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== Police Search Parties ==
... one of the things of the KellyGang story
== Victoria Police Museum ==
World Trade Centre , Melbourne
== Overview ==
== Importance of Police Search Parties ==
The police chased the '''KellyGang''' with large parties of men on horses. Many of these parties had up to 16 police and many thought that this was not the best way to chase 4 young men who were excellent bushmen. '''Related topics include''' -[[#2|Early Years]] , [[#15/4/1878|Fitzpatrick Incident]], [[#26/10/1878|Mansfield Murders]] , [[#7/11/1878|Sebastopol Cavalcade]] , [[#101278|Euroa Robbery]] , [[#10/2/1879|Jerilderie Robbery]] , [[#16|Autum 1879]] , [[#6/7/1879|Hare replaced by Nicolson]] , Spring 1879 Early 1880 , Death of Aaron Sherritt , Glenrowan Siege , Ned Kelly's Trial , Royal Commission ,
== Links to the KellyGang ==
'''Early Years''' Instructions to search parties. ([[Royal Commission report day 1 page 16|RC163]])([[Royal Commission report day 2 page 9|RC440]])
Ass Com [[Nicolson|Nicolson]] said that [[Standish|Standish]], the Chief Commissioner of Police had really nothing to do with issuing orders for the search . He was in charge of the district, and the men received full authority to act upon their discretion, and Nicolson was concerned to make the point that representations to the contrary are not correct. ([[Royal Commission report day 2 page 10|RC457]])
Search parties need to be co-ordinated. Why? ([[Royal Commission report day 6 page 12|RC1346]])
The varying importance of search parties is illustrated by the cost of provisions for them. ([[Royal Commission report day 3 page 5|RC735]])
'''Fitzpatrick Incident [[15-04-78 Fitzgerald incident|15/04/1878]]''' After the Fitzpatrick incident was committed by the '''KellyGang''', steps were taken by Sup [[Sadleir|Sadleir]] to apprehend the Kellys-the two Kellys and the two others, who were then not known by name. After those efforts proved fruitless for a good many months, it was ultimately determined to start two search parties, well armed, in pursuit of the Kellys. One started from [[Mansfield|Mansfield]], under the charge of Sergeant [[Kennedy Sgt|Kennedy]], and the other from [[Wangaratta|Wangaratta,]] under the charge of SConst [[Strahan|Strachan]] Consts [[Shoebridge|Shoebridge]], [[Thom|Thom]], and another,([[Royal Commission report day 1 page 2|RC3]])
The country was divided up into districts ([[Royal Commission report day 2 page 9|RC445]])
Consts [[Lonigan|Lonigan]] and [[Fitzpatrick|Fitzpatrick]] went ot from Benalla; Sup Sadleir had a party of police from Mansfield and a party from Greta, and Inspector [[Brooke Smith|Brook Smith]] had some from Beechworth. ([[Royal Commission report day 36 page 10|RC12941]])
Det [[Ward|Ward]] said that this was based on a plan he developed.([[Royal Commission report day 14 page 6|RC3111]]) '''Stringybark Creek Murders 26/10/1878''' It would seem that the police had good information about the area where the '''KellyGang''' were in late October 1878. 9-jan-12c.html">Kelly met Sgt [[Kennedy Sgt|Kennedy]] in [[Mansfield|Mansfield]] on [[ev78-10--4Mansfield Murders|24/10/78]] and the Sgt asked him for extra weapons because they were going after the '''KellyGang'''.
Sgt [[Kennedy Sgt|Kennedy]] and his party of [[Lonigan|Lonigan,]] [[McIntyre|McIntyre]] and [[Scanlon|Scanlon]] left [[Mansfield|Mansfield]] on 25/10/1878? with instruction to search north through to near [[Wangaratta|Wangaratta]]. Two other search parties were sent out at about the same time.See ([[Royal Commission report 2/8/1881|RC14392]]) for Sup [[Sadleir|Sadleir's]] orders. See Sgt [[Kennedy Sgt|Kennedy]] for later orders. The party from the north was under SConst [[Strahan|Strahan]] with Const [[Shoebridge|Shoebridge]], [[Thom|Thom]] and [[Const Cornelius Ryan|Ryan]]. The southern party under Sgt Kennedy was to start at [[Mansfield|Mansfield]] make their way throught [[Greta|Greta]] and the northan party under SConst Strahan was to make its way south to Mansfield. See also ([[Royal Commission report day 10 page 1|RC1727]])
The police response to the murders was immediate. Fresh police were sent up to the Kelly Country.
On [[ev78-10--4Mansfield Murders|28/10/1878]] SConsts [[SConst John Kelly|Kelly]], [[SConst James|James]], Consts [[Seymour|Connor]], [[Const Thomas Meehan|Meehan]], and another and I went out from [[Benalla Police Station|Benalla]] on a search party. They went out through Greta and spent a night on [[Boggy Creek|Boggy Creek]]. ([[Royal Commission report day 22 page 2|RC7980]])
On 29/10/78 Const [[Const Faulkiner|Faukliner]] and a search party left Wangaratta within instructions to go up the [[King River|King River]] and to go through to Mansfield looking for the '''KellyGang'''. Ass Com [[Nicolson|Nicolson,]] SConst [[SConst James|James]] and Sgt [[Steele|Steele]] also took search parties out. Within a week, they had scoured the Kelly country away behind on the south of the north-eastern and Beechworth road one way and another. Before coming in they had got news of those other two missing parties having turned up, and further particulars of the murders. Two parties that went from Wangaratta and the two parties from Benalla. ([[Royal Commission report day 2 page 2|RC343]]). ([[The Argus at KellyGang2/11/1878 (2)|Argus2/11/1878]])
Ass Com Nicolson gave a detailed report of the routes of the search parties ([[Royal Commission report day 3 page 1|RC676]])
'''Search party to the Warby Ranges'''
Police responded to the murders by sending out many search parties ([[The True of Bushrangers Chapter 6 page 1|CHC]])
Insp [[Brooke Smith|Brook Smith]] was criticied strongly by the Royal Commission for not following up on reports that the [[../K_kellys/K_KellyGang.html|'''KellyGang''']]had passed under the One Mile Bridge at Wangaratta at about 4am on the morning of [[ev78-10--4Mansfield Murders|3/11/1878]] and headed into the [[Warby Ranges|Warby Ranges]].
On [[ev78-10--4Mansfield Murders|6/11/1878]] two search parties under Insp [[Brooke Smith|Brooke Smith]] and Det [[Det Kennedy|Kennedy]] left [[Wangaratta|Wangaratta]] for [[Yarrawonga|Yarrawonga]] and [[Lake Rowan|Lake Rowan]]. The party split at [[Peechelba at kellyGang|Peechelba]] Brooke Smith's party went to Yarrawonga. ([[Royal Commission report day 33 page 6|RC12361]])
There were twenty-two in the main party including ([[Royal Commission report day 33 page 6|RC12358]])
Many people thought that this party should have started earlier. It was following up on news that the KellyGang passed through Wangaratta on 3/11/1878
Insp Brook Smith's party came across good tracks of the '''KellyGang''' in the Warby Ranges and on [[!!FIXME \events\e78_10__4MM.html|!!MISSING]] Const [[Johnston|Johnson]] and his party found the police pack horse B87 from the Stringy Bark creek murders. ([[Royal Commission report day 33 page 7|RC12400]]) see ([[Royal Commission report day 51 page 18|RC17430]])
The police party in the Warby Ranges included Sgt [[Steele|Steele]] and Consts [[Const R Alexander|Alexander]], [[Const J Dixon|Dixon]], [[Fitzpatrick|Fitzpatrick]], [[Hayes|Hayes]], [[Const Lawless|Lawless]], [[Const Twomey|Twomey]], [[Const J Dixon|Dixon]] and [[Const Cameron|Cameron]] and perhaps [[Const Broderick|Broderick]] and some local aboriginal [[Police Trackers|trackers]]. [[Hunt|Hunt]] from the Argus accompanied Brrok Smith.
On [[ev78-10--4Mansfield Murders|12/11/1878]] Insp [[Brooke Smith|Brooke Smith]], Ass Com [[Nicolson|Nicolson]], Sgt [[Steele|Steele]], Sup [[Sadleir|Sadleir]] and search parties including Const Johnson met up and followed the tracks. They went almost directly north-the tracks were going for some few miles, and the tracks led into some thick scrub. The trackers were very slow, and did not appear to like to go into the scrub at all, the two trackers we had. We turned back the same line as we had gone, just came straight back to where we hand met them from Benalla and Wangaratta. ([[The Argus at KellyGang 13/11/1878|Argus13/11/78]]) ([[Royal Commission report day 33 page 11|RC12476]]) ([[The Argus at KellyGang 14/11/1878|Argus14/11/78]]) ([[The Argus at KellyGang 15/11/1878|Argus15/11/78]])
In total there were 50 to 60 mounted police and about 40 or 50 foot constables in the Kelly Country. Later that number was increased. ([[Royal Commission report day 2 page 1|RC334]])
Const [[Fitzpatrick|Fitzpatrick]] was a member of the search party. ([[Royal Commission report day 36 page 10|RC12956]])
'''Sebastopol Cavalcade''' '''7/11/1878''' There was a report that the '''KellyGang''' had been sited at Sebastopol on [[ev78-10--4Mansfield Murders|6/11/1878]]. The event known as the [[Sebastopol Cavalcade|Sebastopol cavacade]] followed were a large force of police came together to search the place
Insp [[Brooke Smith|Brooke Smith]] led a search party to Peechelba on about [[ev78-10--4Mansfield Murders|7/11/1878]]. SConst [[SConst P Mullane|Mullane]] was part of the party. They stated from Wangaratta at about 3pm. There were fourteen or sixteen men, and the party divided here and Mullane's party went to [[Lake Rowan|Lake Rowan]] and Brooke Smith's party to [[Yarrawonga|Yarrawonga]]. ([[Royal Commission report day 37 page 28|RC13534]])
see also ([[The Argus at KellyGang 12/11/1878|Argus12/11/78]]) ([[The Argus at KellyGang 16/11/1878 (2)|Argus16/11/78]]) ([[The Argus at KellyGang 19/11/1878|Argus19/11/78]]) ([[The Argus at KellyGang 30/11/1878|Argus30/11/78]])
'''Euroa Robbery''' Ass Com [[Nicolson|Nicolson]] was told that the '''KellyGang''' had left in the direction of [[Violet Town|Violet Town]]. The men had been looking for traces with a black fellow name [[Police Trackers|Jemmy]]. The police at last crossed the rail way line and re crossed the line, and we got on the road running to the Murchison road, to the Strathbogie side of Euroa. The tracks turned down towards Euroa. The spur ran down from the Strathbogie range right down into the road, and the main road was a mile from it, and the paddock rail ran right into this part, leaving the face of the spur the boundary of the road. In the meantime [[Stephens|Stevens]] and police. By and bye they lost the whole altogether. After a little pursuing on that road, trying to pick them up, the road at this time being very dusty, they picked up the tracks again at the side of the road some distance down. The tracks led to an open space on the right hand side, and then going towards the gate leading into a paddock alongside the railway and they branched off into the paddock. In the centre of the paddock these traces were lost. All this time we were in sight of Euroa, and all trace was lost; it was about mid day.
Ass Com Nicolson brought the men down. and could not make anything more of that. He brought them down to [[Euroa|Euroa]], took them to the police station to put their horses up. Then the enquiry was made, for the first time, at the bank, amongst all who could give any information or throw any light on the matter. At the same time he ordered dinner for the men at the hotel; and they had something to eat while the horses were feeding. The men were overpowered at this time (it was a very hot day) with fatigue and the heat, fatigue particularly, because most of them were the same men he had with him just two or three days before.
At the table the men actually fell asleep over their food with fatigue, in all sorts of attitudes, not drinking a drop or anything of the kind. Const [[Johnston|Johnson]], who was the strongest and hardiest man of the party, a most energetic man, went to sleep on the bush sofa at the side of the room, and the old man of the house-that is, the Euroa hotel-thought Johnson had a sunstroke, and he began practising upon him for that. The man was so dead asleep that he was not awaked, though they poured water over him.
Nicolson could not take the men out then. He got the men wakened up and got them into a large barrack sort of room, and allowed them to sleep there for an hour or two. It was bright moonlight weather; and about six o'clock had tea ready for them, and as soon as that was over we started away down the Murchison road to a place we had heard of that the '''KellyGang''' were likely to go to-two or three several places. It seemed when the '''KellyGang''' were at [[Faithfull's Creek (2)|Faithfull]]'s Creek that they were asking from one or two persons-a boy particularly-where a certain boy was living; and they learned this. Nicolson was pretty sure the '''KellyGang''' had gone north towards [[Murchison|Murchison]]- due north. The police then searched all the suspicious places without any result. ([[Royal Commission report day 2 page 16|RC551]])
Sup [[Sadleir|Sadleir]] got together a party of police and struck across from [[Wangaratta|Wangaratta]] by Glenrowan, under the Warby ranges to near [[Lake Rowan|Lake Rowan]]. He had one or two trackers with him, and he expected to get any tracks the '''KellyGang''' might have made on the way from Euroa to some of their old haunts. The police did find a track which was quite fresh during the previous night or very early that morning, but the trackers just led them perhaps twenty or thirty yards, and would not or could not follow it any further. Sadleir went in with some of the constables into the scrub ahead of where the tracks were stopped, in case there was any ambush there, but there was no use trying to work the tracker; they could get him to go no further. The police wanted to get to a farm house near Lake Rowan, to a friend of the Kellys. ([[Royal Commission report day 11 page 3|RC2011]])
On [[ev78-12--2Euroa Robbery|12/12/1878]] a police search party was sent into the Strathbogie ranges. Nicolson was too sick to go out with them.([[Royal Commission report day 2 page 17|RC553]])([[The True of Bushrangers Chapter 12 page 1|CHC]])see also ([[The Argus at KellyGang 14/12/1878|Argus14/12/78]]) ([[The Argus at KellyGang 14/12/1878 (3)|Argus14/12/78]]) ([[The Argus at KellyGang 18/12/1878 (2)|Argus18/12/78]]) ([[The Alexandra and Yea Standard, Gobur, Thornton and Acheron Express at KellyGang 21/12/1878|Alexandra21/12/1878]])([[The Argus at KellyGang 2712/1878 (2)|Argus27/12/78]])
A party of police were put on [[Ryan's Creek|Ryan]]'s Creek, at [[Samaria|Samaria]] and on the boundary between [[Tatonga|Tatong]] and [[Kilfera|Kilfera]] in [[ev78-12--2Euroa Robbery|January 1879]] after the [[../../things/K_kellys/K_KellyGang.html|'''KellyGang''']] had been cited at [[Greta|Greta]]. They were to watch at night. ([[Royal Commission report day 11 page 4|RC2030]])
Lots of other search parties were sent out ([[The Argus at KellyGang 17/12/1878 (2)|Argus17/12/78]]) ([[The Argus at KellyGang 16/1/1879|Argus16/1/79]]) ([[The Argus at KellyGang 21/1/1879|Argus21/1/79]]) ([[The Argus at KellyGang 23/1/1879|Argus23/1/79]]) ([[The Argus at KellyGang 25/1/1879|Argus25/1/79]])
Const [[Const Faulkiner|Faulkiner]] went out on nearly all Sup [[Hare|Hare]]'s search parties. He always thought that they were out following up on information.
Faulkiner said, 'Any time we went out on information we went out nine or ten miles in a different direction and after dark returned another road to within a couple of miles of the suspected place, and tied the horses up and walked the rest and surrounded the place before daylight; but when out without information, we used to separate about 150 or 200 yards, as far apart as we could well reach, and cover the range across or the side of a hill.' Sometimes the members of the party were twenty or thirty yards, and in flat country as far as they could see each other.([[Royal Commission report day 18 page 13|RC5600]])
'''Jerrilderie Robbery 10/2/1879''' On about 4/2/[[events79-2_4Jerilderie Robbery|1879]] news was recieved that the '''KellyGang''' were about to head over the River Murray into New South Wales and up to [[Goulburn NSW|Goulbourn]]. A search party was sent from [[Chiltern|Chiltern]] over [[Gravel Plains|Gravel]] Plains and then up in the direction of Goulboun. Before it got there news of the Jerilderie robbery came through. See Consts [[SConst P Mullane|Mullane]] and [[Strahan|Strahan]].
After the Jerilderie robbery Aaron [[Aaron Sherritt|Sherritt]] had some dealings with Sup [[Hare|Hare]]. Following these and after discussions with Com Standish the homes of the members of the '''KellyGang''' were watched by standing parties. The camp near Mrs [[Mrs Margaret Byrne|Byrne's]] home was set up by Sup Hare. It was maintained for about 25 days. Sup Hare was assisted by about 7 police. He described life in the camp in his book in the following words.
<blockquote>" Our daily life was as follows:- At dusk in the evening, one at a time, we used to leave our camp and make down to the stock-yard, I always leading the way, and the other men following. We had to be most careful where we trod, for fear of our tracks being seen on the following day. We each took up positions behind trees outside the stock-yard, I taking the opening into the yard myself. I had given orders to the men not to move from their positions until I called to them, no matter what happened. We were all lying about ten or fifteen yards apart. The nights were bitterly cold. Aaron used to spend his evenings at Mrs Byrne's with his young woman, and he obtained all the information they were possessed of, and when he left their house between twelve and one o'clock he used to lie down and watch with us. He always took up his position beside me, and used to relate all kinds of encouraging reports that he had obtained during the day as to the prospect of the Kellys turning up. Hardly a night that we took up our positions but we thought we should have some luck. As day broke in the morning we used to make back to our camp in the mountains in a very disappointed mood, walking singly, and avoiding the paths or soft places, so as not to leave any tracks behind us. "
</blockquote>
O'[[O'Connor|Connor]] and Queensland trackers went out on our first patrol from [[Benalla Police Station|Benalla]] on 11/3/[[events79-2_4Jerilderie Robbery|1879]] and returned on 18/3/1879. ([[The Argus at KellyGang 19/3/1879|Agrus19/3/79]])
== Autum 1879 ==
Sup [[Hare|Hare]] formed a search party, about eight or nine mounted police with two or three pack-horses. They carried hammocks, some provisions and cooking utensils. He described how they used to work in the thick bushy country. They put a man who knew the country in the centre, and they would, from that centre, extend a line as far as they could according to the nature of the country, in the thick country leaving a distance of about ten yards from the first man, the next man ten yards from him, and so through all the men from right to left. As the country became open, they would leave a longer distance between, say 50 or 100 yards, and so search the whole country for miles and miles without being heard or making a noise, which was an important thing to observe. In going up steep mountains and gullies (and the ranges were very steep) they used to ride with the leading man about twenty yards ahead of the second man, which was generally Hare or the other leader. The police kept in a line, so that if an attack was made only one man would be killed, and the others could come up immediately. ([[Royal Commission report day 6 page 6|RC1285]]) See also ([[The Last of the Bushrangers Chapter 8 page 1|FH]]) ([[The True of Bushrangers Chapter 14 page 2|CHC]])
Sup [[Hare|Hare]] took a search party to [[Cleary|Clearys]] around [[events 1879-05/ 1879-07at KellyGang|25/5/1879]] (RC1285)
At about this time Insp O'[[O'Connor|Connor]] and the Queensland trackers started going out with the search parties. They normally consisted of about fifteen or sixteen-five native trackers, O'Connor, Sadleir, and a senior-constable with the trackers, and five or six Victorian constables. ([[Royal Commission report day 4 page 12|RC1082]])
Inspector [[Brooke Smith|Brook Smith]] took out a search party from [[Corowa|Corowa]]. ([[The Argus at KellyGang 1/7/1879 (2)|Argus1/7/79]])
According to Const [[Const Faulkiner|Faulkiner]] when the police received information, they generally went nine or ten miles in a different direction. They travelled off road some 150 or 200 yards apart, and kept in view of each other. Often they travelled at night so as to avoid meeting people. see also ([[Royal Commission report day 18 page 22|RC5859]])
In about June [[events 1879-05/ 1879-07at KellyGang|1879]] police received information that the [[../../things/K_kellys/K_KellyGang.html|'''KellyGang''']] were at [[Bullocky Creek|Bullocky]], or at the head of [[Ryan's Creek|Ryan]]'s Creek. About five or six miles from [[Stringy Bark Creek|Stringy Bark]] Creek where the the police were murdered. Constables Mooney, [[Hayes|Hayes]], Whitty, SConst [[Strahan|Strahan]] and Detective [[Ward|Ward]] proceeded to there, and made search for three days. They did not find anything.([[Royal Commission report day 14 page 3|RC3042]])
Const [[Gascoigne|Gascoigne]] suggested that the best way would be for mounted police to go out with very little provisions, and no incumbrance, just a 'possum rug-something to sleep in-not to take a lot of packing on horses; no pack-horse at all, unless it is, a long journey, four or five men; and let them camp out, just the same as shearers, or any others; just take a saddle-bag with one or two days' provisions. ([[Royal Commission report day 25 page 4|RC9641]]) See also ([[The Last of the Bushrangers Chapter 8 page 6|FH]]) ([[The Last of the Bushrangers Chapter 9 page 2|FH]]) ([[The Last of the Bushrangers Chapter 9 page 5|FH]])
'''Hare replaced by Nicolson 6/7/1879''' Prior to the Euroa bank robbery Mr. [[Nicolson|Nicolson]] appears to have lost faith in the utility of search parties exclusively; Superintendent [[Sadleir|Sadleir]], emphatically pronounced the system to be mere "fooling." ([[Royal Commission second Report Part XII ( page 17)|RC2nd reportXII]])
Ass Com Nicolson saw the need to give the men rifle practice. ([[Royal Commission report day 4 page 6|RC1007]]. He also saw the need to re organise the way the search parties moved through the country. He told the Royal Commission, 'It is admitted as a general rule that a man cannot shoot with accuracy off a horse's back; of course the very heaving of its flanks would prevent that. I directed them also how to approach and engage with these men-a very simple matter. I just told them, keep twenty yards from each other, the leader and two or three men in front, the other two or three men under the senior-constable to run up at right angles in this way--driving them along by degrees till they close in on them and rush them) ([[Royal Commission report day 4 page 8|RC1018]])
Nicolson saw the need to look after the police horses. 'We inspected them thoroughly, and they kept condition exceedingly well-they were as muscular as possible. Whenever we observed a horse getting apparently sickly, which may happen with any horse, he was taken into the stable, and coddled up a little with oats and bran mash, and in a few days turned out with the rest. We kept the horses in such condition, because it was not advisable that horses that had to go out in pursuit of this gang should have heavy stable feeding, as they could not last above three days, whereas horses fed in this way, just as the outlaws fed theirs, all that had to be done was to turn them out to feed wherever they then were at night. I brought the horses up to that pitch, just as the outlaws were doing.' ([[Royal Commission report day 3 page 4|RC730]])
A large search party was sent out ([[The Argus at KellyGang 17/11/1879|Argus17/11/79]])
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