The Argus at KellyGang 16/5/1879
THE MONK INQUIRY
[BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH]
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT)
MANSFIELD, THURSDAY
Michael Reardon, cross-examined by Mr O'Leary.- Monk said he must make a rise before he could give me more wages. It is 11 years since I was on the Wombat till within the last few weeks. Henry Walker, in Melbourne, is my brother-in-law. Did not hear that he was suspected of writing the letters. I lived with John Byrne at the Wombat within the last few weeks. He is the man who said his foot was the same size as Monk's. Knew there was a number of people up and down the track on the Sunday following the shooting affair from the foot tracks. Do not think there were any nails in the boots. Byrne's footprints exactly correspond with the tracts. Do not know if Monk and Byrne are on friendly terms. Monk asked on the 25th if any one was going to Mansfield. When I told him Perkins was, Monk said, "I suppose I shall have another threatening letter. If I do, you will see the piece I will have put in the paper next week." He was not frightened, and would call them all the bloodthirsty scoundrels he could think of. Cannot say whether there were any nail marks in Byrne's footprints. A few weeks since I saw Walker in Melbourne. Mrs.Walker is Byrne's sister. On the night of the 26th don't believe Byrne could have left the house without my knowing. There was a window in his room. His room had a window opening out on to the verandah.
To Mr, Panton,- From Byrne's to the big tree is about two miles and a half.
John Byrne , selector at Wombat, examined by Mr. Smyth - I am brother-in-law to the Reardons. Was not on speaking terms with Monk. On the Monday after Monk had been shot at, I went with the Reardons to the spot and saw footprints about 40 yards from the big tree pointed out by John Reardon. Examined the tracks, which were like a man's footprints walking about in a space of about three feet. Horse tracks were along- side. Made a footprint of my own, and they corresponded in length with the other prints. Had no nails in my own boots.
To Mr. O'Leary - Monk and I have not been friends since Lynch's conviction. Lynch was employed by me just previous to the writing of the threatening letter. Did not go for the purpose of examining the tracks. Knew Monk's tracks, because I have had his boots on me. Tried one on in his own kitchen last winter. The footprints below the tree were similar to mine. Did not tell Bebb or any one that Monk would get a bullet in him for assisting the police. Did not say to Monk or anyone that I would not lift my little finger to save Denny. Did not say " Kennedy is fishing in hell now for pri soners."
To Mr. Smyth.-The coolness arose between me and Monk because he said I got Lynch to write the threatening letter. Have assisted the police since the murders by lending tools twice to shoe their horses. Have not given any other assistance.
Mounted-constable Mumford, examined by Mr Smyth - On the 28th April, Monk, in reply to my question, said he did not know who wrote the threatening letters, but the writing of one was like Constable Love's writing. He had seen Love's writing in the forage book.
Constable Love, examined by Mr. Smyth - Was out at the Wombat. Do not know the authors of the threatening letters. With Monk's consent went away in search of a horse for which there was a reward. Was away for about three-quarters of an hour. Got the reward upon finding the horse. Took the other constable with me. Did not have my clothes off for the six weeks I was at Monk's, Am a teetotaler.
Henry Pewtress, sub-inspector of police, stationed at Mansfield, deposed that he was asked for police protection by Monk after Lynch's threatening letter. Received a letter from Monk on the 22nd No vember, complaining of the policemen sent as disagreeable. Sent two fresh men. Monk told witness afterwards that Constables Strachan and Mehan got drunk. Sup plied Monk with a Webley revolver and cartridges for his protection. Mr Toohey, Constable James, and witness went to Wombat on the Sunday after Monk had been shot at. About 50 yards this side of the big tree noticed tracks of a horse going towards the Wombat. There were appearances as though a horse had stopped and the rider dismounted. There were several footmarks of a man walking about. The footprints were small, without nails. Lost the horse tracks when they got to the Wombat. Monk showed witness the saddle, and the bullet- hole was discoloured. Cut the flannel open to see the direction of the bullet, but did not succeed. Found no indication of a bullet striking.
Charles Boles, saddler, stated that he separated the lining from the saddle, and placed the saddle on the mare's back. He believed the ball would pass through without touching the mare's wither. A small hole was found on the off side of the gullet lining of the flap. Had the bullet been fired, and the saddle off tile horse's back, it would have cleared the off side pad and gone between that and the saddle-cloth. If the saddle had been on the horse the bullet would have marked the wither. A bullet would not make that mark if shot by a man on an elevation of 9in. If a man had been in the saddle, and the shot fired in this direction he thought it ,would have struck the mare. After trying from an elevation of 2½ft., he thought the bullet would have cleared the man's leg by an inch, but shaved the trousers.
To Mr O'Leary - Never fired a revolver in my life. A man must stand about a foot behind the stirrups to make the mark shown in the saddle, but then the bullet would not take the direction as marked in the saddle by the penholder which I put in.
The Court then adjourned till next day.
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