Royal Commission report day 7 page 5
The Royal Commission evidence for 1/4/1881
(see also introduction to day 7)
Francis Augustus Hare giving evidence
1428 Did they all 1ease with you?— No, only one left with me—Lawless. Canny is up there still, and Faulkner has come down since the capture. Now I will come to the second part—the eleven months interval. Unfortunately, during this interval, Mr. O'Connor and I had a difference—”relations were strained,” as it is now called, between us, and we had some communication with each other. I wrote to him, and he wrote to me, and then it dropped, and nothing more was heard of it. On my going up to Benalla —though I suppose if we had met in the street we should have “cut” each other—I got into the office at twelve o'clock. Mr. Nicolson, Mr. Sadleir, and Mr. O'Connor were there. I went up and shook hands with Mr. Nicolson and Mr. Sadleir, and I felt rather frightened about Mr. O'Connor, but I held out my hand to him, and he took it like a man, and we became friends immediately. From that time, I do not say we were on as friendly private terms as previously, but circumstances were altered. Mr. O'Connor had his wife there, and was not diving at the hotel; he had been married in the interval, so that there could not be so much private acquaintanceship between us; but as far as official relationship went, I spoke as freely to him as I did before. I would not have mentioned this, had it not been mentioned, and I wished to explain my part in it. Many private conversations have been given before the Commission that I think it would have been far better to have avoided. If I had known all I said would have been repeated, we would no doubt have been more restrained in our intercourse. I wish now to state to the Commission the circumstances under which I went to relieve Mr. Nicolson. Captain Standish came to the depot, and informed me that I was to proceed to Benalla to relieve Mr. Nicolson, and take charge of the whole proceedings in connection with the Kellys.
1429 What date?— On the 30th of April this conversation occurred. I protested in the strongest manner possible at my being sent up again. I pointed out that there were officers senior to me, none of whom had been called upon to undertake the hardships and the responsibility that I had during my seven months there, and I told him I thought that the responsibility should fall on the senior officers.
1430 Do you mean you pointed out you ought not to be sent up on duty or that it was unfair passing over senior officers?— I thought it unfair, passing over the senior officers, and making me go.
1431 Do you mean “unfair” towards them or yourself?— Towards me, and their not being asked to go, and my being sent. I stated to him that on the previous occasion I had been selected to undertake the duty that others had failed in—that my senior had failed in—and that I reaped no profit by the duty I was sent upon. I referred to the capture of Power, the bushranger.
1432 There is some significance I should think attached to your remark, “I stated that a promise was made to me when I was sent for previous to the capture of Power, the bushranger, that Mr. Nicolson and Mr. Montfort had reaped the benefit of that capture, and that I, who was directed to organize the whole affair, am still in the same position as I was then, notwithstanding the promises made by the Chief Secretary, Sir James McCulloch.” You intended to direct special attention to this for some cause or other?— Yes.
1433 During the time Mr. Nicolson was giving his evidence he said he had the management of the whole organization that led to the capture of Power—do you mean to give any further information about that?— Yes, I do, but not now.
1434 Hereafter?— Yes. I stated then that ten years had elapsed and my position in the police force was still the same as it was then. His reply was, “It is no use saying anything about it, you will have to go.” I said to him, “Well, I will insist upon having an interview with Mr. Ramsay before I go, to point out the position I am in.” He said, “Very well, I will see Mr. Ramsay, and I will make an appointment with him to see you.” He telegraphed up to me and told me that Mr. Ramsay would see me at two o'clock . I saw Mr. Ramsay in the Executive Council Chamber. I said, “Mr. Ramsay, I want to see you on the subject of my going to Benalla. I think it unfair that I should be sent up there after all I have undergone,” and made several other statements concerning what I had gone through in the Kelly country before. Mr. Ramsay replied, “Mr. Hare, this Kelly business has been fully discussed by the Cabinet, and it is their unanimous decision that you should be sent up to take charge of affairs. I give you carte blanche to do whatever you think proper, and I leave you entirely untrammelled.” I then said to Mr. Ramsay, “Very well, Mr, Ramsay, if that is your decision, I suppose I must go. When do you wish me to go?” He said, Immediately.” Then he said, “When will you be able to go?” and I said, “In a couple of days.” I had a subsequent interview with Mr. Ramsay concerning this business, more especially about the Queensland trackers, and I then said to him, “Suppose I make certain arrangements with certain people, will you bear me out in those arrangements?” He said, “Mr, Hare, the Government will bear you out in every arrangement you make—you do as you please, and I will see you through.” On Monday the 3rd of May I received a note from Captain Standish, telling me that I need not go at once to Benalla, and that Mr. Nicolson had been allowed to remain there a month longer. About this time I wrote. letter to Mr. Nicolson, in which I told him I had heard that he had been saying that I had had something to do with his removal, and that I was ambitious to take his place up there. After some days he replied to my letter, and he said, “I have been informed that you have had something to do with my removal, but I am glad to find from your letter that such was not the case.”
1435 Have you a copy of that letter or the reply?— I have the reply. It is a private letter, and I do not care about putting it in.
Mr. Nicolson. —I have the original letter, but I have no desire to produce it.....
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