Royal Commission report day 34 page 7
The Royal Commission evidence for 29/6/1881
(see also introduction to day 34)
'SConst Flood giving evidence'
12589 Is he the father of young Tom Lloyd and Paddy Lloyd?— Yes. Then I got up a case against James Kelly and William Williamson for cattle stealing. That is the brother of the outlaws and a person living in the house, but not known to us previous to that. They were convicted–got four years each. I found out the cattle were stolen before the owners knew of the cattle being taken, and went to Wangaratta and got some assistance from the police there, and they were arrested. I gained the case against them. I think those are the only ones.
12590 Mose or less members of this family were arrested for criminal offences during the whole time you were there?— Yes. Ned Kelly was in gaol during nearly all the time I was at Greta. I only saw him once or twice after he came out, a few months before I left Greta.
12591 For what sort of offences?— For horse stealing.
12592 Did not those people and the relations keep you and other constables stationed there continually watching?— They did.
12593 Day and night?— On many occasions we were out at night; and on one occasion a detective was sent up to assist us, and we did some night duty then.
12594 When you were ordered from the district were there not petitions sent in from magistrates and residents to retain you in consequence of the way you had dealt with those criminals?— There were; but it was not exactly from Greta station, but ten miles from Greta, but still it was in the Kelly country; and my reason for leaving Greta of my own accord was the house was so unhealthy my family could not live in it, and I was anxious to be in a place where plenty of work was to be done, where I could have a chance of being promoted; and I applied to go to Oxley, where the people knew me.
12595 Was not Oxley as much in the centre of the Kelly country as Greta?— Yes.
12596 And nearer to Glenmore?— Yes.
12597 Have you any information as to how those people came to that district originally?— No, I have not, except by hearsay.
12598 Have you any well authenticated rumor or hearsay that they were originally convicts in New South Wales?— No, I never heard of their being in New South Wales at all. The first I heard of them was their being about the Duck Ponds, or somewhere near Beveridge.
12599 When at Greta did you know Scanlan, the murdered man?— Yes.
12600 Where was he?— I do not know where he was at the time exactly, but I knew him before I joined the police force.
12601 Was he at Broken River ?— No. Kennedy was there the most time I was at Greta.
12602 Is it a fact that Kennedy and you were continually after one or other of what was known as the Kelly mob?—Kennedy and I arrested two or three men for stealing a horse from the Kellys themselves, at the Falls River; and I know from conversations that I had with Kennedy that he was a good deal after them.
12603 That is only from hearsay and conversations with Kennedy?— Yes; he was never in company with me going after the Kellys themselves.
12604 How did the Kelly family support themselves when you went to Greta?— They seemed to have a very miserable way of living, and the general impression was that what they got they did not get by honesty. They were suspected of stealing sheep from neighboring squatters.
12605 Did the Lloyds live near them?— They did.
12606 Was Lloyd convicted of sheep stealing from Mr. MacBain during your time?— No.
12607 Do you know he was convicted?— I cannot swear it; I heard it only.
12608 It was stated at the time of the murders of the police that Ned Kelly had a very great down upon you, and would roast you?— Yes.
12609 Did you give him any reason for that–as a fact would it be justified by any reason to your knowledge?— The only reason he could have any personal animosity to me was through one occasion I met him at O'Brien's, at the public house close by, and he pretended to be drunk on that occasion, and he made use of some insulting words to me, and I said to him, “You had better look out, Ned. Now you are out you had better keep yourself as straight as you can.” I said, “If I ever have to lay my hands on you it is not Hall you will have to deal with.”
12610 What did that mean?— That if I had to encounter Kelly I would give him worse than Hall did when he arrested him. When Hall arrested him he assaulted him, and Hall had great difficulty in taking him to the lock-up.....
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