Royal Commission report day 27 page 5
The Royal Commission evidence for 8/6/1881
(see also introduction to day 27)
Mrs Margaret Reardon giving evidence
10651 Has he suffered much in consequence?— He is suffering very much at present.
10652 What age is he?— He will be nineteen on the 17th of November next.
10653 What medical man has seen him?— Dr. Fitzgerald, of this town.
10654 What was this lad doing prior to the Glenrowan outrage?— He was working on a piece of ground his father selected.
10655 What has he been doing since?— Nothing; he has not been able to do anything.
10656 In consequences of the injury he sustained that day?— Yes.
10657 Have you the means to provide him with the requisite medical or surgical attention?— We provide him with the best we can.
10658 Are your means sufficient?— No, they are not.
10659 Did you apply to the Government for assistance at all?— His father did.
10660 To whom?— I cannot say to whom.
10661 Have you a certificate from Dr. Fitzgerald?— It is at home.
10662 Has anything been done to afford surgical assistance, in consequence of your husband's application?— No, nothing.
10663 Has Dr. Fitzgerald expressed any opinion on the lad?— Yes; he said the weather was too warm just then, but when the cold weather would come he thought he would be able to extract the bullet, though he said there was a good deal of butchering attached to it.
10664 Does your husband apply for any portion of the £8,000 reward?— No.
Mr. Graves — The papers, together with Dr. Fitzgerald's certificate, were presented by me on behalf of Mr. Reardon to the Chief Secretary, who told me he would forward them to the Reward Board.
10665 By the Commission (to the witness)— Is your son in town now?— Not just now.
10666 From the appearance of your son every day, do you think he is failing in health or that he is getting stronger?— He is getting weaker and failing in strength.
10667 Can you yourself tell where the bullet is, by feeling?— He can.
10668 Where is it?— Dr. Fitzgerald stated that it was buried in the muscle of his breast bone.
10669 Are you and his father anxious for the operation to be performed?— Of course anything his father thinks will do him good.
10670 You want him treated properly by some surgeon?— Yes. Dr. Fitzgerald stated that the boy wanted quietness and good nourishment, that he was very weak; his certificate stated that.
10671 Were you very much excited when you attempted to leave the house the second time?— I was, when I got into the yard, and found how I was treated by the police.
10672 Did you think your life was in danger?— Yes, indeed it was.
10673
10674 About your being shot—you stated that there was a constable behind a tree—how do you know it was a constable?— I knew it was a constable, for there were no others there.
10675 How do you knew who it was?— I found out who it was by enquiring.
10676 Remember you are speaking very strongly against that man?— I am.
10677 What is the evidence on which you say it was that particular man ?— I found out particularly that same afternoon. Sergeant Steele told my second oldest boy, some sixteen years of age, that it was he who shot him. Another lad from Winton—I think a son of Mr. Adhearn's—was speaking to my second boy about the shooting affair. The latter said, “My brother was shot,” and the other lad asked by whom, and Sergeant Steele made answer and said, “It was I who shot him,” so I think that is plain enough
10678 But whoever shot him was behind the tree?— Yes, that one particular large tree, close to the fence at the Wangaratta side—it might be a couple of yards or three. I never looked at the place since.
10679 You have also stated that Constable Arthur remonstrated with him for shooting—how do you say that?— I did not know him at the time, but two months afterwards I saw him and recognized him, and enquired as to his name, and found it was Constable Arthur.
10680 By Mr. O'Connor— You said when Sergeant Steele was firing at you the police at the station commenced to fire at you, and then you explained you meant the police in the trench in front of the house?— I could not say it was at me, but it was in the direction of the house.
10681 I understood by what you said that the police commenced to fire at you?— If they had fired towards the house from the platform while I was in front I would have been shot, but the firing towards the house at the time came from the front.
witness withdrew .....
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