The Argus at KellyGang 16/5/1881
On Saturday the Police Commission left Benalla, and went to Glenrowan by way of Greta. They stayed for a short time at the residence of Mrs Kelly, mother of the two outlaws of that name and listened to statements reflecting on the police that she and her daughters Grace and Kate made. At Glenrowan they were met by several police officers and constables who were present at the affair which took place there nearly a year ago, and who fought the battle over again. One of the witnesses examined at Glenrowan was Reardon, the railway labourer, who was compelled by the outlaws to assist in breaking the railway line, and who was detained in the hotel with the other civilians. He alleged, inler alia that several attempts made by the prisoners to get away from the hotel after the outlaws had permitted them to go, were stopped by the heavy firing from the police, which was continued as long as they showed themselves outside, and that he did not hear the police calling on the innocent persons to come out until half past 9 o'clock on the Monday morning. The commission sits in Melbourne to morrow.
THE POLICE COMMISSION
(FROM OUR OWN REPORTER)
BENALLA, FRIDAY, May 13
The commission met at the court-house here to-day. Present - Messrs Longmore (chairman), Graves , Fincham, Gibb, Anderson , and Hall, MLA's, and Mr Dixon.
Sergeant Whelan of Benalla was the first witness called. He gave evidence as to the assault on Constable Fitzpatrick, when the latter tried to arrest Dan Kelly, and also as to the Euroa bank robbery. He denied a statement made by Mr Wyatt, PM, to the effect that when he told witness of the breakage of the telegraphic communication, the latter turned pale, alleging that when Mr Wyatt gave him the information it was about 9 o'clock pm, and outside any building. Witness was present at the Glenrowan affair. Some horses standing in the yard at the rear of Jones's Hotel were shot, in order to prevent the outlaws escaping on them. It was stated that Ned Kelly had tried to mount one of these horses. No officer gave the order to shoot the horses. Witness had not then seen Mr O'Connor and Mr Sadleir was not then where witness was standing. Witness arrived at Glenrowan at 5 o'clock am.
There was subsequently some heavy firing at the hotel. After the prisoners were released there was firing from the building. The firing from the building continued until half past 1 o'clock or 2 pm . The police shouted out to the prisoners to come out. There was a consultation between Mr Sadleir and some of the sub-officers before the hotel was fired. Ned Kelly was captured about 7 o'clock am . When Mr Sadleir and witness arrived there Senior-constable Kelly seemed to be in charge. Received no instructions from any officer but Mr Sadleir. Witness had a gun, but it was no good for firing into a house. Where he was stationed he could not see who was in the drain where Mr O'Connor was said to be. That drain was in front of the hotel, and there was a good deal of firing from the front of the house. It would be incorrect to say that no shot was fired from the building after 11 o'clock am. Saw no shot fired from the building after the prisoners were released until about 1 o'clock pm. Quite approved of the course taken by the police at Glenrowan.
Mr Hare's system of search parties harassed the outlaws, and kept them in the back country. The police were anxious always to go out and only sorry when kept in barracks. Mr Nicolson's system was also good. Both systems were suitable to the periods when they were employed. Recollected when Mr Brook Smith declined to follow up a search. There was some talk amongst the men about that. The constable who reported the Euroa bank robbery did not seem to know much about it. He did not say that suspicion that there was something wrong had been aroused at Euroa by the doors of the premises being open with no one about. Under the police regulations Mr O'Connor would not be in charge of the white police at Glenrowan after Mr Hare was shot, and before Mr Sadleir's arrival. The command then would devolve on the first sub-officer of the Victorian police.
Did not recollect that Senior-constable Kelly had stated that Mr O'Connor remained in the drain the whole day. No man could have seen all the windows, so that a shot might have been fired from one window without its being seen by all the police who surrounded the house. Before the prisoners were released, the order was circulated to fire high so as not to hit them. Witness was one who gave that order. Mr Sadleir told witness that Senior-constable Johnson proposed to rush the house, but that he (Mr Sadleir) did not think it advisable to risk any life the, capture being a certainty. Witness never saw Mr O'Connor's appointment to the police force of Victoria gazetted.
Never was told Mr O'Connor was his superior officer, and never received any instructions from him. There were six black trackers there now. They came about July, 1880. Mr O'Connor's men returned to Queensland . The new men were now as well disciplined as, if not better than, Mr O'Connor's. These new men were selected by Mr Chomley. Heard the outlaws were getting armour. Got the information from a civilian, and reported it to his superior officer. When told about the armour thought at first that it was intended for plating a stronghold. Was subsequently told that the armour was intended for the body, but did not believe it. Mr Hare ridiculed the idea. Mr Nicolson was also aware of the statement about the armour. Heard no order to fire low at Glenrowan after the prisoners were released. No advance was made by the police until the priest came out of the hotel. The police who passed through the barracks were were conversant with the use of firearms. Mr Sadleir took Dr Nicholson up to Glenrowan.
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