Royal Commission report day 50 page 5
Story of the KellyGang - the Royal Commission Report
The Royal Commission evidence for 7/9/1881
(see also introduction to day 50)
[[../../people/peN_P/nicolsonPAC.html|Ass Com Charles Hope Nicolson]] giving evidence
16864 Then did you withdraw those men before you received notice that Mr. Hare was coming to supersede you?— I had received notice before of that a month before.
16865 Those men were only placed there while you were scouring that part of the district?— Yes; this was on Monday I sent word-they had only been sent there the Saturday before.
16866 If you had remained in that position in charge of the district, would you have continued those men there?— No, I would never have thought of it. I am very glad you asked the question. I merely sent them temporarily.
16867 Then the notice was not in any way in consequence of the altered state of things-Mr. Hare taking command?— Not at all. I would select the old cave for the police. It was only just in the extremity, I was compelled to send the men there; there were reasons at that time which I need not mention for not using that place permanently. I heard that it had been used for a day or two by my cave party before they were withdrawn; and I heard it for the first time from Constable Barry , and I was very much annoyed to hear they had gone there instead of remaining in the cave till they were withdrawn from it. I had also bade Ward and Mullane good-bye, and told them I was leaving the district, and Mr. Hare was coming up, and I had explained to Ward the position. I told him that I had been keeping “ Tommy ” on. He was not aware of it at first; he was not aware of any correspondence between the Chief Commissioner and myself; I was keeping him on at my own expense and on my own authority, but he would have to get the authority of my successor to pay him; and therefore that telegram was a simple repetition of the orders I had previously given. It was in my anxiety in rushing away from the place I repeated the orders. As I have already stated, I explained the position of those people to Mr. Hare . Jack Sherritt not receiving pay at this time, and I may allude to a remark of Mr. Hare 's as to why he was not informed about Jack Sherritt being so good a man. The reason was simply that he was not in my employment at that time. I did not see him, and had very little to do with him afterwards.
16868 Had he been previously in your employment?— Yes.
16869 When had you dispensed with him?— I could not exactly say. I left word at the Detective Office for Ward to look up the vouchers and ascertain the time.
16870 Can you tell about how long?— I have a recollection of having little or nothing to do with him after the new year.
16871 Would the list of appearances be any guide?— Yes, they would-[looking at the printed list]-but I would rather wait for the return I have asked for before answering that question. Mr. Hare never complained to Mr. Sadleir Mr. O'Connor on any of the above subjects. If any of these charges could have been proved, there is not the slightest doubt that Mr. Hare would have reported at once with regard to them. Mr. Hare has since stated that to report the foregoing charges would have raised ill-blood, and have increased his difficulties in catching the Kellys . How should that be, seeing that I had left the district? What ill-feeling would it cause? If he feared this ill-will, was it not at least his duty to report the charges, with perhaps a request that they should be kept from my knowledge until the capture of the outlaws? When it is considered that Mr. Hare went up to Benalla with a distinct promise of promotion.
16872 Is that really the case, that he undertook this command with the distinct promise of promotion?— I refer to Mr. Ramsay's evidence before the Board. Such being the case, is it not absurd to think that he would not have at once reported, and so placed on record serious charges of this nature. Mr. Hare on going up made his own terms. He went up with every advantage, untrammelled by any restrictions in any way, while in my case I was sent up under very different circumstances. Captain Standish has given it in evidence that he had no confidence in me; yet, in the face of that, he sends me up to find the extra men withdrawn, and the supply of money for secret agents reduced. I had no carte blanche given me.
16873 Had you to give notice of everything you intended to do?— I would not say that.
16874 I can scarcely understand that. Were you not free, from the position you held, to undertake any course of procedure you thought proper which was calculated to effect the capture of those men, without reference to your superior officer?— Certainly I was.
16875 Do not you see the contradiction which is manifest in such a statement as that being made, when you say you were sent without carte blanche?— Nothing very radical could be done without consulting.
16876 It strikes me there is a charge there you cannot sustain, as you were at liberty to use any means you liked?— There was no such expression used to me that I had to act on carte blanche. Any expenses I incurred, I did so on my own authority, and recovered them afterwards.
16877 You say you had the force reduced, and the money for agents reduced?— Yes.
16878 And that you engaged the agents on your own responsibility?— Yes.
16879 And paid them out of your own pocket till you could recover the money from the Government?— Yes.....
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. |
The previous day / next day . . . Royal Commission index RC_index.html
