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Story of the KellyGang - the Royal Commission evidence
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== The Royal Commission evidence for 14/5/1881 ==
''''''
=== full text ===
(see also introduction to [[Royal Commission report 14/5/1881|day 20]])
'''[[Reardon|James Reardon]]''' '''giving evidence'''
<span id="rc7746">[[#rc7746|7746]]</span> Was it she that proposed the dancing?— I could not swear it, but, to the best of my belief, it was
<span id="rc7747">[[#rc7747|7747]]</span> Who took the floor first?— [[Jones' Glenrowan Inn|Mrs. Jones and her daughter]].
<span id="rc7748">[[#rc7748|7748]]</span> Was there plenty of grog in the hotel?— Yes, in the bar, but nobody seemed to drink much. I dare say I might have three or four drinks myself from the time I was taken in custody until I got out.
<span id="rc7749">[[#rc7749|7749]]</span> How did you people employ your time?— We passed our time very miserably, I assure you.
<span id="rc7750">[[#rc7750|7750]]</span> Did you talk?— Not much; I was kept walking about the verandah.
<span id="rc7751">[[#rc7751|7751]]</span> They allowed you to go out?— Yes, but they had a rifle under their arm, and I believe they had four or five revolvers each.
<span id="rc7752">[[#rc7752|7752]]</span> You stated they went up and brought [[Const Hugh Bracken|Bracken]] down a prisoner on the Sunday night?— Yes.
<span id="rc7753">[[#rc7753|7753]]</span> Can you say they went there with their armour or not?— Yes, they had their armour on, and they brought the armour back in a bag, to the best of my belief. They had his firearms then, a double-barrelled gun, a revolver, and his horse.
<span id="rc7754">[[#rc7754|7754]]</span> Was there a bag with them when they went?— Yes.
<span id="rc7755">[[#rc7755|7755]]</span> Was the armour in it when they went?— I am not sure whether they had the armour in it, but they put it on when they went to Bracken's house.
<span id="rc7756">[[#rc7756|7756]]</span> What time did it take to put this armour on when they heard the train was coming?— About twenty minutes, I suppose.
<span id="rc7757">[[#rc7757|7757]]</span> Did Bracken go out and take the key, and go out at once?— He went out when he heard the police going towards the gate along the line.
<span id="rc7758">[[#rc7758|7758]]</span> Did you expect the train to pass without stopping at Glenrowan?— I was afraid it would.
<span id="rc7759">[[#rc7759|7759]]</span> Would it have done so?— Yes, because there was no one to signal it.
<span id="rc7760">[[#rc7760|7760]]</span> If there was no signal at the station, it would go on?— Yes.
<span id="rc7761">[[#rc7761|7761]]</span> Was there any conversation in the house about the [[Railways|train]]?— They fancied they heard the train whistle, and they listened, and we all heard the train whistle, but could not be sure; we thought it was a cock crowing. Then, after a bit, we heard it again, and then we heard the rattle of the train, so we were frightened the train would go through; but when the train stopped at the station here, one of the Kellys said, “This is [[Thomas Curnow|Curnow]]'s work.” I heard that, but I do not know which one of them said it.
<span id="rc7762">[[#rc7762|7762]]</span> Did you expect to hear of a capsize when the train came?— He expected them from Benalla.
<span id="rc7763">[[#rc7763|7763]]</span> Were you in when Curnow was liberated?— Yes, when they went for Mr. Bracken, they took Curnow with them, and let him out.
<span id="rc7764">[[#rc7764|7764]]</span> Were there others let out?— Yes, some twenty-one were let go on the Sunday.
<span id="rc7765">[[#rc7765|7765]]</span> Did Mr. Curnow know from you or anyone that the line had been taken up?— Yes, I told him in the morning at once that the line was broken; I said to him, “What a pity some one could not give warning to stop the train.”
<span id="rc7766">[[#rc7766|7766]]</span> Did you tell him on the morning how a warning could be given?— I did, and told him where it was broken. I am under a mistake if I did not tell him that holding something red, with a light behind it, would do.
<span id="rc7767">[[#rc7767|7767]]</span> Will you swear you did say that?— To the best of my belief I did. I told Bracken also that the railway line was broken.
<span id="rc7768">[[#rc7768|7768]]</span> Then, it was from you that Mr. Curnow knew the line was broken?— Yes, I told him on the verandah, when he gave me his pipe to have a smoke.
<span id="rc7769">[[#rc7769|7769]]</span> Was it not known to all the prisoners in the house that the line was broken?— Yes. I suppose the late prisoners did not know it, but those in the early part did; they were going to bail up a circus that day.
<span id="rc7770">[[#rc7770|7770]]</span> Did you see the [[KellyGang|Kellys' horses]]?— Yes; three were left at Jones's stable. The four came down the back of [[McDonnell's Railway Taven|McDonnell's]] paddock, and into the stable. Two boys were riding them.
<span id="rc7771">[[#rc7771|7771]]</span> Were those boys the Kellys, or friends of theirs?— No, they were not the Kellys, because they were at the house at the time.
<span id="rc7772">[[#rc7772|7772]]</span> Were they the Kellys or others?— Others; and there was one of the horses up here tied to the fence —the horse that used to carry the pack. I think I showed him to Constable [[Johnston|Johnson]] when I came back.
<span id="rc7773">[[#rc7773|7773]]</span> ''By Mr. Sadleir''— Is it quite clear that two of Jones's children were shot before the police came from Beechworth and Wangaratta?— Yes.
<span id="rc7774">[[#rc7774|7774]]</span> And the next that was shot was your son—by Sergeant Steele, you say?— Yes.
''The witness withdrew''
Adjourned to to‑morrow at Eleven o'clock
[~[[See report of Proceedings 14/5/81]|6070]~]
'''See next day'''
'''[[Royal Commission report day 21 page 1|17/5/1881]]''' ....
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[[Royal Commission report day 20 page 13|previous page]] / [[Royal Commission report day 21 page 1|next page]]
== The Royal Commission evidence for 14/5/1881 ==
''''''
=== full text ===
(see also introduction to [[Royal Commission report 14/5/1881|day 20]])
'''[[Reardon|James Reardon]]''' '''giving evidence'''
<span id="rc7746">[[#rc7746|7746]]</span> Was it she that proposed the dancing?— I could not swear it, but, to the best of my belief, it was
<span id="rc7747">[[#rc7747|7747]]</span> Who took the floor first?— [[Jones' Glenrowan Inn|Mrs. Jones and her daughter]].
<span id="rc7748">[[#rc7748|7748]]</span> Was there plenty of grog in the hotel?— Yes, in the bar, but nobody seemed to drink much. I dare say I might have three or four drinks myself from the time I was taken in custody until I got out.
<span id="rc7749">[[#rc7749|7749]]</span> How did you people employ your time?— We passed our time very miserably, I assure you.
<span id="rc7750">[[#rc7750|7750]]</span> Did you talk?— Not much; I was kept walking about the verandah.
<span id="rc7751">[[#rc7751|7751]]</span> They allowed you to go out?— Yes, but they had a rifle under their arm, and I believe they had four or five revolvers each.
<span id="rc7752">[[#rc7752|7752]]</span> You stated they went up and brought [[Const Hugh Bracken|Bracken]] down a prisoner on the Sunday night?— Yes.
<span id="rc7753">[[#rc7753|7753]]</span> Can you say they went there with their armour or not?— Yes, they had their armour on, and they brought the armour back in a bag, to the best of my belief. They had his firearms then, a double-barrelled gun, a revolver, and his horse.
<span id="rc7754">[[#rc7754|7754]]</span> Was there a bag with them when they went?— Yes.
<span id="rc7755">[[#rc7755|7755]]</span> Was the armour in it when they went?— I am not sure whether they had the armour in it, but they put it on when they went to Bracken's house.
<span id="rc7756">[[#rc7756|7756]]</span> What time did it take to put this armour on when they heard the train was coming?— About twenty minutes, I suppose.
<span id="rc7757">[[#rc7757|7757]]</span> Did Bracken go out and take the key, and go out at once?— He went out when he heard the police going towards the gate along the line.
<span id="rc7758">[[#rc7758|7758]]</span> Did you expect the train to pass without stopping at Glenrowan?— I was afraid it would.
<span id="rc7759">[[#rc7759|7759]]</span> Would it have done so?— Yes, because there was no one to signal it.
<span id="rc7760">[[#rc7760|7760]]</span> If there was no signal at the station, it would go on?— Yes.
<span id="rc7761">[[#rc7761|7761]]</span> Was there any conversation in the house about the [[Railways|train]]?— They fancied they heard the train whistle, and they listened, and we all heard the train whistle, but could not be sure; we thought it was a cock crowing. Then, after a bit, we heard it again, and then we heard the rattle of the train, so we were frightened the train would go through; but when the train stopped at the station here, one of the Kellys said, “This is [[Thomas Curnow|Curnow]]'s work.” I heard that, but I do not know which one of them said it.
<span id="rc7762">[[#rc7762|7762]]</span> Did you expect to hear of a capsize when the train came?— He expected them from Benalla.
<span id="rc7763">[[#rc7763|7763]]</span> Were you in when Curnow was liberated?— Yes, when they went for Mr. Bracken, they took Curnow with them, and let him out.
<span id="rc7764">[[#rc7764|7764]]</span> Were there others let out?— Yes, some twenty-one were let go on the Sunday.
<span id="rc7765">[[#rc7765|7765]]</span> Did Mr. Curnow know from you or anyone that the line had been taken up?— Yes, I told him in the morning at once that the line was broken; I said to him, “What a pity some one could not give warning to stop the train.”
<span id="rc7766">[[#rc7766|7766]]</span> Did you tell him on the morning how a warning could be given?— I did, and told him where it was broken. I am under a mistake if I did not tell him that holding something red, with a light behind it, would do.
<span id="rc7767">[[#rc7767|7767]]</span> Will you swear you did say that?— To the best of my belief I did. I told Bracken also that the railway line was broken.
<span id="rc7768">[[#rc7768|7768]]</span> Then, it was from you that Mr. Curnow knew the line was broken?— Yes, I told him on the verandah, when he gave me his pipe to have a smoke.
<span id="rc7769">[[#rc7769|7769]]</span> Was it not known to all the prisoners in the house that the line was broken?— Yes. I suppose the late prisoners did not know it, but those in the early part did; they were going to bail up a circus that day.
<span id="rc7770">[[#rc7770|7770]]</span> Did you see the [[KellyGang|Kellys' horses]]?— Yes; three were left at Jones's stable. The four came down the back of [[McDonnell's Railway Taven|McDonnell's]] paddock, and into the stable. Two boys were riding them.
<span id="rc7771">[[#rc7771|7771]]</span> Were those boys the Kellys, or friends of theirs?— No, they were not the Kellys, because they were at the house at the time.
<span id="rc7772">[[#rc7772|7772]]</span> Were they the Kellys or others?— Others; and there was one of the horses up here tied to the fence —the horse that used to carry the pack. I think I showed him to Constable [[Johnston|Johnson]] when I came back.
<span id="rc7773">[[#rc7773|7773]]</span> ''By Mr. Sadleir''— Is it quite clear that two of Jones's children were shot before the police came from Beechworth and Wangaratta?— Yes.
<span id="rc7774">[[#rc7774|7774]]</span> And the next that was shot was your son—by Sergeant Steele, you say?— Yes.
''The witness withdrew''
Adjourned to to‑morrow at Eleven o'clock
[~[[See report of Proceedings 14/5/81]|6070]~]
'''See next day'''
'''[[Royal Commission report day 21 page 1|17/5/1881]]''' ....
=== Previous page / Next page ===
<br />
{{MicroficheCopy}}<br />
'''The [[Royal Commission report day 19 page 1|previous day]] / [[Royal Commission report day 21 page 1|next day]] . . . Royal Commission [[Royal Commission Index|index]]'''
[[Category:Royal Commission]] [[Category:August 1514]] [[Category:Royal Commission]] [[Category:Commisioner Standish]] [[Category:history]]
MediaWiki:Sidebar
{{^|Original page location \documents\RoyalCommission\RC810514_20_14_7746.html}}
