Royal Commission report day 34 page 10
The Royal Commission evidence for 29/6/1881
(see also introduction to day 34)
'SConst Flood giving evidence'
12663 Did that document state that provisions would likely be conveyed from Mrs. Skillian's place to the log?— I think so.
12664 That this log would be a likely place for provisions, that the outlaws would come down for from time to time at night?— Yes.
12665 Did you receive any information from your officer after your arrival atBenalla and till the middle of November that provisions were so conveyed at night?— I do not recollect.
12666 Is it likely you would have forgotten it if he had done so?— I think it is scarcely likely I would have forgotten it.
12667 Were you or any other police constables at Benalla appointed to watch Mrs. Skillan's place to see if she conveyed provisions there?— No.
12668 You simply went to discover the hollow log where it was indicated to be?— Yes; and at the same time to report to one of the officers at Benalla if I was certain no provisions had been placed there from the appearance of the hollow log.
12669 Do you think if you thought over the circumstances, and had some little time, you could supply the date?— Not the date of that, because at that time we were going in and out of Benalla, and kept no dates. The duty was put to us in Benalla, and therefore we kept no dates.
12670 It is important to find out those things, and we want you to be as careful as you possibly can?— I am as careful as I can be. Those dates ought to be in the books at Benalla.
12671 Who was with you when you discovered this log–can you remember that?— No, I really cannot.
12672 Was Mullane with you?— I believe he was.
12673 Was Strachan with you?— I think not.
12674 How many should you imagine would be with you in that particular search party?— I think about five or six.
12675 You found this log on returning from Winton, on your way back to Benalla?— Yes.
12676 After finding that, how long did you remain in the locality?— I think we returned to Benalla that day.
12677 There was no watch party appointed to watch?— No.
12678 Do you know whether any watch party went out from Benalla from the time of your arrival and the time of the bank robbery at Euroa for the purpose of watching Mrs. Skillian's hut?— I do not know of my own knowledge. I was not one of any party. Relative to the log, if we had found any reason for remaining to watch the log, we would have done so. We were at liberty to do so.
12679 You do not know of any search party appointed for that purpose?— No.
12680 What was your special object in going to Winton?— We were sent there relative to a report which had come to some of the officers that the Kellys had been seen near the railway at Winton.
12681 When you got to Winton you failed to discover any traces?— There was no foundation for the information that was received about that.
12682 And on your way back you just made a search casually for this log?— I could not say whether it was casually on account of having this paper in my possession, or whether we had orders about it.
12683 You are certain you made your superior acquainted with this paper?— Decidedly; and I know that copy was given very much for my own information, and I know a copy was going to the Benalla office, and that paper with the plan was the one I had.
12684 Did you consider that was important information?— Decidedly, I did, at the time.
12685 And you made up your mind, after examining the log, that it had not been used?— Yes; the log was full of dust and cobwebs, and had not been used.
12686 Did it look as if it might have been used by the very man who gave you the information?— There was a big log with a large hollow in it.
12687 Are you certain that was the log?— We were quite certain from the description given in the correspondence; we made ourselves quite certain that it was the log.....
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