Royal Commission report day 26 page 10
The Royal Commission evidence for 7/6/1881
(see also introduction to day 26)
Mr Melvin giving evidence
10208 Where did you see him first?— On the platform.
10209 You saw him in conversation with Kelly?— Yes.
10210 Where did you see him on the field next taking part in the proceedings?— I cannot fix the definite time.
10211 Can you fix the place on that plan where you saw him?— No, I cannot until the burning of the house.
10212 Is it altogether a blank in your mind where and when and what he did?— No; I saw him about the platform, and I remember seeing him walking towards this gate—[pointing to the plan]—about seven o'clock in the morning.
10213 After the capture of Kelly and the time you saw Mr. Sadleir in conversation with Kelly at the station, will you fix any point where you saw Mr. Sadleir in the field?— Yes, he was to the right of the house when the prisoners came out—about that position—[pointing to the plan]
10214 Did you see Mr. Sadleir at any time actively engaged in the field between the capture of Kelly and the time you saw him when the prisoners came out?— No, I do not remember.
10215 Would you tell us whether you saw Mr. Sadleir giving any instructions to the police under his charge, except at that time?— I never saw him giving instructions to the police under his charge. I never saw anyone giving instructions.
10216 Was anybody else except Senior-Constable Kelly giving instructions to the police from the time Mr. Hare left?— I say I did not see anyone giving instructions.
10217 Will you tell us why you differ from Mr. Carrington when he says the police had no one to give instructions after Mr. Hare left?— Because Senior-Constable Kelly was there, and seemed very busy, and kept things right until morning, when Mr. Sadleir arrived.
10218 What time did Mr. Sadleir arrive?— Between five and six—just before daylight.
10219 When the only officer you saw after Mr. Hare left in the morning, giving instructions to the police, was Senior-Constable Kelly?— I did not see him giving instructions.
10220 As far as you know, neither Kelly nor Mr. Sadleir gave instructions to the police?— As far as I know. I did not hear them.
10221 Was there any impression that anyone had charge?—Kelly told us what he was doing when he came to the platform, but we were not present to hear him giving the orders. The other constables told us that Kelly had placed them at certain trees and had supplied them with ammunition.
10222 Then your impression from those statements was that Kelly took charge of the whole operations when Mr. Hare left?— Yes.
10223 Until Mr. Sadleir came?— Yes, certainly. I disagree from Mr. Carrington in thinking that there was a want of officers or want of supervision on the part of the officers. I speak now first of Mr. Hare, the next place of Senior-Constable Kelly, and then Mr. Sadleir. With regard to Mr. Sadleir, after Ned Kelly had been caught, and the prisoners had escaped from the hotel, there were at least two of the outlaws inside alive and in armour and fighting; they were fighting up to one o'clock; there were plenty of policemen there to rush the place; and Mr. Sadleir's position seemed to be this— “Would I be justified in rushing this place, and throwing away probably half a dozen lives; is there another way of accomplishing the same end?” and he ultimately decided to burn the place, and thereby secure his object without losing any lives.
10224 What reporter suggested the cannon?— I do not believe anyone did. I did not.
10225 What did you think of that proposition yourself?— I was surprised when I heard of it. I went to Mr. Sadleir to ask if it was true. He said it was, and wished me to say nothing about it till it arrived.
10226 You were not the reporter that suggested it?— No, certainly not.
10227 Did you hear any suggestion that any of the police should put on Ned Kelly's armour and rush the building?— No.
10228 Did you approve of burning the hotel in order to destroy the men?— Yes.
10229 No other course suggested itself to your mind?— There were other courses open. That was the safest one, and I did not consider it was worth while throwing away other lives for the sake of those two outlaws.
10230 Was there no danger to Johnson in approaching the hotel?— Not much.
10231 Would there have been any more for any persons rushing it?— Yes; because the outlaws could be able to shoot down with their revolvers three or four or five or six of the men as they entered the house before they could lay hands on them.....
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