The Argus at KellyGang 15/5/1879
THE MONK INQUIRY
[BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH]
(FROM OUR OWN REPORTER)
MANSFIELD, WEDNESDAY
The Monk inquiry was continued to day
John Reardon, selector, residing at the Paps deposed -I was in Mansfield on the 26th April. Saw Monk about half past 2 at Kelson's.
He spoke to me about loading timber. We went to the Exchange Hotel. Aspden was with us, looking over the newspapers and talking about the threatening letters. Monk said he had got another last night, but did not produce it. He looked for a letter of his in The Argus. Aspden took up the Mansfield Guardian, and spoke of a letter which appeared in it. Aspden said he could tell who was writing these letters. Monk and I went out and had a long conversation in the street. Monk spoke about leaving the Wombat. Asked him why?' He said he could stand it no longer, as he was getting a letter every week. 1 told him I would take no notice of them. Monk said he would, for he had a wife and family, and she was in a bad state of health in consequence. I said he should not show them to his wife. Monk said he heard the Government was going to give him £1,500 for his property. I said he would be all right if he got that. He said he did not think it too much. I had heard that the police were writing the threatening letters. Monk said, "No but I will tell you who is writing them, but not now."
Monk and I stood opposite Walker's store again. A man named O'Halloran then came up, and said he saw Monk give the first threatening letter to Mr Kitchen in his office whilst he was there O'Halloran told me that after Monk had gone away. Monk said the Government had been humibugging a long time, and it was very hard to get money out of them. I said I would not be frightened of the letters. Monk said I should see the one he got last night in next week's Guardian. Somebody in Mansfield told me the police were writing the letters. Saw Monk later on the Saturday at the post office. He said he was going home, as his wife might think he was shot if he was late. I said, "No fear." Monk said, "Good-bye, and started home. Heard of the shooting at Wombat on the following day. Monk said he was fired at last night. I said it was a strange affair. Asked him where it was. He said. "At the big tree near the rocks."
On the Sunday before reaching Wombat saw tracks as if a man got off a horse about 50 yards from the big tree. These footprints did not come from a distance but appeared like someone's who had stood there some time and walked round in a circle. Did not get off the horse to look at them. The tracks were those of a light boot and a small foot. On the Monday, when my brother, brother in law and myself were riding past the big tree, we met Monk in company with two police - Allwood and Potter . Saw the tracks again, but the rain had made a difference, although the tracks were still there. We measured the prints with a piece of fern. Saw the tricks of the horse going off into the bush. This is about 50 yards on the Mansfield side of the big tree. We examined the tree but found no horse tracks. About the dead log on the opposite side found fresh horses tracks under the leaning wattle, leading to the Wombat. If the horse had jumped over the dead log I should have seen the tracks. Took the track I saw under the wattle to be the same as the horses trick I had traced nine or ten yards from the footprints. Byrne was of the same opinion.
Mr Monk here wished to explain that the report in The Argus stated that he referred more particularly to Constables Craddock and Douglass disparagingly. He meant as the two best men that were sent to him.
Jno Reardon continued -Saw no footsteps around the big tree, saw the dead branch on the track but no footprints.
To Mr O'Leary - Have known Monk about 14 years and always been friendly with him. He is an honourable and straightforward man. Monk did say something about my brother in law having been accused by Monk to the police of writing the threatening letters. Heard he suspected a man named Walker of writing them. Walker is my brother in law. Believe he lives in Melbourne. Byrne is my brother in law, and was a witness on the trial of Lynch. Was not asked to examine the tracks on Monday. Am not in the habit of measuring tracks in the bush. Did not tell Monk he was a d-d fool for assisting, the police in searching for the bodies. Said they would make a man of him some day. Never told him he was likely to get a bullet in him for assisting but heard Bullock tell him so. Have seen Ned Kelly and spoken to him. Do not know him intimately. Have seen Dan Kelly once. Do not know Byrne or Steve Hart. There has been a warrant out for my apprehension for resisting the police when they tried to arrest my father for drunkenness. I gave myself up six months after, and the magistrates dismissed the case. (Witness examined the saddle and give his opinion that had the revolver been fired at the elevation it which the constable stood in the yard the bullet would have entered the horse's back )
To Mr Smyth - If the bullet had been fired from he front it would not have made the mark without going through the valise.
To Mr Panton - The elevation of the ground near the tree was only about 9in. Have never noted the tracks of Monk's mare. Told James Wright and O'Brien that I be lieved Monk had shot the mare and saddle himself. Told Byrne the same.
Michael Reardon, carrier and farmer, residing at the Wombat examined by Mr Smyth - Had a conversation with Monk on the 26th April about wages for work. Monk said he could not give more than 22a 6d per week now, but might give more if he made a rise. Monk told me John Byrne , my brother in law was at the head of the threatening letter received from Lynch. I said I did not want to hear anything about it, as my relations were mixed up in it. Monk said he would have his revenge yet. I said "Suppose I tell this to Byrne, and he tells it to the police."
Monk said he did not care, as he had the police on his side and he could do what he liked with them. When I went to look at the footprints near the big tree they appeared as though a man had been tramping about in one spot. The ground about was not torn up as if a horse had bolted. The horse tracks I saw were coming towards Mansfield. Saw no footprints about the big tree. I said the tree and limb were awkward places for a man to run from. I thought Monk had shot himself from what Monk had said about making a rise and having the police on his side, and I thought he might be going in to get some money from the Government. Byrne stamped his foot upon the road, and said his foot was the same size as Monk's and we measured the footprints from that and found them the same.
The Court at this stage adjourned till next day (Thursday)
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