Royal Commission report day 49 page 13
Story of the KellyGang - the Royal Commission Report
The Royal Commission evidence for 6/9/1881
(see introduction to day 49)
Sup John Sadleir giving evidence
16763 If you or Mr. Hare had wanted to see that telegram, would you have had any difficulty to obtain it?— No; there were means to get it at Beechworth.
16764 You have seen the telegram since?— Yes.
16765 Does the telegram convey any orders about paying off agents?— I think I explained that it was misunderstood by Mr. Hare, in my opinion.
16766 By the Commission. —The question really is: what did Mr. Hare say to you after he received information from Detective Ward?— That was the only part of Mr. Nicolson's conduct that Mr. Hare called in question.
16767 Can you remember what Mr. Hare said?— He told me to the effect that he heard about the telegram, and asked if I could tell him anything about it.
16768 Did he express his surprise that Mr. Nicolson took such a course?— I do not remember; probably he would.
16769 Was not Mr. Hare considerably annoyed at the telegram being sent, then being under the impression that it was to discharge all the agents?— I could hardly tell you. No doubt Mr. Hare felt that there was something there that required explanation.
16770 Did he ever refer to it again after that night?— I could not possibly say; my answer would probably have prevented him, seeing I knew nothing at all about it.
16771 By Mr. Nicolson . — Will you look at that telegram?—[The witness did so.] (Question 1465.)
16772 Is that an order for the discharge of paid agents?— I can only say what I said before, that it withdrew your responsibility for any further payment to Tommy or his friends, and that if those were to be continued he must look to whoever succeeded you.
16773 Do you know what the watch party was sent for?— I did not then. I know now it was a watch party put in that part of the country where you were making that last search on Renwick 's information.
16774 By the Commission. — Which watch party was it?
Mr. Nicolson . — I had put a watch party for four days in the hut of Aaron Sherritt . That was a temporary watch party, on account of the appearance of the outlaws the previous week, and I took up a party of police with me from Benalla to scour the country, placing a watch party there.
16775 By Mr. Nicolson (to the Witness) . –You remember the day the Queensland trackers were sent away, on the Tuesday, from Benalla?— I remember their going.
16776 Were they sent away by Mr. Hare as part of a ruse, or did they go away by orders?— They went away by orders.
16777 Is this correct (Mr. Hare's report):— “The trackers were removed on the 25th June; the outlaws, believing they had left for Queensland , showed out on the 26th. On the 28th the gang was destroyed, and its leader captured”?— I could not tell what the outlaws believed; I do not know who could.
16778 Are you aware that the outlaws had laid that trap for the trackers as well as for the police?— So they said; but you cannot believe a word they said. I believe they did say so to Bracken, that they meant to have the trackers and Mr. Hare and Mr. O'Connor.
16779 By the Commission. —Then that statement of theirs would contradict Mr. Hare's statement?— I think it was a hasty assumption of Mr. Hare's.
16780 Did you not form the impression that the outlaws were afraid of the trackers during the time they were there?— There is no question about that.
16781 Then that bears out what Mr. Hare said?— They left on the 24th, and they could not get to Queensland on the 26 th. It is only quess-work.
Mr. Hare asked permission to read the whole of the paragraph in his report, and did so. (Appendix 3)
16782 By Mr. Nicolson (to the witness) . —That account you spoke of about all the agents was not that shelved in anticipation of Mr. Hare taking charge?— Yes.
16783 Were you and I not at least an hour in the office before Mr. Hare came, preparing for him?— Yes, all the morning.
16784 Did I show any disposition in the least about that time, and previous to that time, to do anything in the way of keeping back information?— No, I am quite certain you did not.
16785 If you felt surprised about that telegram, would you not have sent to Beechworth for a copy of it if you thought it of importance?— I suppose so.....
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