The Argus at KellyGang 10/8/1881 (3)
The members of the Victorian police force, who are all desirous of meeting their comrades' murderers are to wait behind, these trackers crawling along at the rate of three or four miles an hour after men who are travelling at the rate of 16 or 20 miles an hour until they are safe in their old haunts again with their plunder; there to remain and laugh at the fatuous efforts of the police to capture them. Unless some alterations are made very shortly I am afraid that very little security to life or property we need expect from the police. If the police require strengthening in the North-Eastern district, it is not for the purpose of confining the members from where the crime is committed, and in place of the Kelly gang being allowed to rest and mature their plans for the future, the police should be allowed to exert them-selves to their utmost to capture them, and not wait for the Kellys to walk into some police station and give themselves up as prisoners. I will now finish my remarks with a few suggestions, and I beg that you will be good enough to use your influence on behalf of the many who are of the same opinion as myself on this subject, and I trust you will bring under the notice of the Chief Secretary the present helplessness of the police force to capture the Kellys. In my opinion, those men that are hired at a high salary should be dispensed with. If Aaron Sherritt or any of his class ever intended to sell the Kellys, they would have done so long ago for the £8,000, and the department would not be the laughing-stock of the outlaws and their sympathisers. Fancy a man in his proper senses engaging Aaron Sherritt to sell the out-laws. Why he would rather cut his arm off. The fact of it is Ned Kelly's best friends are engaged by the department, and why are they engaged is the question. If there are not men in the force capable of doing any duty that is required of them, the whole force should be disbanded. Are the trackers required? If they are they ought to be sent to Coranderrk, and it would save the country £130 a month at the very least, and the sub-inspector could return to Queensland , as he is never troubled with the trackers. Is Detective Ward and the assistant commissioner capable of outwitting the outlaws? My answer is they are not. What they have done up to the present time is nothing, and I believe they will continue doing nothing, and the Kellys will reign until they die a natural death. I will now conclude, hoping that you will bring this subject before Parliament, or under the notice of the Chief Secretary, and save the country from further needless expense, as I am certain that with a change of officers, and a very little skill, the Kellys will soon be brought to justice. I am, in meantime, yours obediently, — —."
(The signature had been cut out by Mr Graves, as he desired his informant’s name to be kept secret.) In the course of his examination Mr Graves made the following statement: - He had known the Kelly family and their relatives for a number of years. They had resided near a station which he held. Knowing something of the police movements, he was of opinion that Sergeant Kennedy and Constables Scanlan and Flood were well acquainted with the district. It was no use for any constable to be stationed in the district unless he was thoroughly acquainted with the country. Constable Flood was removed from Greta for some reason which he did not know, and from that time the Kelly connexion began to assert themselves. Flood had been always under control, and he attributed the commencement of their out- break to the removal of Flood and useless men being sent to take his place. Dan Kelly was once charged with having stolen a saddle from his (Mr Graves') stock- man. At the trial Dan, although there was no doubt that he was the thief, produced evidence purporting to show that he had purchased it. He was, however, convicted. This circumstance illustrated the audacity of the Kelly people. On the 31st October, 1878 , a few days after the police murders, witness was informed that the police were badly armed. One party of 23 had but three rifles. Was also told that the police parties were not sent away immediately, and that the civilians had to do most of the searching. Witness was requested to bring the matter before the Legislative Assembly, and he did so. Was at Mansfield the day after the Euroa outrage. Had the police been sent out from that place to intercept the gang along a track which he recommended the outlaws would have been met with. Told Sub-inspector Pewtress the track along which the gang would likely travel, and Pewtress agreed with him. Pewtress telegraphed to Benalla, and asked that he should be allowed to follow witness's advice, but that permission was not given. A correspondent in Euroa informed him that through the dilatoriness of Mr Nicolson the Kellys received 22 hours' start from Euroa, when they should have been followed in six hours at most. He had proved the accuracy of this statement by inquiry. Believed Wallace, the schoolmaster, told him who wrote the letter, but was almost sure it was not written by Wallace himself. Was under the impression that it was written by a constable. Believed the outlaws could have been captured singly, and that it was a mistake on the part of the officers to continually endeavour to capture them all together. In regard to Sub-inspector Pewtress's request to be allowed to follow his (Mr Graves's) advice to intercept the gang after the Euroa outrage, Constable James urged him to adopt the same course, but they were ordered to take quite a contrary course, a telegram being received from Benalla ordering half the party to remain in Mansfield, and the other half to proceed to Benalla, and to so turn their backs on the track where the Kellys must have been met with. Received a letter from a person who said Constable M'Guirk once told him that he discovered the tracks of two of the gang, that he reported the matter to Mr Nicolson, and advised that the black trackers should be at once employed, as the ground was then soft; that Mr Nicolson thanked him for his efficiency, but said it was no use following only two of the gang, as he wanted them all, and that he (M'Guirk) then lost heart. About the beginning of April, 1879, witness was told by a magistrate that he had seen Ned Kelly in Melbourne . That magistrate was most reliable, and was well acquainted with the outlaw. He would supply the name of the magistrate, who could be summoned if the Commission so desired. This gentleman described Ned minutely, and said that on his recognising him, Ned jumped into a cab, and cleared away before a constable could be called. The police had authority to supply the names of persons in the North- Eastern district who should not be allowed to select land. The power thus conferred upon them was exercised so indiscriminately that there was a number of cases of hardship. Had reason to believe that the Kellys were in the neighbourhood of Euroa immediately before the robbery, and that the police were aware of their presence. This was merely a matter of opinion, from what he had heard Mr Sadleir was not responsible for the changes amongst the police in the North eastern district, as he only took charge there shortly before the murders. Mr Sadleir made the best selection possible in appointing Sergeant Kennedy and his party to under- take the first search for the Kellys. Until Mr Sadleir took charge, the police in the district were in a very disorganised state, and for this Mr Nicolson, who was then superintending superintendent, was to a great extent responsible.
Detective Ward and Senior-constable Mullane , having been recalled and further examined, the board adjourned until Tuesday week.
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