Changes
Import from source
Story of the KellyGang - the Royal Commission evidence
[[Royal Commission report day 15 page 22|previous page]] / [[Royal Commission report day 15 page 24|next page]]
== The Royal Commission evidence for 4/5/1881 ==
''''''
=== full text ===
(see also introduction to [[Royal Commission report 4/5/1881|day 15]])
'''Constable [[Const W Duross|Duross]]''' '''giving evidence'''
<span id="rc4090">[[#rc4090|4090]]</span> How long before you went to the North-Eastern district was it you had any use in firearms?— About five years before.
<span id="rc4091">[[#rc4091|4091]]</span> While you were stationed in Melbourne you had no practice in firearms?— No.
<span id="rc4092">[[#rc4092|4092]]</span> Were any men, to your knowledge, taught. Are you not supposed to be armed. Is this the book you got?— No.
<span id="rc4093">[[#rc4093|4093]]</span> You are furnished with batons?— Yes.
<span id="rc4094">[[#rc4094|4094]]</span> And are you exercised in the use of them?— No.
<span id="rc4095">[[#rc4095|4095]]</span> Did you make yourself acquainted with the “Police Regulations” book?— I am supposed to make myself acquainted with all the books.
<span id="rc4096">[[#rc4096|4096]]</span> Does that one prescribe what your arms shall be. What are the police arms?— We have an Enfield rifle—a muzzle-loader—and that is all a foot-man has.
<span id="rc4097">[[#rc4097|4097]]</span> Were you taught to take up, load, and discharge with that?— No.
<span id="rc4098">[[#rc4098|4098]]</span> Were you taught that at the Victoria barracks while you were in the Artillery Corps?— I was taught a different rifle altogether in the barracks.
<span id="rc4099">[[#rc4099|4099]]</span> Were you served out with a double-barrelled shot-gun in the North-East?— A muzzle-loading Colt's revolver and a Spencer rifle.
<span id="rc4100">[[#rc4100|4100]]</span> Were you taught the use of that rifle?— I had several shots with that.
<span id="rc4101">[[#rc4101|4101]]</span> Were you taught how to use it?— Inspector [[Insp Wliiam Montfort|Montfort]] showed us, in Russell street , before we left.
<span id="rc4102">[[#rc4102|4102]]</span> Do you think you were competent or incompetent to use firearms when you went up there?— I was not perfect.
<span id="rc4103">[[#rc4103|4103]]</span> Were you drilled up there in the use of firearms by Mr. Nicolson?— No.
<span id="rc4104">[[#rc4104|4104]]</span> Never went out on practice?— I did on different occasions myself
<span id="rc4105">[[#rc4105|4105]]</span> On your own responsibility?— Yes, put up a target.
<span id="rc4106">[[#rc4106|4106]]</span> ''Mr. Nicolson''. —My party was at Benalla.
<span id="rc4107">[[#rc4107|4107]]</span> ''By the Commission''. —Is the feeling amongst the constables, in your opinion, that the men are not efficient in the use of the arms in the service?— The mounted men are different altogether from the foot police in Melbourne . The latter are not perfect in the use of firearms. They have no drill for firearms in Russell street .
<span id="rc4108">[[#rc4108|4108]]</span> No shooting?— No shooting.
<span id="rc4109">[[#rc4109|4109]]</span> Are the mounted men taught?— I heard they are taught revolver practice on horse-back, in the riding school. We have only the Enfield rifle—the City police.
<span id="rc4110">[[#rc4110|4110]]</span> What is the special qualification for the police force that you were supposed to be perfected in at the Victoria barracks?— We were taught big gun drill and infantry drill.
<span id="rc4111">[[#rc4111|4111]]</span> And to march?— That is infantry drill.
<span id="rc4112">[[#rc4112|4112]]</span> Is there anything as to dealing with prisoners, or framing reports, or doing ordinary police duty there?— No.
<span id="rc4113">[[#rc4113|4113]]</span> Were you drafted direct from that into the depot?— Yes.
<span id="rc4114">[[#rc4114|4114]]</span> Except those books, were you taught how to frame reports to your officers, and so on?— When you go out on the section with a senior-constable, he is supposed to instruct you in all that.
<span id="rc4115">[[#rc4115|4115]]</span> At the depot you are not taught anything of that?— No.
<span id="rc4116">[[#rc4116|4116]]</span> You learn that yourself out on duty?— Yes.
<span id="rc4117">[[#rc4117|4117]]</span> Is there a difference in the pay of the police when they first go on duty. Did you get less pay at first?— Yes, for two years I was getting two shillings per day in the artillery.
<span id="rc4118">[[#rc4118|4118]]</span> You were not a policeman then?— No.
<span id="rc4119">[[#rc4119|4119]]</span> When you say you left the Victoria barracks, and then joined the police force, and remained in the depot, what was your pay then?— Six and sixpence per day then.
<span id="rc4120">[[#rc4120|4120]]</span> Has that been increased?— To seven and sixpence.
<span id="rc4121">[[#rc4121|4121]]</span> Under what circumstances?— By Act of Parliament. After two years' service in the police force we get a shilling a day extra.
<span id="rc4122">[[#rc4122|4122]]</span> Had you an increase when you were in the North-Eastern district?— Yes; it was a travelling allowance, two shillings a day for being up there, while you are out on duty at night, and five shillings a day increase
<span id="rc4156">[[#rc4156|4156]]</span> How would you get that unloaded without discharging it.?— That would be a difficult thing.
<span id="rc4157">[[#rc4157|4157]]</span> Could it be done?— I could not do it.
<span id="rc4158">[[#rc4158|4158]]</span> Could any man do it unless he screwed out the bullet?— I think not.
<span id="rc4159">[[#rc4159|4159]]</span> Is there any implement given you to screw out the bullet?— No.
<span id="rc4160">[[#rc4160|4160]]</span> Would it be possible to see that your arms were in order without discharging your Colt's revolver?— No, you would have to.
<span id="rc4161">[[#rc4161|4161]]</span> Then if you saved ammunition you might have to leave your revolver loaded for a time longer than it should be?— Yes.
''The witness withdrew''
''Adjourned to to morrow at'' ''Eleven o'clock''
[~[[See report of Proceedings 4/5/81]|5997]~].....
'''See next day'''
'''[[Royal Commission report day 16 page 1|5/5/1881]]'''
=== Previous page / Next page ===
<br />
{{MicroficheCopy}}<br />
'''The [[Royal Commission report day 14 page 1|previous day]] / [[Royal Commission report day 16 page 1|next day]] . . . Royal Commission [[Royal Commission Index|index]]'''
[[Category:Royal Commission]] [[Category:March 1504]] [[Category:Royal Commission]] [[Category:Commisioner Standish]] [[Category:history]]
MediaWiki:Sidebar
{{^|Original page location \documents\RoyalCommission\RC810504_15_23_4090.html}}
[[Royal Commission report day 15 page 22|previous page]] / [[Royal Commission report day 15 page 24|next page]]
== The Royal Commission evidence for 4/5/1881 ==
''''''
=== full text ===
(see also introduction to [[Royal Commission report 4/5/1881|day 15]])
'''Constable [[Const W Duross|Duross]]''' '''giving evidence'''
<span id="rc4090">[[#rc4090|4090]]</span> How long before you went to the North-Eastern district was it you had any use in firearms?— About five years before.
<span id="rc4091">[[#rc4091|4091]]</span> While you were stationed in Melbourne you had no practice in firearms?— No.
<span id="rc4092">[[#rc4092|4092]]</span> Were any men, to your knowledge, taught. Are you not supposed to be armed. Is this the book you got?— No.
<span id="rc4093">[[#rc4093|4093]]</span> You are furnished with batons?— Yes.
<span id="rc4094">[[#rc4094|4094]]</span> And are you exercised in the use of them?— No.
<span id="rc4095">[[#rc4095|4095]]</span> Did you make yourself acquainted with the “Police Regulations” book?— I am supposed to make myself acquainted with all the books.
<span id="rc4096">[[#rc4096|4096]]</span> Does that one prescribe what your arms shall be. What are the police arms?— We have an Enfield rifle—a muzzle-loader—and that is all a foot-man has.
<span id="rc4097">[[#rc4097|4097]]</span> Were you taught to take up, load, and discharge with that?— No.
<span id="rc4098">[[#rc4098|4098]]</span> Were you taught that at the Victoria barracks while you were in the Artillery Corps?— I was taught a different rifle altogether in the barracks.
<span id="rc4099">[[#rc4099|4099]]</span> Were you served out with a double-barrelled shot-gun in the North-East?— A muzzle-loading Colt's revolver and a Spencer rifle.
<span id="rc4100">[[#rc4100|4100]]</span> Were you taught the use of that rifle?— I had several shots with that.
<span id="rc4101">[[#rc4101|4101]]</span> Were you taught how to use it?— Inspector [[Insp Wliiam Montfort|Montfort]] showed us, in Russell street , before we left.
<span id="rc4102">[[#rc4102|4102]]</span> Do you think you were competent or incompetent to use firearms when you went up there?— I was not perfect.
<span id="rc4103">[[#rc4103|4103]]</span> Were you drilled up there in the use of firearms by Mr. Nicolson?— No.
<span id="rc4104">[[#rc4104|4104]]</span> Never went out on practice?— I did on different occasions myself
<span id="rc4105">[[#rc4105|4105]]</span> On your own responsibility?— Yes, put up a target.
<span id="rc4106">[[#rc4106|4106]]</span> ''Mr. Nicolson''. —My party was at Benalla.
<span id="rc4107">[[#rc4107|4107]]</span> ''By the Commission''. —Is the feeling amongst the constables, in your opinion, that the men are not efficient in the use of the arms in the service?— The mounted men are different altogether from the foot police in Melbourne . The latter are not perfect in the use of firearms. They have no drill for firearms in Russell street .
<span id="rc4108">[[#rc4108|4108]]</span> No shooting?— No shooting.
<span id="rc4109">[[#rc4109|4109]]</span> Are the mounted men taught?— I heard they are taught revolver practice on horse-back, in the riding school. We have only the Enfield rifle—the City police.
<span id="rc4110">[[#rc4110|4110]]</span> What is the special qualification for the police force that you were supposed to be perfected in at the Victoria barracks?— We were taught big gun drill and infantry drill.
<span id="rc4111">[[#rc4111|4111]]</span> And to march?— That is infantry drill.
<span id="rc4112">[[#rc4112|4112]]</span> Is there anything as to dealing with prisoners, or framing reports, or doing ordinary police duty there?— No.
<span id="rc4113">[[#rc4113|4113]]</span> Were you drafted direct from that into the depot?— Yes.
<span id="rc4114">[[#rc4114|4114]]</span> Except those books, were you taught how to frame reports to your officers, and so on?— When you go out on the section with a senior-constable, he is supposed to instruct you in all that.
<span id="rc4115">[[#rc4115|4115]]</span> At the depot you are not taught anything of that?— No.
<span id="rc4116">[[#rc4116|4116]]</span> You learn that yourself out on duty?— Yes.
<span id="rc4117">[[#rc4117|4117]]</span> Is there a difference in the pay of the police when they first go on duty. Did you get less pay at first?— Yes, for two years I was getting two shillings per day in the artillery.
<span id="rc4118">[[#rc4118|4118]]</span> You were not a policeman then?— No.
<span id="rc4119">[[#rc4119|4119]]</span> When you say you left the Victoria barracks, and then joined the police force, and remained in the depot, what was your pay then?— Six and sixpence per day then.
<span id="rc4120">[[#rc4120|4120]]</span> Has that been increased?— To seven and sixpence.
<span id="rc4121">[[#rc4121|4121]]</span> Under what circumstances?— By Act of Parliament. After two years' service in the police force we get a shilling a day extra.
<span id="rc4122">[[#rc4122|4122]]</span> Had you an increase when you were in the North-Eastern district?— Yes; it was a travelling allowance, two shillings a day for being up there, while you are out on duty at night, and five shillings a day increase
<span id="rc4156">[[#rc4156|4156]]</span> How would you get that unloaded without discharging it.?— That would be a difficult thing.
<span id="rc4157">[[#rc4157|4157]]</span> Could it be done?— I could not do it.
<span id="rc4158">[[#rc4158|4158]]</span> Could any man do it unless he screwed out the bullet?— I think not.
<span id="rc4159">[[#rc4159|4159]]</span> Is there any implement given you to screw out the bullet?— No.
<span id="rc4160">[[#rc4160|4160]]</span> Would it be possible to see that your arms were in order without discharging your Colt's revolver?— No, you would have to.
<span id="rc4161">[[#rc4161|4161]]</span> Then if you saved ammunition you might have to leave your revolver loaded for a time longer than it should be?— Yes.
''The witness withdrew''
''Adjourned to to morrow at'' ''Eleven o'clock''
[~[[See report of Proceedings 4/5/81]|5997]~].....
'''See next day'''
'''[[Royal Commission report day 16 page 1|5/5/1881]]'''
=== Previous page / Next page ===
<br />
{{MicroficheCopy}}<br />
'''The [[Royal Commission report day 14 page 1|previous day]] / [[Royal Commission report day 16 page 1|next day]] . . . Royal Commission [[Royal Commission Index|index]]'''
[[Category:Royal Commission]] [[Category:March 1504]] [[Category:Royal Commission]] [[Category:Commisioner Standish]] [[Category:history]]
MediaWiki:Sidebar
{{^|Original page location \documents\RoyalCommission\RC810504_15_23_4090.html}}
