Royal Commission report day 4 page 3
The Royal Commission evidence for 29/3/1881
(see also introduction to day 4)
Assistant Commissioner Nicholson giving evidence
943 It would be the 21st, the day following your telegram?- Yes. I then told Mr. Ramsay the state of affairs up there, as I had told him before in the presence of Captain Standish. I told him that Captain Standish was no authority on any matters of the kind; that he had no practical experience. I told him that Captain Standish would not give his mind to the business, and hardly to anyone else; at any rate, that I could not get him to attend to me ten minutes at a time-to sit down and talk over the Kelly business. He could not, even for a period of ten minutes, fix his attention upon the matter. And I expressed to Mr. Ramsay that it was a great pity that before he decided that he had not consulted me also. I suggested that, though I was Captain Standish's subordinate, still I was his colleague, and I had been up there a considerable time, and I was an experienced officer, and I was a better authority on the matter than Captain Standish possibly could be.
944 Were you at that time recognized Assistant Commissioner of Police?- Yes, I was. Mr. Ramsay listened to me very attentively throughout, and there was no warmth whatever between us, excepting on my part, in endeavoring to induce him to reconsider the matter; and we parted in just the same friendly manner as before, he promising to reconsider and let me know. He made this one remark, showing the impression that I had made upon him, "Well, you see, Mr. Nicolson, having made all these arrangements with the head of the department, it is very difficult to alter them."
945 Captain Standish was not at this meeting?- No. It has been said that Mr. Ramsay interrupted when I was saying this, about my speaking in this manner of the head of my department. I have no recollection of Mr. Ramsay doing so, no recollection whatever, and this was the only opportunity that I had. I was certainly speaking very plainly, and speaking out very strongly, about the part that Captain Standish had taken in this matter to him; I certainly was. I met Captain Standish at the railway as I was leaving by train when I was returning to Benalla. He handed me a telegram, addressed to me, and he said, "Paying you an amount of courtesy in bringing you this telegram which I suppose you would not show to me. I hear you have had an interview with Mr. Ramsay, and you have been abusing me. I consider your conduct very disloyal." Now when he said that, I smiled at his talking about my conduct being disloyal to him. He said "Mr. Ramsay," I forget his exact words, but it was to the effect that I had conducted myself so violently that Mr. Ramsay had to check me.
946 He did not state that?- Yes, he stated that. This was at the platform, in a great hurry; the bell was ringing; he detained me so long I had to go away without a ticket. I replied just in a hurry, about the violent conduct and checking me, "Never," not in a violent way at all, quietly; and the bell was ringing at the time; and, just as I was going away, he put himself in a very offensive attitude and manner, and said, "I believe Mr. Ramsay," as much as to say you are telling a lie.
947 Is this the occasion that Captain Standish stated he met you at the train?- This is that occassion mentioned in his evidence.
948 And this is your account of what occurred?- Yes; I am not sure that I spoke. He was addressing me all the time; but when he said I had spoken in a violent manner, and Mr. Ramsay had to check me, I said "Never." Of course I do not disbelieve Mr. Ramsay either, but Captain Standish meant to convey a very offensive imputation. On my return to Benalla I was superseded by Mr. Hare, as I have already told you.
949 Had not this telegram anything to do with it?- It was important information from Mr. Sadleir to hurry me up, important information having come in, which I have already related to you. I acted upon it up to the day before Mr. Hare relieved me.
950 You were superseded immediately?- Not till the 2nd of June, a day or two after; but between that date and the 2nd of June I was engaged upon that duty up to the night of the 1st of June, when I came in to Benalla to meet Mr. Hare. I will point out to you that that is one of the instances where I was worried and interfered with; instead of being at Benalla when that important information came in that had to be attended to, I was down fighting in Melbourne, contesting against him in Melbourne.
951 That letter is dated May 20th (the one about the diseased stock); can you say from memory whether that was in your possession prior to your interview with Mr. Ramsay, or afterwards?- It was in my possession on that day, and I showed it to Mr. Ramsay...
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