page 1
The Royal Commission evidence for 1/6/1881
(see also introduction to day 24)
Sgt Steele giving evidence
Present:
Hon. F. LONGMORE, M.L.A., in the Chair;
W. Anderson , Esq., M.L.A., J. Gibb, Esq., M.L.A.,
E. J. Dixon, Esq., J.P., G. R. Fincham, Esq., M.L.A.,
J. H. Graves, Esq., M.L.A., G. W. Hall, Esq., M.L.A.
The Witness— Before proceeding I wish to amend my evidence of yesterday by altering the date on which I came from Mansfield from the 2nd November to 3rd November. It was Sunday the 3rd November I came from Mansfield to Benalla and took the special train.
9177 By Mr. O'Connor— You stated yesterday that you heard by wire at Wangaratta, through the station, that the special train containing Mr. Hare and party left Benalla at five minutes past two on the 28th June 1880?— Yes.
9178 What was the time–can you remember that–you heard the first firing at Glenrowan?— I should think about ten minutes past three.
9179 What time was it you heard that Mr. Hare returned to Benalla?— At the office, about half an hour after.
9180 That would be about twenty minutes to four?— Yes, as near as I can guess.
9181 You stated that constable Bracken told you Mr. Hare was wounded, and had left Glenrowan for Benalla?— No, I did not say that. He told me he was wounded, but he did not say anything about having left.
9l82 Can you remember exactly what Senior-Constable Kelly stated to you in reference to how things had gone on at Glenrowan when you arrived, when you first saw him?— He gave just a brief statement of what transpired at the first onset.
9183 Did he state to you about Mr. Hare being wounded, and what he did and said?— He said he was wounded, at the first volley he thought.
9184 Did he say he remained on the field or anything, can you remember?— No. He said he went to the station to get his wound dressed up or something–some remark about his going down. He was bleeding at the wrist a good deal.
9185 Did he tell you he saw Mr. Hare load and fire several shots after he was wounded?— No.
9186 We have heard several rumors and reports amongst the police–fallacies–could you state any conversation you ever heard in reference to Glenrowan connected with Senior-Constable Kelly or any person that you know?— If I was to state all I heard in connection with the Glenrowan affair
9187 The capture of Ned Kelly?— It would not appear like the capture of Ned Kelly at all if I told all the stories I heard about it. I know that about five minutes after, one constable came to me and said there is a lot of constables there intend to swindle you out of the arrest of Ned Kelly.
9188 By the Commission— Who was that?— Constable Montfort.
9189 By Mr. O’Connor— Who were the men who were supposed to be in this scheme; did you see any one?— Well, I saw three or four men together down there, Constable Arthur and Phillips. I saw Senior-Constable Kelly was a little from them at the time, he was not exactly with them at the time.
9190 Do you remember the enquiry at Beechworth where Senior-Constable Kelly swore that the indiscriminate and heavy fire was on the part of the Queensland police?— Yes, I did hear him say the blackfellows were blazing away at anything and everything.
9191 The words that he made use of were something to that effect, that the indiscriminate and heavy firing was on the part of the Queensland police?— He did make the remark on one occasion, I believe.
9192 From your knowledge of what took place at Glenrowan, would that be true; did not every one fire as much as they liked–was there any restriction?— I do not think there was any restriction from what I saw, because when the outlaws came out at the northern side of the house, as Mr. Sadleir came down the line, the moment they fired Mr. Reardon was running through the fence, getting away. At the time they fired I also fired at the boy Reardon, and there was a regular volley fired all round, and it lasted several minutes
9193 By the Commission— The police must have been on the ground two hours before you arrived?— Yes.
9194 You cannot express any opinion as to the firing before you arrived?— No; there was complete silence when I arrived, and no firing for some time after. I understood from hearsay that there were only the two volleys that were fired at first when the train came up. I have heard that from the men that the shots I heard at Wangaratta, the volleys, were the only ones that had been fired at the first commencement; that is only hearsay.....
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