Royal Commission report day 4 page 11
The Royal Commission evidence for 29/3/1881
(see also introduction to day 4)
Assistant Commissioner Nicholson giving evidence
1060 Is that the most serious charge you have against Mr Hare for interference with your duty?- I was acquainted principally with this man. He served under me, and I saw he was just the same as before, and I gave them the benefit of that knowledge, and warned them. This is the last thing I have to refer to. In Captain Standish's examination he alluded to paying my agents large some of money. I just hand in this document, to show the sums that were actually paid. That was the first payment made when I went up there by myself, and these were the amounts afterwards-[handing in a paper, Bourke, 23rd May 1876, and papers attached]. He paid a large sum immediately when he went up there, and raised the market on me as it were.
1061 This shows the money paid for secret service by you and Captain Standish?- In one instance.
1062 Can you give the return of the secret service money paid under Captain Standish. You paid the secret service money yourself when you were there?- Yes.
1063 Can we get the return of that?- Yes, I will hand in the complete return.
1064 That shows that for the same service Captain Standish paid more than you?- Yes.
1065 Can you produce the letters in which Captain Standish ordered you to discontinue the employing as an agent?- Any letters on that subject are amongst the bundle that have come down from the country, but I am prepared to prove that by oral evidence. I may say my statements have been made almost entirely from my own memorandum books; the papers on the Kelly business were left behind at Benalla, and I have not seen them. I have had nothing to do with them, and I have merely applied for anything that I wanted. One thing I omitted to say, in practising the men's shooting, I expended about eight or ten pounds in prizes for them, and in shooting I have paid for ammunition for them out of my own pocket.
The witness withdrew.
Stanhope O'Connor sworn and examined.
1066 What are you?- I am a gentleman living on my means at present.
1067 What were you formerly?- Formerly Sub-Inspector of the Queensland police; and at the time when I applied for this enquiry I was in the police, and had no intention of leaving.
1068 You have left the Queensland police now?- I have. I met Captain Standish in Albury on the 6th March 1879.
1069 Was that when you came from Queensland?- It was.
1070 What was the cause of your coming to the colony?- This is a document sent by my Government showing the arrangements made that brought us over-[producing a document].
1071 It was by request from this Government and Captain Standish you came down?- It was.
1072 You brought some native troopers with you?- Yes.
1073 You met Captain Standish, you say, in March 1879?- The 6th of March 1879 at seven p.m. I was accompanied by six black troopers, and by one senior-constable, a white man. The names of my men were-Senior-Constable King, Sambo, Troopers Hero, Johnny, Jimmy, Barney, and Jack. I requested permission from Captain Standish to halt for the day, as one of the troopers named Jack was very ill. This Captain Standish granted at once. On the 8th March 1879, at nine a.m., Captain Standish, I, and my men left Albury for Wodonga, Victoria, where Captain Standish directed my party to remain for further orders. Captain Standish and I proceeded to Benalla, arriving there at two p.m. On Monday the 10th Senior-Constable King and the six troopers arrived at two p.m. from Wodonga at Benalla. On the 11th of March, Captain Standish ordered us out on our first trip, but had me sworn in previously a member of the police force of Victoria.
1074 And your men?- No; only myself and my senior-constable. The black trackers do not take the oath ever; they are enlisted. We left Benalla at eleven a.m. on the 11th in company with Superintendent Sadleir and five or six Victorian constables. Prior to leaving, I told Captain Standish that I only required two of his men; but this I was told was not sufficient, and I must take not less than six Victorian constables with me. Captain Standish informed me in the presence of Mr. Sadleir that I was to be in charge of the party, ..
1075 That was that you were to be above Mr. Sadleir?- Yes; certainly the whole party, playfully saying to Mr. Sadleir, "Although you are Superintendent of Police, do not think you are over Mr O'Connor." Those are his words as near as I can swear to them. Mr. Sadleir and myself were always on the best of terms. I and my party returned to Benalla on the 18th of March at 5.50 p.m., owing to the fact that the party was not sufficiently supplied with necessaries, and that one of my troopers, Corporal Sambo, got very ill...
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