Royal Commission report day 2 page 17
The Royal Commission evidence for 24/3/1881
(see also introduction to day 2 )
Assistant Commissioner Nicholson giving evidence
552 Then you absolutely deny there was any procrastination?- I do most decidedly.
553 Were the members of the artillery force then stationed?- No, not until after. When I returned to Euroa-I had been very ill all that time, I mean nearly blind and suffering great pain from my eyes. We got in about six in the morning, and I got the men all to bed, and I lay down myself, but I got no sleep. I could not sleep, and in the course of the morning Captain Standish arrived by the morning train, on the 12th, and he consulted me about what was best to be done, and we decided to start off a party into the Strathbogie ranges, but I told him I was quite unfit to join the party. I was almost quite blind at this time. I was suffering great pain. We agreed to despatch a party that night into the Strathbogie ranges, and Mr. Hare was sent for to relieve me in consequence of the state I was in.
554 Was it your impression at this time that the sympathizers of the outlaws were watching the movements of the police wherever you went through the Kelly district?- Yes; I had no faith in anything that was done by the police except it was done in the most secret way possible. I have evidence to prove that at this very time I had no faith in the matter. I wrote a letter at that time to town that this galloping after these men-
555 To the department?- No, a private letter stating that we would get these men no doubt, but this galloping after them through the country was perfectly useless.
556 Because your movements were watched by sympathizers?- Yes, and I knew those fellows were too clever to be caught by a party galloping after them.
557 And that is how they got their information, by their own spies?- Yes.
558 To whom did you write?- Well, it is a very delicate matter -it is a letter I wrote to my wife.
559 Did you write to Captain Standish or any officer to the same effect?- No.
560 Irrespective of this private letter, will any document be found showing that you stated that this system of galloping about would be ineffectual?- No. I had hardly any correspondence with Captain Standish at that time; I was doing the outdoor work and Mr. Sadleir did the correspondence.
561 You still continued that system of galloping?- Up to the time of the bank robbery; after that I did not. I did so because there was such an outcry at that time about search parties, and about the police not doing anything, and I knew at that time it was no use attempting to confine our efforts to secret work, we must have made some demonstration because of public opinion.
562 I understood you had supreme control of all the operations placed under your charge?- Yes.
563 If there was anything to complain of with regard to tactics, were you not solely responsible for any mistake made?- Yes.
564 Then wherein lay the necessity for any complaint; if there was anything wrong with the proceedings, were you not responsible, and independent, and equally capable of carrying out any other plan?- I was responsible distinctly; the Chief Commissioner gave me carte blanche.
565 Why did you not alter the plan?- I would have done so, but I was removed; but what I wrote at that time was the conclusion I had arrived at then from the experience I had gained.
566 At what time did you arrive at that conclusion that it was useless?-[The witness looked for a letter.]-I can get it.
567 Could you fix about the date you had made up your mind to alter the plan of operations of which you had full control?- I cannot say; I made up my mind to alter the operations. The last party I came in from was that Fern Hill party, and it was about that date; that was about the 10th.
568 You made up your mind about that time to alter? Yes ..
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