Royal Commission report day 41 page 11
The Royal Commission evidence for 2/8/1881
(see also introduction to day 41)
Mr James Wallace sworn and examined
14415 By the Commission— What are you?— State school teacher at Yes, formerly at the Hurdle Creek, Oxley, near the King River .
14416 You are aware that the pursuit of the Kellys was carried very actively some time ago in the North-Eastern district?— Yes.
14417 The Commission understands that you were in communication with the police upon some occasions?— I was in communication with the police, but was never in their pay. I never asked for any pay nor received any. I declined the offer. I did receive some money, but only for actual expenses.
14418 How much did you get?— I could not say.
14419 Would you be surprised if you heard?— From £70 to £80, I daresay, altogether.
14420 You say you were not specially employed by the police?— I was not employed; not receiving any remuneration whatever, and I was paid my actual expenses.
14421 What agreement did you make when you agreed to give them information?— I will read an extract from my diary at the time I made the arrangement with Mr. Nicolson .
14422 Had you any arrangement with any one before Mr. Nicolson ?— No, none whatever.
14423 No other officer?— No, none that I remember.
14424 What led to any communication that took place between you and the police?— In December 1878, after the commission of the Mansfield murders by the Kelly gang, and seeing the difficulty the police had in capturing them;—hearing also that they would commit further outrages, and knowing I might be able to assist in the suppression of crime, I wrote a letter to Captain Standish offering my assistance to him. Of course I understood the offer to him that it was free, gratis, not with any intention of participating in the reward or receiving any remuneration for my services.
14425 What motive had you?— Simply in the interests of society, to suppress crime.
14426 What special qualification had you?— I knew Byrne; he was an old schoolmate of mine, and I knew the country. I had my suspicions that Byrne was one of the gang, and I knew the places they would be likely to go to, and the ranges they would be likely to frequent, and the friends who would be most likely to assist them.
14427 Have you a copy of that letter to Captain Standish ?— No.
14428 The first letter you wrote to Captain Standish was of what nature?— Offering my services.
14429 To do what?— To assist them in capturing the outlaws.
14430 Were you acquainted with either of the Kellys ?— No; not at all.
14431 Having made the offer to Captain Standish in writing, what answer did you receive?— I received a very courteous reply from Captain Standish declining my offered services. He would be very glad to hear anything, but he at present did not require anything further.
14432 Have you preserved that letter?— No, I did not think it desirable to preserve any.
14433 Having declined that, what led you subsequently to offer any assistance to the police?— On the 23rd July 1879 , I was honored by a visit from the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr. Nicolson . He said he called to have a few minutes conversation with me in reference to the outlaws. He remembered seeing a letter from me in December last.
14434 That is the letter you have already alluded to?— Yes. He referred to the fact of my having been a schoolmate of Byrne's, to my knowledge of the district generally, and asked me when I had seen Byrne last, and several other particulars. He wanted to know my impression as to the present whereabouts of the gang. I gave it as my opinion that they had gone into winter quarters; that is, that they were not travelling about, but were settled for the winter. I told the impressions and facts I had as regards their previous movements, life pursued, tactics observed, and mode of living, as far as I could learn from hints let drop by their friends.
14435 You say you told him the facts?— No, I did not mean the facts exactly, but the impressions I formed—that would be a better word.
14436 Was there anything, beyond hearsay, that led you to give this information to the police?— Nothing beyond hearsay; no personal knowledge.
14437 You had never seen Byrne?— Not since the commission of the murders.
14438 Had you ever heard from him directly or indirectly?— Indirectly through others I had heard of him.
14439 Indirectly, from Byrne did you ever receive any direct message?— Yes, latterly; not then.
14440 Up to that time you have been speaking of, had you ever, through a second party, received a message direct from Byrne?— I did.....
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