Royal Commission report day 3 page 5
The Royal Commission evidence for 25/3/1881
(see also introduction to day 3 )
Assistant Commissioner Nicholson giving evidence
731 Are we led to believe that this saving was in consequence of the new policy adopted by you on arriving at Benalla?- Yes.
732 Because, on your abandoning the search parties, you did not need so many horses to be kept in the stables?- No; the horses for search parties I did not stable.
733 And the horses were more effective under this method than stable fed?- Yes. I was continually travelling about the country myself, seeing people, and making acquaintances of people in all directions, and making friends, and trying to induce farmers and others to assist; and the men were doing the same, inducing people to see me, or making engagements to come and meet me. I always found them at the time very desirous to assist, but it was always about a month after that one of them would come in and give information, making it nearly a month old. At first it resulted in their never giving any information until it was about a month old.
734 Had they been in possession of this information a month?- Sometimes for a month; then gradually it was reduced to about a fortnight, and occasionally their information latterly, in some cases, would be about a week old. I have in my hand a return of police expenditure in connection with the search of the gang of outlaws.
735 From what date to what?- From October 26th 1878, three days before the outrage, until December the 12th 1878, the day I was relieved. The railway charges were £703 15s. 7d. -that was on account of the first reinforcements sent up. [The witness handed in the following document]:-
During that period, up to the time I was relieved, the expenditure was £3,407 l9s. 11d. From December 13th, the day after I was relieved, until July the 7th, when I returned, the expenditure was £11,3,1 5s. 4d. From July the 8th 1879, when I began duty, to May 31st 1880, the amount was £6,772 15s. 7d.
736 That is the two occasions you were on duty. The other occasion Captain Standish was on cut?- Yes.
737 Can you account for the increase?- This account, on examination, will explain itself. From June 1st 1880, that is, when I yes superseded by Mr. Hare, till June 28th, £673 15s. lid.
738 From where are those records obtained?- From the accountant.
739 Then the accountant of the department will have all the detailed expenditure in connection with this matter?- All the details, I believe, have gone to the office. Then I gradually obtained agents employed on secret service, and after a time succeeded in collecting four. All I can recollect that I kept and paid regularly for any time were four. Those men were not on the whole of the time, but some at one time and some at another.
740 Were there any women engaged?- No, not that I am aware of. There were other persons that gave me information from time to time, in addition to those casual men, in a casual way, that I may have given a pound or two. I have employed, on an occasion, a man I could rely upon to visit a certain hut at midnight and watch it, where a policeman could not go, or a stranger could not go-a man in the confidence of those people and whose appearance there would have attracted no notice; but that was very seldom, and sometimes I have given a man ten shillings less. I obtained the assistance of a few people, and a great many assisted me from time to time.
741 All under pay?- No, a few occasionally; and persons who could do what I wanted. without being remarked I ascertained in a very short time. I had information of the outlaws within about a month or six weeks of my arrival; circumstantial and positive information. My first object in going up was to ascertain whether they were in the district or not positively, and I found within about six weeks that it was as I had stated, that they were in the district. The information, at that time, always came too late. Gradually I began to get nearer and nearer to those men and more familiar with hearing about them; but I felt satisfied at last, from the information I was getting, that they would fall into my hands, as many other men of the game description, not quite so notorious, have fallen into the hands of the police with me; that I would have them arrested with ease. As time wore on, they were remarking the absence and non-appearance of the police, and were getting the notion once or twice, and expressed the notion, that the police were afraid of them, and that was the reason that there was no stir at that time; in fact all through towards the end...
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