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Royal Commission report day 19 page 46

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Story of the KellyGang - the Royal Commission evidence

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== The Royal Commission evidence for 13/5/1881 ==

''''''

=== full text ===

(see also introduction to [[Royal Commission report 13/5/1881|day 19]])

'''SConst Charles [[Johnston|Johnston]] '''giving evidence''''''

[[#rc7156|7156]] And they did not come out?— They did not.

[[#rc7157|7157]] Did they reply at all?— I did not hear them reply at all.

[[#rc7158|7158]] Not even a reply to the firing?— No, I did not hear it.

[[#rc7159|7159]] Were you present when the proposal was made to burn the [[Jones' Glenrowan Inn|house]]?— I was; I made it.

[[#rc7160|7160]] Had you any idea at the time that you would be burning the bodies, or did you think it would drive them out?— To drive them out.

[[#rc7161|7161]] Did you expect it would injure any human beings besides them?— I did not. I was not told there was any other person in the hotel.

[[#rc7162|7162]] You were not told at that time that [[Joe Byrne|Byrne]] was lying at the hotel dead?— I was not told where he was; I was told he was shot.

[[#rc7163|7163]] Were you present at the consultation about burning?— I was. I went to where Mr. [[Sadleir|Sadleir]] and Mr.[[O'Connor|O'Connor]] standing, and I said to Mr. Sadleir—I asked him what he was intending to do, and he said “I have sent for a cannon to Melbourne , to be here about three o'clock .”

[[#rc7164|7164]] The proposal was to batter the house down?— Blow the house down with cannon. I said, “Surely you will not send down for a cannon; cannot you take other means to get them out.” I said, “Why not fire it?” Mr. Sadleir said, “How would you do that?” I said, “By getting some straw and kerosene and to get at the windward of the building it could be fired, and perhaps they would come out then.”

[[#rc7165|7165]] Was that agreed to?— Not immediately. Mr. Sadleir said something to Mr. O'Connor, which I did not hear at the time, and he then said to me, “Well, in the name of God, do it”; but, if it is done, we will get a younger man than you to do it.

[[#rc7166|7166]] What did you say?— I said that anything I proposed I would carry out, and if it was done at all I would do it myself.

[[#rc7167|7167]] You got the straw and kerosene?— Yes, and I saw Mr. Sadleir on the platform, when I said, “All ready.”

[[#rc7168|7168]] Was he on the platform when this proposition was made?— No, on the ground, on the north side of the hotel.

[[#rc7169|7169]] Was it arranged then?— I went away towards the range, and Mr. Sadleir met me, and he told me he would go and make arrangements to have a party to fire into the building while I would go up and set fire to it.

[[#rc7170|7170]] And that was done?— Yes.

[[#rc7171|7171]] When you came from Violet Town , what officer did you see upon the ground?— The first I saw was Mr. Sadleir. He was the only officer belonging to the Victorian police there. He was on the platform.

[[#rc7172|7172]] Did you speak to him?— I did.

[[#rc7173|7173]] Did he give you any instructions?— What he said first to me was, “ Johnston , you will have to keep quiet and not irritate the men.”

[[#rc7174|7174]] What did you understand by that?— I suppose Mr. Sadleir thought I would likely make a rush where the outlaws were. He said they had captured Ned, and Joe Byrne was shot, and the other two in the hotel they would get before night.

[[#rc7175|7175]] Do you consider his object was to spare the police?— I think it was.

[[#rc7176|7176]] ''By Mr. Sadleir''— What men were not to be irritated? Was it to “excite” or “irritate”?— To irritate or excite.

[[#rc7177|7177]] What men?— The police.

[[#rc7178|7178]] The police with you—the party you brought?— Yes; the police in general, I took it to be.

[[#rc7179|7179]] ''By the Commission''— Is it generally known amongst the officers that you are of an impetuous temperament?— I am not aware of it.

''Mr. Sadleir'' — That is the man's nature—He is very impetuous and very hot-heeded.

[[#rc7180|7180]] ''By the Commission—'' Did you see the police round the house while the fire was catching it?—Yes, they were all round the building, at some distance off.

[[#rc7181|7181]] Did any policeman attempt to go into the building, or to go near it, before the priest went into it?— No....

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