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== Mounted Const A J Faulkiner ==
=== Meet the people of the KellyGang story ===
== Importance of Const Alfred John Faulkiner 2784 ==
'''Links to the KellyGang''' '''below''', [[#2|Early Years]] , [[#26/10/1878|Mansfield Murders]] , [[#7/11/1878|Sebastopol Cavalcade]] , [[#10/12/1878|Euroa Robbery]] , [[#JR|Jerilderie Robbery]] , [[#10/2/1879|Autum 1879]] , Hare replaced by Nicolson , [[#6|Spring 1879 Early 1880]] , [[#nkt|Ned Kelly's Trial]] , Royal Commission , '''Early service''' , [[#12|Later service]] , Family ,
== Links to the KellyGang ==
'''Early Years''' I have been with horses all my life '''Photograph''' '''Mansfield Murders 26/10/1878''' I was stationed at '''Oakliegh''' before being sent up to [[Benalla Police Station|Benalla]] on [[ev78-10--4Mansfield Murders|28/10/1878]] after the Mansfield Murders. I went up on the [[Railways|special train]] with Consts [[SConst John Kelly|Kelly]] , '''Dakin''' and others.([[Royal Commission report day 17 page 14|RC5141]])
I arrived at [[Wangaratta|Wangaratta]] on 29/10 and went out with serach parties under Sgt [[Steele|Steele]]. The first party I went out with went up over the [[King River|King River]] and arrived in [[Mansfield|Mansfield]] on [[ev78-10--4Mansfield Murders|3/11/1878]]. From there we went to Benalla.
That night I caught the train to Beechworth. While passing through Wangaratta we heard that the '''KellyGang''' had gone into the [[Warby Ranges|Warby Ranges]] from Const [[Const Twomey|Twomey]]. ([[Royal Commission report day 18 page 1|RC5298]])
'''Sebastopol Cavalcade''' '''7/11/1878''' When we arrived in Benalla there was a special police train there that took us to Beechworth.
We then searched the ranges into [[Yarrawonga|Yackandandah]] on 5/11/1878; and to [[The Gap|The Gap]] on the 6th. On the 6th Sup. Sadleir met a large party of police at The Gap. ([[Royal Commission report day 18 page 15|RC5662]]) ([[Royal Commission report day 18 page 16|RC5697]])
Very early on the morning of 7/11/1878 we met up with other police and moved from Beechworth to Sebastopol. There was about 40 mounted police. I thought AssCom [[Nicolson|Nicolson]] was in charge.
I was in the [[Warby Ranges|Warby Ranges]] with the hunt after the '''KellyGang''' for a short time ([[Royal Commission report day 18 page 18|RC5756]])
I was on the Upper Murray soon after this time ([[Royal Commission report day 18 page 1|RC5311]])
'''Euroa Robbery 10/12/1878'''
I was stationed on the [[Mitta Mitta River|Mitta Mitta]] River watching a bridge in January 1879 but soon asked to be relieved because ther was too much traffic. ([[Royal Commission report day 17 page 14|RC5155]]). I was there at the time of the Euroa robbery.
I then spent some time in [[Rutherglen|Rutherglen]] before I went back to Benalla on about 13/1/79
Sup [[Hare|Hare]] picked a group of really good horses and gave them to the best riders amongst the police, Const [[Const William Canny|Canny]], [[Const Lawless|Lawless]] and myself. ([[Royal Commission report day 7 page 4|RC1427]])
I joined Sup Hare on search parties to the [[Warby Ranges|Warby Ranges]]. ([[Royal Commission report day 18 page 13|RC5596]])
'''Jerilderie Robbery''' I was at the River [[Murray River at Kellygang|Murray]] when the [[Jerilderie|Jerilderie]] robbery took place in February [[events79-2_4Jerilderie Robbery|1879]]. I returned to Benalla, and there joined Senior-Constable [[SConst P Mullane|Mullane]]'s party, and travelled some distance up the Murray, the other side of the [[Corryong|Curryong]]. After some time we returned to [[Wodonga (2)|Wodonga]], after searching the place up there, when we heard of the [[Howlong (2)|Howlong]] wires being cut ([[Royal Commission report day 17 page 14|RC5163]])
I went out on search parties with Sup [[Hare|Hare]] and was out with parties most of the time
'''[[Whorouly (2)|Whorouly]] Race meeting 3/1879''' I attended the race meeting at Whorouly with other police in an attempt to try and catch the '''KellyGang'''. While Mr Hare thought he had a wonderful plan I am not convinced. This is what I told the Royal Commission, "I passed the remark to Senior-Constable [[Johnston|Johnson]] that if this was the man we could consider the information a hoax either on the part of [[Aaron Sherritt|Sherritt]] or [[Joe Byrne|Byrne]]. I said it was not at all likely that a man twelve or thirteen stone weight was going to ride in a country hurdle race when Byrne and [[Steve Hart|Hart]] had brothers of their own, good horsemen. I believe from the remark Mr. Hare made afterwards that Johnson must have told Mr. Hare what I had said."([[Royal Commission report day 18 page 2|RC 5312]])
Later in about April or May I was out on a search party with Sup Hare. Two young fellows gave us some cheek and Mr Hare ordered that the boys be taken home. A short distance from home they were observed by their parents, who took one of the constables to be Ned Kelly and the other to be Steve Hart. The father called out for the constable whom he took to be Hart. He was in the waterhole, bathing, at the time (the old man was)-to come to him. ([[Royal Commission report day 17 page 17|RC5234]])
During that search with Consts [[Const William Canny|Canny]] and [[Const Lawless|Lawless]], we found three or four saddles hanging up at a place near the Lloyd's home that had been recently uses, noticing they had surcingles on made by a saddler at Wangaratta. The person who occupied the place was a man with one hand, a bachelor, which clearly showed that he had not a use for four saddles. When the '''KellyGang''' was captured, and the horses and saddles brought to Benalla, I identified those saddles as the ones I had seen hanging up in the house near Lloyd's([[Royal Commission report day 18 page 2|RC5327]])
See also ([[Royal Commission report day 4 page 13|RC 1099]]) ([[The Last of the Bushrangers Chapter 8 page 5|FH]]) ([[The Last of the Bushrangers Chapter 9 page 2|FH]])
I was out with a search party with [[Hare|Hare]] and Const [[Const William Canny|Canny]] and I think Constable [[Const Lawless|Lawless]].
We came across a hut near [[Tom Lloyd Jnr|Lloyd]]'s, in the small bush paddock. No one was at home. We searched the place and found three or four saddles hanging up that had been recently uses, noticing they had surcingles on made by a saddler at Wangaratta. The person who occupied the place was a man with one hand, a bachelor, which clearly showed that he had not a use for four saddles. When the '''KellyGang''' was captured, and the horses and saddles brought to Benalla, I identified those saddles as the ones we had seen hanging up in the house near Lloyd's. ([[Royal Commission report day 18 page 2|RC5327]])see also ([[Royal Commission report day 18 page 2|RC5312]])
'''Hare replaced by Nicolson 2/6/1879''' I was then in [[Benalla Police Station|Benalla]], up to the time of the Lancefield robbery ([[Royal Commission report day 17 page 17|RC5239]])
In July Ass Com Nicolson started regular rifle practice for the officers stationed at [[Benalla Police Station|Benalla]]. See my scores ([[Royal Commission report day 4 page 7|RC1014]])
'''Cave Party 2/12/1879 -1/4/1880''' I was a member of the Ass Com [[Nicolson|Nicolson]]'s cave party to watch for the '''KellyGang''' at Mrs Byrne's home. I arrived there on [[events 1879-11/ 1879-12|15/12/1879]] ([[Royal Commission report day 17 page 18|RC5248]]) See Also Const [[Const R Alexander|Alexander]] and ([[Royal Commission report day 37 page 30|RC13588]]) ([[Royal Commission report day 10 page 1|RC1717]])
The instructions we received with reference to this duty were that four of us would be told off with Aaron [[Aaron Sherritt|Sherritt]] as a guide in watching the house (Mrs. [[Mrs Margaret Byrne|Byrne's]]) at night-lime. If possible, we were to try to capture [[Joe Byrne|Byrne]], to stick a handkerchief in his mouth and bring him in to Beechworth. We were to try to capture the others if they came to the place. I was introduced to people by Aaron [[Ellen Sherritt|Sherritts's wife]] as a friend from New South Wales. ([[Royal Commission report day 17 page 18|RC5251]])
We were required to confine ourselves to the cave during the day, and about whatever time it suited to go down to this house at night. We were boiling our tea with spirits of wine, so as to cause no smoke, and living on bread and fish.([[Royal Commission report day 17 page 18|RC5253]])
After nine or ten days of that duty we would be relieved for four or five days, returning to Beechworth. The duty I had to undertake, when relieved from this cave duty for a few days, was-I was sent out a distance of about twenty miles all round Beechworth, serving summonses, attending inquests, and other police duty by myself. I got very close to the family and that concerned me. If I complained to my officers they might think it was cowardice on my part. At the same time I thought it was unfair to be sending me as a constable to a place where I was doing secret duty. I was at the cave duty from December 1879 to April 1880 and during the later period we were based in [[Aaron Sherritt|Aaron Sherritt]]'s home. ([[Royal Commission report day 17 page 18|RC5257]])
We had a problem with our report of the incident to SConst [[SConst P Mullane|Mullane]] on [[events 1880-4/ 1880-6|2/4/1880]].
I told Sup [[Hare|Hare]] 'Of course, if I am called upon to produce the document, I have the document in my possession, and can show it to the Commission with the minute upon it.' ([[Royal Commission report day 9 page 6|RC1619]]) See text of my of 5/4/1880 ([[Royal Commission report day 38 page 7|RC13858]])
There were others besides the eight policemen engaged in the matter; there were men carrying food, and the whole of the [[Ellen Sherritt|Sherritt]] family, consisting of seven or eight daughters, -[[Aaron Sherritt|Sherritt]] himself and the whole family knew it, and they were in constant communication with Mrs.[[Mrs Margaret Byrne|Byrne]]. They used to convey the provisions up to the cave, and with seven or eight girls, ranging from eighteen to six years old in constant communication with the Byrne family, how is it possible to know who it was divulged by. ([[Royal Commission report day 9 page 6|RC1622]]) See also ([[Royal Commission report day 17 page 19|RC5262]]) ([[Royal Commission report day 18 page 11|RC5526]]) and the text of my reports at ([[Royal Commission report day 17 page 20|RC5291]]) and at ([[Royal Commission report day 18 page 6|RC5431]]). There is a big difference. See alo ([[Royal Commission report day 32 page 2|RC12118]]) ([[Royal Commission report day 38 page 6|RC13857]])
Did I loose a letter? ([[Royal Commission report day 32 page 2|RC12120]])
'''Spring 1879 early 1880''' I spent some time with the cave party watching Mrs Byrne's place. At the end was asked by SConst [[SConst P Mullane|Mullane]] to put in a report. ([[Royal Commission report day 37 page 29|RC13558]])
Muallane and Det Ward had problems with my report and I produced another two. See the text of my third report of [[events 1880-4/ 1880-6|2/4/1880]]. ([[Royal Commission report day 18 page 2|RC5332]]) ([[Royal Commission report day 18 page 23|RC5882]]) ([[Royal Commission report day 18 page 23|RC5902]])
I produced a report about some saddles found near Jacob [[Jacob Wilson|Wilson]]'s place but I don't know what happened to it. ([[Royal Commission report day 18 page 5|RC5410]])
On the [[events 1880-4/ 1880-6|11/6/1880]] [[Hare|Hare]] sent for Const [[Const William Canny|Canny]] and me, and directed us to take a tour round the country, and see if we could not get some information of the outlaws. ([[Royal Commission report day 18 page 8|RC5479]])
On 16/6/1880 I wrote to Mr. Hare from [[Cotton Tree|Cotton-tree]], that I and Const Canny had been informed, on good authority, that the '''KellyGang''' had been seen coming home frequently. (RC5480)([[Royal Commission report Appendix 15|RCApp15]])
I wrote again on 22nd, and 23rd June (RC5481)(RCApp15)
We had good information that the '''KellyGang''' were being supplied from a Chinese store on the [[Buckland River|Buckland Flat]] .
Const Canny and I went to the Chinamen's camp, and employed some of them to come and wash sheep. We asked them if they were not frightened of the '''KellyGang'''. One of them replied that they were too far away; he said that the '''KellyGang''' were getting their provisions from the Chinese store at the Buckland Gap, and had pack-horses to carry it away. He said they came down from the ranges, two at a time; this, he stated, they did frequently. We asked him why he did not tell the police. He replied that the police were too frightened to go near them. He asked us not to tell the police; that they had been threatened if they told the police they would be shot and then burnt. We told the Chinamen that we were living on the sheep station.
We then returned to Wangaratta, and, on 25/6/1880 and sent a telegram to Mr. Hare stating that we would be back to Benalla in the evening, and wished to see him. ([[Royal Commission report day 18 page 9|RC5483]]) see also ([[Royal Commission report day 18 page 19|RC5775]])
I never heard about the possibility that the '''KellyGang''' might have [[Kelly's Armour|armour]]. ([[Royal Commission report day 18 page 14|RC5744]])
I left Benalla at eleven a.m. on the morning of the 26th, and went by myself to see the Chinaman on [[events 1880-4/ 1880-6|27/6/1880]], and got all the information I required.(RC5484) ([[Royal Commission report day 18 page 15|RC5672]])
As I was returning to Benalla on the morning of the 28th, I was informed of the fight with the police and the '''KellyGang''' at Glenrowan. I reached [[Glenrowan|Glenrowan]] that evening, and returned to Benalla in the same train that the same train that [[Ned Kelly|Ned Kelly]] and the body of [[Joe Byrne|Joe Byrne]] were brought down to Benalla. (RC5484) ([[Royal Commission report Appendix 15|RCApp15]])
In about August I returned to my police station at Oakleigh until I was involved in transfering Ned Kelly up to Beechworth for his committal. (RC5487)
'''Reward Board'''
I applied for a reward but was not successful. ([[Royal Commission report day 18 page 20|RC5798]]). The press thought that I did a good job ([[Herald (24)|Herald4/7/1880]]) ([[The Argus at KellyGang 6/7/1880 (2)|Argus6/7/80]])
== Ned Kellys trial ==
On [[1880-07---aftermath|1/8/1880]] Sgt [[Steele|Steele]], and Const [[Const Hugh Bracken|Bracken]] and I were given the task of meeting the train at Newmarket Station in Melbourne and taking [[Ned Kelly|Ned Kelly]] up to [[Beechworth Gaol|Beechworth]] to attend my committal hearing. While he would not answer any questions he did talk as the train took him back to the scene of his many criminal deeds. ([[The Argus at KellyGang 2/8/1880 (2)|Argus2/8/80]]) see also ([[Royal Commission report day 18 page 22|RC5855]])
On the way up Ned Kelly expressed himself with reference to the police and the officers. He said if he had a tail (that is, a Chinaman's tail) he would go home to China, as one Chinaman was worth all the Europeans, and he would rather trust his life to them than any European living. From the manner in which he expressed himself with reference to the Chinamen, he clearly showed he had received some sympathy or assistance from them. ([[Royal Commission report day 18 page 9|RC5488]])
He then began to speak with reference to the officers
My application for a share in the [[Reward|reward]] was rejected by the Reward Board but later the decision was altered ([[The Argus at KellyGang 11/4/1883|Argus11/4/83]])
== Royal Commission ==
I gave evidence to the Royal Commission on 10/5/1881 ([[Royal Commission report day 17 page 14|RC5141]]) and 11/5/1881 ([[Royal Commission report day 18 page 1|RC5292]])
See how my evidence was reported by the press ([[The Argus at KellyGang 11/5/1881|Argus11/5/81]]) ([[The Argus at KellyGang 12/5/1881|Argus12/5/81]])
Sgt [[Steele|Steele]] accused me of having a go at him at the Royal Commission ([[Royal Commission report day 23 page 4|RC8857]])
== Later Service ==
I was stationed at '''Oakliegh'''.
== Family ==
'''wife''' ?... '''children ?.... home ?..'''
== What happened to Const Faulkiner's family ==
KellyGang
[[Category:People]] [[Category:People starting with D-G]] [[Category:Faulkiner]] [[Category:Const Faulkiner]] [[Category:Police]] [[Category:history]]
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