Royal Commission report day 50 page 17

From KellyGang
Jump to: navigation, search

Story of the KellyGang - the Royal Commission Report

previous page / next page

The Royal Commission evidence for 7/9/1881

(full text transcription)

(see also introduction to day 50)

[[../../people/peN_P/nicolsonPAC.html|Ass Com Charles Hope Nicolson]] giving evidence

LIST OF OFFICERS IN THE NORTH-EASTERN DISTRICT FROM 1854.

Ovens District.

Senior-Inspector R O'H Burke was in charge of district in July 1854, and Inspector Joseph Mason was in charge apparently temporarily) in July 1856, as Senior-Inspector RO'H Burke in charge again in January 1857; Superintendent P Le P Bookey in charge in January 1859 vice Burke; Superintendent F A Winch took charge November 1861, vice Bookey, and there were two junior officers then, Sub-Inspector Kossack. in charge of Ovens escort, and Sub-Inspector J W Orridge, at Chiltern, Sub-Inspector A B Smith replaced Orridge, at Chiltern, in February 1863, and Inspector Dillon Purcell replaced Smith in March 1864; Sub-Inspector Dobson took charge of Ovens escort in November 1864, and left in November 1865. Superintendent T E Langley took charge of Ovens district in June 1866, vice Winch. Sub-Inspector Downing going as his junior officer at Beechworth in April 1867, both were dismissed in 1868, Inspector Kabat taking temporary charge of district in August 1868 till January 1869, Sub-Inspector Dobson replacing him Superintendent B T Wilson took charge of the district in April 1869, Inspector Disney going up as junior officer in September 1869, from Benalla district; inspector Smith replaced Sub-Inspector Dobson in July l870, Inspector Disney also leaving the district. Superintendent H R Barclay took charge from B T Wilson, on his retirement at end of 1870; Inspector Smith leaving in June 1874, Inspector Reid, from the Upper Goulburn district, taking his place; Inspector Smith returned in August 1876, replacing Reid , who retired. Inspector Smith had charge of the district from Superintendent Barclay 's leaving in February 1876 till February 1878, when Superintendent Chomley took charge, Sub-Inspector Baber, on his promotion, in July 1877, was junior officer at Beechworth, till February 1878. Superintendent Chomley left in June 18.8, when Superintendent Sadleir took charge of the North-Eastern District, of which the Ovens District is part, the junior officers being Inspector A B Smith, at Beechworth, and Sub-Inspector Pewtress, who arrived in September 1878 at Mansfield. Inspector Smith left in February 1880, and Sub Inspector Baber went to Benalla in July 1880.

Benalla District.

The Benalla District was formed by the subdivision of the Ovens District in-July 1858, when Superintendent Cobham took charge of the district, Inspector Smith being junior officer at Wangaratta in July 1861. Inspector Chomley went as junior officer in September 1862, he taking temporary charge of district in Cobham's absence, and leaving at the end of 1862. Inspector Smith went to the Ovens District in February 1863, returned February 1864, going to Wood's Point, and left again September 1866. Superintendent R. McCulloch took charge from Superintendent Cobham in March 1866; and Superintendent W K Nicolas took charge from McCulloch in February 1869, Inspector Disney having charge during Superintendent Nicolas; absence on leave from April to September 1869. Sub Inspector Montfort went to Wangaratta in June 1870, and the district was again included in the Ovens District from the beginning of 1871.

Upper Goulburn District.

The Upper Goulburn District was a subdivision of the Benalla District, made in July 1867, when Sub Inspector Culkin took charge of the district, Superintendent Furnell taking over charge from him in April 1868, Mr Culkin going to Wood's Point in the district. Superintendent Nicolas took charge of the district from Superintendent Furnell , on the abolition of the Benalla District, at the beginning of 1871. Superintendent Reid replaced Mr Nicolas in June 1871 and left in May 1874, on reduction, going to the Ovens District, Inspector Culkin being left in charge of the district. Inspector Culkin left the district August 1875. Superintendent Sadleir took charge of the district in January 1875, and when this district was included with the Ovens District in one called the North-Eastern District, he took charge of that district.

LIST OF TRANSFERS TO NORTH-EASTERN DlSTRICT, FROM JULY 1879 TO MAY 1880.

Const John Montiford(2697) 25th July 1879 . Const. Patrick. Herbert (2687), 20th January 1880 .
Sen. –Const R A Smyth (227;), 28th July 1879 . Const P McDonald.(3072), 16th January 1880 .
Const Michael Lynch (3053) 28th August 1879 . Const Joseph Stallard (3073), 16th January 1880 .
Const Joseph McCracken (1722), 14th August 1879 . Const J A Meagher (277.), 3rd January 1880 .
Const Alexr Gray (1999), 22nd August 1879 . Const Richard Glenny (2612), 9th January 1880 .
Sergt, R P Wigmore (1316) 2nd September 1879 . Const James Loftus (2879), 28th January 1880 .
Const W J R Wallace (3059) 12 th September 1879 . Const T McCarthy (2962), 20th January 1880 .
Const Robert Keegan (2396), Ist September 1879. Const E J Jones (3054), 12th January 1880 .
Const Robert King (3055) 2nd October 1879 . Const J B Hartshorn (3048) 18th January 1880 .
Const D J Mullins (3063) 31 st October 1879 . Const J W Hartshorn (2959), 1st January 1880 .
Const James Elliott (2297) 23 rd October 1879 Sub-Insp. Henry Baber (temporarily). 9th March 1880
Const J P Leahy (3006) 2nd October 1879 Const. Timothy Keane (2772), 9th March 1880 .
Const Williamson (2850) 1st November 1879 . Const Jas McNamara (2953) 15th March 1880
Const M E McCarthy (2844), 27th November 1879 . Const J W Larnbden (3091) 17th April 1880
Const A M Hadfleld (3068) 20th Decemter 1879. Sen Const H J Runting (temporarily, 720), 2nd April 1880
Const L J Keegan (3011) 10th December 1879 . Const C G Bower (3096), 15th April 1880
Const Wm Brownlee (2659), 20th January 1880 . Const R W McHenry (3086), 13th May 1880
Const Robert Cawsey (3046), 20th January 1880 . Const E F Britt (3089), 13th May 1880
Const F G Harris (3074), 16th January 1880 .

I have another affidavit from Mr. O'Connor, as follows:- “I, Stanhope O'Connor, of Flemington, in the Colony of Victoria, woolbroker, &c., make oath and say:

1 . That I was during the years One thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine and One thousand eight hundred and eighty in charge of the black trackers sent from Queensland to assist in the pursuit of the Kellys .

2 . That on the second day of June, One thousand eight hundred and eighty, I was present at the interview between Hare and Mr Nicolson held at Mr Sadleir's office, Benalla, when Mr Hare relieved Mr Nicolson; Mr Sadleir was also present. Mr. Hare arrived at about half-past eleven o'clock , and, after some general conversation occupying only a few minutes, Mr Nicolson said, ‘Now, Hare, we will proceed to business.’ They both sat down, and Mr Nicolson proceeded to give Mr Hare an account of the documents he held relating to the pursuit, and to describe minutely the movements of the police for almost a month previously. Mr Hare interrupted him, and said, ‘I don't want to know anything about that. When was the last information of their (meaning the Kellys ) being seen?’ Mr Nicolson then told him exactly the latest information he had, and also gave him full particulars at length, and referred to Mr Sadleir and to whether he ( Mr Nicolson ) had forgotten anything. Mr Hare appeared satisfied.

3 . I left the office at about ten minutes to one, and stood outside the door; in about five or six minutes, Mr Hare came out, and stood with me, talking on general subjects. He asked me if the lunch at the hotel was at the old time, one o'clock . I replied that it was, and, pulling out my watch, I said, 'Hang it, Nicolson is late again, ie is five minutes past one.' Just then Mr Nicolson came out and joined us, and we proceeded to the hotel, talking to each other on general topics, and went to lunch.

4 In the afternoon, Mr Nicolson asked my wife and myself to dine with him and meet Mr Hare, as he said Mr Hare and I were going to work together, and he thought we ought to be on the best terms.

5 . Mr Hare never mentioned to me from the time he relieved Mr Nicolson to the time I left Benalla that he had received scanty information from Mr Nicolson , or that Mr Nicolson had appeared reticent, and seemed to me to have been quite satisfied with the information he had received. –STANHOPE O'CONNOR .

Sworn at Melbourne , in the colony of Victoria , this seventh day of September, One thousand eight hundred and eighty-one, before me—John Madden, a Commissioner of the Supreme Court for taking affidavits.”....

Previous page / Next page


 ! The text has been retyped from a microfiche copy of the original.

We have taken care to reproduce this document but areas of the original text may been damaged.

We also apologise for any typographical errors.

The previous day / next day . . . Royal Commission index RC_index.html