Royal Commission report day 25 page 17
Story of the KellyGang - the Royal Commission Report
The Royal Commission evidence for 2/6/1881
(see also introduction to day 25)
[[../../people/peC/chomleyPsup.html|Sup Hussey Malone Chomle]] [[../../people/peC/chomleyPsup.html|y]] giving evidence
9889 Could you tell us now of any special abilities, possessed by Mr. O'Connor in the management of the trackers?— I understand, and, I believe, correctly, that Mr. O'Connor has been with the trackers for years—some seven years before he came here; and I know those black trackers, from what I was told over there, require very delicate handling.
9890 Do you know any special aptitude he displayed in Victoria with them?— No, I never saw that.
9891 Was any information on that supplied by the officers up there in the North-Eastern district?— All of them. I heard every one of them speak in his favour.
9892 There have been no recommendation made in those reports about him?— No. I showed some of these reports to Mr. Berry , and I said I thought I ought to go up to Benalla about them. This was on a Thursday. I told him I would like to go up and see the officers; and he said, “Very well.” I went up on Friday, and came down on Friday night. On Saturday I went to Mr. Berry and told him, by means of my rough notes, pretty much what I am telling you now; and he said, “What do you propose now”; and I began to tell him what I intended to do, and he said, “I think you had better put your suggestions in writing, and let me have it on Monday, when I come to the office.” This was after twelve o'clock on Saturday, and before I left my office I drafted out that report, and on Monday I wrote it out. I spoke at Benalla to Mr. Sadleir, and he said, “If you recommend that, it will be a most unpopular appointment”; and I said, “I have to do it in self-defence; I am responsible, and I must do something.”
9893 Then you had some conversation with Mr. Sadleir about it?— Yes.
9894 Did you make any enquires from Sergeant Whelan as to the management of the troopers by Constable Kirkham?— No. I did not consider Sergeant Whelan was competent to judge.
9895 You did not think it worth while to ask whether Constable Kirkham was able to manage those blackfellows?— No.
9896 Did you know the officer who had charge of them at Benalla?— Constable Kirkham, I believe. I knew he had been placed in charge.
9897 You did not think it worth while to enquire whether he had made himself master of the position, and could manage them as well as Mr. O'Connor?— I did not know whom I could ask, or who would be a judge of that.
9898 Did you know, of your own knowledge, that Kirkham had been with Mr. O'Connor with his blacks?— Yes.
9899 Is this the fact, that you simply recommended Mr. O'Connor to the position in the North Eastern district because he had been for some time an officer in the Queensland police, in charge of the black trackers?— Yes, and for other reasons. Mr. O'Connor's name was quite sufficient to keep this gang from breaking out. Also from all that has gone forward in this Commission and the papers before, and from Mr. Hare's report. Mr. Hare states that as long at Mr. 0'Connor stayed there the gang would not come out, and as soon as Mr. O'Connor left they did come out, and as soon as they did come out they sent for Mr. O'Connor again.
9900 Do you know under what circumstances Mr. O'Connor left the Queensland police?— No. I know very little about Mr. O'Connor at present. I saw him only just before I went to Queensland , so the I cannot speak myself from any personal experience about him; but all the officers that had been with him until this unfortunate quarrelling commenced, spoke of him in the highest terms. I asked Mr. Sadleir first of all. I said something about the black trackers, “Are they much use ?” The expression he made use of—nod he did not know what was the object of my question—was, “The fact is that our men do not understand them.” He did not know the reference—there was none to Mr. O'Connor then. And after that I said, “I am going to recommend Mr. O'Connor to come back again;” and he said it would be a most unpopular appointment.
9901 What did you understand by that?— That he was not liked by the men; that they would not like a stranger coming over them.
9902 What men?— The sub-officers and men.
9903 That there would be a jealousy?— Yes. Mr. Sadleir stated in his evidence that the Kellys never showed themselves after Mr. O'Connor came here with the trackers scarcely.....
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