Royal Commission report day 2 page 18
The Royal Commission evidence for 24/3/1881
(see also introduction to day 2 )
Assistant Commissioner Nicholson giving evidence
569 Was that feeling growing upon you?- It was.
570 That was the process?- Yes.
571 You found that you were wasting strength and could not catch them?- Exactly.
572 How long had you been in charge of the Benalla district?- Then about six weeks.
573 Only six weeks?- That is all.
574 Did you, at the interview with Captain Standish on the 12th, communicate verbally that it was a mistake to follow out this system of search parties?- No, I do not think so.
575 Did you to any other officer subordinate to yourself?- No; at this time I was taken up talking of other matters.
576 You intended to reverse the policy; you were in continual communication and conversation with Mr. Sadleir?- Yes.
577 Have you at any time in conversation with him expressed the opinion that an alteration should take place in the mode of procedure?- I have no recollection of it, but I think it is very probable
578 Can you say you did?- No; I think it is very possible I did.
579 I suppose on the morning of the 12th a general conversation took place between you and Captain Standish when you met at Euroa?- No, not much.
580 I suppose there would be some conversation?- Yes.
581 Relating to the mode that had been pursued before?- No.
582 This is important. The conversation of necessity would not have been, "How is Mr. Jones, or Mr. Brown," but naturally confined to the Kelly business?- To this Euroa outrage.
583 During that conversation did you say, "I am very unwell, and I have arrived at the conclusion that we ought to alter the procedure"?- I cannot recollect.
584 Then, as far as you recollect, you never communicated your determination to anyone in the police force?- No; I do not say the determination, I say the opinion; and on looking at the letter I find I used that expression. I felt quite heart broken-our work and worry, and no result from it.
585 Had your state of health permitted, and you had not been removed by Captain Standish, in all probability you would have continued the same mode of operation for some time after the bank robbery?- No. I would have continued this pursuit until it was exhausted, and then I should have proposed to Captain Standish another system.
586 What do you mean by "exhausted"?- Pursued the party into the Strathbogie ranges, given them a thorough search, as was done, and if any information had come in about their being anywhere. I would have sent the police in search of them; but I intended then, if no result occurred from that, I should have proposed another system.
587 Then you were consulted about this special party that was despatched into the Strathbogie country?- Yes.
588 And at that time you had your mind made up that if that resulted in no special effect-?- I did not say my mind made up, but the opinion I had formed.
589 I understood you to say that you would exhaust that system, and you explained what you meant by that, and you had made up your mind that when that party went out, that was to be the end of that system of procedure-is that so?- Yes...
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