Royal Commission report day 28 page 4
The Royal Commission evidence for 9/6/1881
(see also introduction to day 28)
Insp William B. Montfort giving evidence
11035 By Mr. O'Connor — This work your trackers have been doing is play, one may say, but, supposing a great emergency arose, would you give the opinion that you would be quite competent to see whether those men did their work properly or not; say another gang came out, and there were murders and banks stuck up?— I think the trackers could be made to track just as well by the men that are there as they would even by the trackers you had.
11036 I am not speaking of that. I ask this—this is all play and child's work so far?— I do not call it that.
11037 Well, perhaps I am wrong?— It as nearly as possible approached what would have taken place if a murder had been committed—that is, the blacks were right up to a certain point twenty-four hours after the person was there that was supposed to commit the murder. The officer and the troopers with him rode their horses; when it came to a certain point, the officer dismounted and he went away on foot, and walked some miles on foot in and out through the most difficult places he could find, along rocky places and places denuded of vegetation; he selected every possible condition that was difficult, and I would not call that child's play; that was what would take place in case of murder.
11038 No, excuse me, it was different—those trackers and the men with them knew they had nothing to meet—if it had been a gang of four outlaws who, at the first moment of seeing the men, would shoot them, it would be different. The trackers knew they were running after Mr. Baber, in a friendly way, but, as a fact, has it not happened in the North-Eastern district that when trackers were on the tracks they swore they could not tell them, although the white men could actually see them?— No, I never heard of that. I can only speak of these trackers.
11039 Have you ever heard of this ease where two trackers did that?— I heard something of it, but I paid very little attention to it. Those trackers were, I think, natives of this colony.
11040 “Spider,” and another boy, New South Wales blacks?— I heard of “Spider.” I thought he was a Victorian, but I am not speaking of them at all. I am speaking of these six that are here now.
11041 Put the men in a position of danger, and I just ask you, what do you think?— I could not possibly express an opinion of what these men would do if they were placed in a position of danger, further than this, that I would have no hesitation in going myself with them, not the slightest.
11042 By the Commission— What effect would the appointment of Mr. O'Connor have on the rest of the force in the district — the general police. It was stated by Mr. Chomley, or rather Mr. Sadleir, that it would be very unpopular amongst the general body in the district?— Of course the appointment of any outsider to the police force as an officer, would be a very unpopular proceeding.
11043 You refer to any stranger?— I think any stranger would be unpopular.
11044 By Mr. O'Connor— You do not mean me personally?— I never heard any objection to you personally.
11045 By the Commission— Have you heard any one express the opinion, since you have been at Benalla, that the appointment of Mr. O'Connor would be very unpopular in the district?— I have.
11046 By whom?— Some of the police, but I could not remember who it was. I heard it in conversation.
11047 Would that be general talk?— Of course it only came that way, but I do not speak with everybody; they must be very particular friends of mine, or they would not broach the subject at all.
11048 Would the appointment of Mr. O'Connor to the charge of the black trackers, in the North-Eastern district, have a tendency to strike terror into the mind of the Kelly sympathizers, or any others that are likely to become troublesome in the district?— I cannot say whether it would or not—there is no means of consulting the persons who would be affected by it.
11049 My reason for asking that is in consequence of the statement of Mr. Chomley—he recommended the appointment of Mr. O'Connor, and said his appointment would be very popular amongst the people in the district, and he said it would create a feeling of terror in the minds of the Kelly sympathizers in the district. Has anything of that description come within your own knowledge since you have been there?— No.
11050 Were you at Benalla at the time Mr. Chomley visited the district?— No.
11051 Would the appointment of Mr. O'Connor cause much dissatisfaction in the force in the district?— I am sure it would; it would create great dissatisfaction in the whole force.....
Previous page / Next page
| ! | The text has been retyped from a microfiche copy of the original. We have taken care to reproduce this document but areas of the original text may been damaged. |
The previous day / next day . . . Royal Commission index
