The Argus at KellyGang 13/12/1882
THE POLICE COMMISSION
This commission resumed its sittings yesterday at the old Treasury Mr Longmore occupied the chair, and there were all present Messrs Fincham, Hall and Dixon. The proceedings were open to the press. Several witnesses had been summoned to give evidence on certain points of difference between the evidence of Detective Forster and the witnesses Boardman and Walsh, on the one side and Detectives O'Callaghan and Nixon on the other, all of whom with the exception of Forster, were in attendance, and admitted to the room.
Julius Copeland, furniture dealer, said that when in partnership with Mr Slowman, about two years ago he was accustomed to deal in pictures. About that time six oil paintings valued at £8 or £9 were stolen from their premises. The robbery was reported immediately, but the pictures were not returned until about nine months had eclipsed, or until about four or five months after they were recovered by the detectives. The detectives told Mr Slowman that the thieves had been convicted for other robberies for which they had got sentences amounting in the aggregate to 20 years imprisonment and that it was no use proceeding against them for they pictures. Mr Slowman had also said that some detective claimed a reward for the recovery of the pictures. Mr Slowman was anxious to prosecute.
Elizabeth Lamb said she was the keeper of a boarding-house in Franklin street . About two years ago three men named Taylor Bird, and Walsh, lodged with her. From Taylor and Walsh she bought the picture referred to by the last witness. Subsequently Detectives O'Callaghan and Nixon called at her place with a search warrant for the jewellery stolen from Mr Webster's shop and they seized the pictures, which they said were also stolen. They had evidently learned from some one that the pictures were there.
Detective O'Callaghan asked Mrs Lamb who and where her husband was.
The CHAIRMAN said that questions of this kind would not be allowed.
Detective O'Callaghan said he was prepared to show that the story of the witnesses who had endeavoured to represent the case under notice as one of a "put up" character was utterly untrue, and that the testimony of the present witness was not worth the snap of one's fingers.
The CHAIRMAN -You can proceed with any question relative to the robbery but you must put your questions decently.
In reply to Detective O'Callaghan.
The witness admitted that a number of men, with three aliases each, used to lodge in her house. She did not then know that they were thieves.
Detective O'Callaghan- I will show that you did. Did not Walsh live in your house with an abandoned girl named Smith?
Witness -No; Smith was my servant. Am not supposed to know that they lived together after she left my house.
Detective O'Callaghan - Didn't your visit their room in Cardigan street ?
The CHAIRMAN -Sir, you are behaving in a most outrageous manner. No man has ever acted in this room as you have done. If you do not deal with the question on its merits you will have to go out of the room. The impression of the commission is that you have an object in view.
Detective O'Callaghan was sorry to hear that be had no improper object in view.
The CHAIRMAN - And that impression cannot be removed, because the commission believes that you want to raise a false issue. Put your questions in a decent manner and don't bully the woman.
Detective O'Callaghan said he had no desire to offend any one but simply to show the character of the witnesses called against him.
Witness having admitted that she did visit a room in Cardigan street where she saw Walsh and the girl Smith.
Detective O'Callaghan asked - What was your husband a name?
Witness -Joseph Lamb
Detective O'Callaghan -Was Joseph Lamb a convict?
The CHAIRMAN - This is perfectly shocking.
Mr FINCHAM -Utter cowardice. Do you (to O'Callaghan) know that he was a convict?
Detective O'Callaghan -No
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