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Story of the KellyGang - the Royal Commission evidence
[[Royal Commission report day 23 page 14|previous page]] / [[Royal Commission report day 23 page 16|next page]]
== The Royal Commission evidence for 31/5/1881 ==
''''''
=== full text ===
(see also introduction to [[Royal Commission report 31/5/1881|day 23]])
'''Sgt [[Steele|Steele]] giving evidence'''
<span id="rc9052">[[#rc9052|9052]]</span> Would you say it was a revolver or a rifle bullet?— I think a rifle bullet, judging from the manner in which the boot was torn.
<span id="rc9053">[[#rc9053|9053]]</span> How do you account for the rifle being covered with blood?— It was from the left arm that was wounded that the blood came.
<span id="rc9054">[[#rc9054|9054]]</span> On the right?— Yes. His right hand was as right as possible; only the punctured wounds from the shots from the slugs he had got a few seconds before.
<span id="rc9055">[[#rc9055|9055]]</span> I think you said you were at [[Sebastopol|Sebastopol]] ?— Yes.
<span id="rc9056">[[#rc9056|9056]]</span> Who gave y on instructions to go there?— A constable came out to Myrtleford for me, and I went in in the morning.
<span id="rc9057">[[#rc9057|9057]]</span> Was that verbally or by official dispatch?— I think I had a memorandum.
<span id="rc9058">[[#rc9058|9058]]</span> “Constable Steele will report himself, and attend at such and such a place”?— Yes. “Sergeant Steele to arrive at Beechworth before daylight in the morning”; I think that was the purport of it
<span id="rc9059">[[#rc9059|9059]]</span> You know that district well?— Yes, I know that district as well as any man.
<span id="rc9060">[[#rc9060|9060]]</span> Was Greta a sub-district attached to Wangaratta or Benalla?— [[Greta|Greta]] is nearer to Benalla.
<span id="rc9061">[[#rc9061|9061]]</span> Which place is it visited from?— By police officers do you mean?
<span id="rc9062">[[#rc9062|9062]]</span> Did you ever go there on duty to see if the station was right?— Yes, I was in the habit of inspecting that station.
<span id="rc9063">[[#rc9063|9063]]</span> Then it would be inspected from Wangaratta?— Yes.
<span id="rc9064">[[#rc9064|9064]]</span> From the sleepy inefficient appearance of Thom did you consider it your duty to report him specially?— Yes, I brought it under the notice of Mr. [[Brooke Smith|Smith]], who was then in charge of the North-Eastern district.
<span id="rc9065">[[#rc9065|9065]]</span> Can you say of your own knowledge whether the prosecutions for outrages were very frequent at the time Thom had charge?— I cannot remember any.
<span id="rc9066">[[#rc9066|9066]]</span> Do you know that his predecessor had prosecutions at almost every court?— I know that before Thom they had a good number of cases.
<span id="rc9067">[[#rc9067|9067]]</span> Do you consider that that impunity in [[Thom|Thom]]'s time emboldened those men to break out as they finally did?— I think it encouraged them very much in horsestealing.
<span id="rc9068">[[#rc9068|9068]]</span> In connection with bush offences, is it within your knowledge that the criminal classes are chiefly from that horse and [[Horse and Cattle stealing|cattle stealing class]]?— Yes, I think so; those that resort to bushranging.
<span id="rc9069">[[#rc9069|9069]]</span> Cattle-duffing and so on?— Yes.
<span id="rc9070">[[#rc9070|9070]]</span> When those men come into Wangaratta, are not they the class you watch principally?— Yes; they usually get a little drink, and are what is called flash, rowdy men.
<span id="rc9071">[[#rc9071|9071]]</span> You are a mounted sergeant, are you not?— Yes.
<span id="rc9072">[[#rc9072|9072]]</span> What is the difference of position in the service between the foot and mounted men?— I do not see that there is any difference; as a rule, I think a foot sergeant generally gets on better in the service; a mounted sergeant is generally stationed in remote places in the country, and has not so good a chance of getting on.
<span id="rc9073">[[#rc9073|9073]]</span> What difference is there in the pay?— The pay is the same; so I understand. I think I get the same as a second class foot sergeant.
<span id="rc9074">[[#rc9074|9074]]</span> In your opinion, is a foot constable in charge of a station which has a large area of bush land as effective in the bush as a man who is accustomed to riding?— I do not think so.
<span id="rc9075">[[#rc9075|9075]]</span> He cannot be, in your opinion?— I do not think so. He should be able to go out himself at any time. I know I have a good deal more confidence in going out myself to knock about in the bush than to send a young mounted constable.
<span id="rc9076">[[#rc9076|9076]]</span> If you were in charge of a station like Wangaratta, how many men would you have under you?— Three mounted men and the mounted sergeant.
<span id="rc9077">[[#rc9077|9077]]</span> How many men have you in immediate charge at Wangaratta?— I had only three before the Kellys broke out.
<span id="rc9078">[[#rc9078|9078]]</span> As sergeant, if you had a special case to arrest in the bush–a man charged with an outrage of a violent character–would you go yourself to execute that warrant?— I certainly would.
<span id="rc9079">[[#rc9079|9079]]</span> Is it the usage for a foot sergeant, in such a case, to delegate that work, which you say you would do yourself, to one of his men?— He might, if he had not a horse himself
<span id="rc9080">[[#rc9080|9080]]</span> As a rule, do they do it?— I think they do not.....
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[[Royal Commission report day 23 page 14|previous page]] / [[Royal Commission report day 23 page 16|next page]]
== The Royal Commission evidence for 31/5/1881 ==
''''''
=== full text ===
(see also introduction to [[Royal Commission report 31/5/1881|day 23]])
'''Sgt [[Steele|Steele]] giving evidence'''
<span id="rc9052">[[#rc9052|9052]]</span> Would you say it was a revolver or a rifle bullet?— I think a rifle bullet, judging from the manner in which the boot was torn.
<span id="rc9053">[[#rc9053|9053]]</span> How do you account for the rifle being covered with blood?— It was from the left arm that was wounded that the blood came.
<span id="rc9054">[[#rc9054|9054]]</span> On the right?— Yes. His right hand was as right as possible; only the punctured wounds from the shots from the slugs he had got a few seconds before.
<span id="rc9055">[[#rc9055|9055]]</span> I think you said you were at [[Sebastopol|Sebastopol]] ?— Yes.
<span id="rc9056">[[#rc9056|9056]]</span> Who gave y on instructions to go there?— A constable came out to Myrtleford for me, and I went in in the morning.
<span id="rc9057">[[#rc9057|9057]]</span> Was that verbally or by official dispatch?— I think I had a memorandum.
<span id="rc9058">[[#rc9058|9058]]</span> “Constable Steele will report himself, and attend at such and such a place”?— Yes. “Sergeant Steele to arrive at Beechworth before daylight in the morning”; I think that was the purport of it
<span id="rc9059">[[#rc9059|9059]]</span> You know that district well?— Yes, I know that district as well as any man.
<span id="rc9060">[[#rc9060|9060]]</span> Was Greta a sub-district attached to Wangaratta or Benalla?— [[Greta|Greta]] is nearer to Benalla.
<span id="rc9061">[[#rc9061|9061]]</span> Which place is it visited from?— By police officers do you mean?
<span id="rc9062">[[#rc9062|9062]]</span> Did you ever go there on duty to see if the station was right?— Yes, I was in the habit of inspecting that station.
<span id="rc9063">[[#rc9063|9063]]</span> Then it would be inspected from Wangaratta?— Yes.
<span id="rc9064">[[#rc9064|9064]]</span> From the sleepy inefficient appearance of Thom did you consider it your duty to report him specially?— Yes, I brought it under the notice of Mr. [[Brooke Smith|Smith]], who was then in charge of the North-Eastern district.
<span id="rc9065">[[#rc9065|9065]]</span> Can you say of your own knowledge whether the prosecutions for outrages were very frequent at the time Thom had charge?— I cannot remember any.
<span id="rc9066">[[#rc9066|9066]]</span> Do you know that his predecessor had prosecutions at almost every court?— I know that before Thom they had a good number of cases.
<span id="rc9067">[[#rc9067|9067]]</span> Do you consider that that impunity in [[Thom|Thom]]'s time emboldened those men to break out as they finally did?— I think it encouraged them very much in horsestealing.
<span id="rc9068">[[#rc9068|9068]]</span> In connection with bush offences, is it within your knowledge that the criminal classes are chiefly from that horse and [[Horse and Cattle stealing|cattle stealing class]]?— Yes, I think so; those that resort to bushranging.
<span id="rc9069">[[#rc9069|9069]]</span> Cattle-duffing and so on?— Yes.
<span id="rc9070">[[#rc9070|9070]]</span> When those men come into Wangaratta, are not they the class you watch principally?— Yes; they usually get a little drink, and are what is called flash, rowdy men.
<span id="rc9071">[[#rc9071|9071]]</span> You are a mounted sergeant, are you not?— Yes.
<span id="rc9072">[[#rc9072|9072]]</span> What is the difference of position in the service between the foot and mounted men?— I do not see that there is any difference; as a rule, I think a foot sergeant generally gets on better in the service; a mounted sergeant is generally stationed in remote places in the country, and has not so good a chance of getting on.
<span id="rc9073">[[#rc9073|9073]]</span> What difference is there in the pay?— The pay is the same; so I understand. I think I get the same as a second class foot sergeant.
<span id="rc9074">[[#rc9074|9074]]</span> In your opinion, is a foot constable in charge of a station which has a large area of bush land as effective in the bush as a man who is accustomed to riding?— I do not think so.
<span id="rc9075">[[#rc9075|9075]]</span> He cannot be, in your opinion?— I do not think so. He should be able to go out himself at any time. I know I have a good deal more confidence in going out myself to knock about in the bush than to send a young mounted constable.
<span id="rc9076">[[#rc9076|9076]]</span> If you were in charge of a station like Wangaratta, how many men would you have under you?— Three mounted men and the mounted sergeant.
<span id="rc9077">[[#rc9077|9077]]</span> How many men have you in immediate charge at Wangaratta?— I had only three before the Kellys broke out.
<span id="rc9078">[[#rc9078|9078]]</span> As sergeant, if you had a special case to arrest in the bush–a man charged with an outrage of a violent character–would you go yourself to execute that warrant?— I certainly would.
<span id="rc9079">[[#rc9079|9079]]</span> Is it the usage for a foot sergeant, in such a case, to delegate that work, which you say you would do yourself, to one of his men?— He might, if he had not a horse himself
<span id="rc9080">[[#rc9080|9080]]</span> As a rule, do they do it?— I think they do not.....
=== Previous page / Next page ===
<br />
{{MicroficheCopy}}<br />
'''The [[Royal Commission report day 22 page 1|previous day]] / [[Royal Commission report day 24 page 1|next day]] . . . Royal Commission [[Royal Commission Index|index]]'''
[[Category:Royal Commission]] [[Category:November 1531]] [[Category:Royal Commission]] [[Category:Commisioner Standish]] [[Category:history]]
MediaWiki:Sidebar
{{^|Original page location \documents\RoyalCommission\RC810531_23_15_9052.html}}
