The Argus at KellyGang 28/3/1881
THE POLICE COMMISSION
FRIDAY, MARCH 25
Present – Messrs Longmore (chairman) Graves, Fincham, Hall, and Anderson, MLA's, and Mr Dixon.
Mr DIXON desired to state as he had ascertained that a different opinion prevailed to a great extent that the members of the commission were not paid for their services. He had been a member of more than one board and commission and had never received a penny for such services.
CH Nicolson , acting chief commissioner of police, continued his evidence. He put in a private letter dated Benalla, 19th November, 1878, written by himself in which the following passage occurred:-
"I am in good health and spirits, only chafed by the patience necessary in this search. The offenders have 2,000 square miles of mountainous, rocky, thickly timbered, and scrubby country to play hide and seek in, and wild galloping about of policemen will never catch them. Nevertheless we will catch them, but it will only be by a fluke if we catch them at once."
Witness deposed – Did not suggest any other plan of operations at that time. When I returned to town, after I was relieved through the effects of fatigue, I attended strictly to my duties at the head office. Captain Standish visited Melbourne several times, but he was always very reserved on the subject of the Kelly gang. On his very first visit to Melbourne I suggested he should employ Sherritt ,the person we had seen at Mrs Byrne's, and that Captain Standish was trying to induce to co-operate with the police at the time of the Sebastopol affair. Said that was the sort of man we ought to employ, he being of the same class as the Kellys. Was not on unfriendly terms with Captain Standish then. Was not on un- friendly terms with him until I was subsequently superseded. Did everything to aid the police in the North-eastern district when I was in town. Should like to know the date when Sherritt was first employed by the police.
Left Melbourne on July 3, 1879 for Benalla, and relieved Superintendent Hare. While I was in Melbourne in Captain Standish's office prior to that, I carried on the business most carefully. A few matters I left over, not being urgent. Captain Standish made no complaint at that time of the manner in which his office had been administered during his absence. I was appointed assistant-commissioner of police before that. On my return to Benalla in July, spent a few days in looking over the recent correspondence and telegrams. The documents were in proper order. A large portion of the police force and military had been withdrawn. The military were sent there with a large reinforcement of the police after the Euroa Bank was stuck up. Found some of the military there. I set about reorganising the stations. Considered my best course was to secure from outrage places where there was treasure, so that the outlaws would be baffled in any attempt to replenish their own coffers.
Stationed at Wodonga a small party of mounted men under Sergeant Harkin; another at Wangaratta, under Sergeant Steele; another at Bright, under Senior-constable Shoobridge; and another at Mansfield, under Sub-inspector Pewtress. The only place where a complete search party was kept was Benalla; but at the other places one seven or eight strong could have been organised by getting men from other stations. Subsequently, at the suggestion of Mr Sadleir, instructed the police throughout the district to try to get at each place secretly the co-operation of a few townsmen who would turn out to assist the police in any emergency. Found no difficulty in getting towns-men to co-operate. Tried to rouse the spirit of the people of the district against the Kellys. The police were thoroughly armed, and there was a surplus of arms. At first the police were insufficiently armed; they only had revolvers. Am not prepared to say men were sent up without arms. On the second occasion I was in charge I was short of men. The police had full authority to go out on any occasion, according to their discretion on any information they received. Am not aware that any different system prevailed from the commencement.
Instructed the police to be very quiet, and discontinue search parties. That was about July, 1879. Instructed the men to try to regain the confidence of the inhabitants. Reduced the expenditure. Found a number of the men using hired horses, and some were hiring buggies. Stopped the hiring of horses. Had no carte blanche for expenditure. Paid accounts out of my own private account, and was refunded. In some cases the accounts for hire of horses were greater than the value of the animals. The Benalla stables, which are large, were full of police horses. There was beautiful grass at that season, and I had the horses turned into a paddock with an allowance of food besides the grass. Kept the horses in good condition, and paid every attention to them. Horses so treated were likely to get into better condition for bush work than if they were wholly stable-fed.
Tried to induce the inhabitants to assist. Always found them at the time very desirous to assist, but they at first never gave any information until it was about a month old. Gradually the age of news received was reduced to about a fortnight, and then to a week. They had the information themselves all the time.
Have a return of police expenditure in connexion with the pursuit of the Kellys. From October 26 1878, to December 12, 1878, when I was relieved, the expenditure was £3,407. From December 13, 1878, to July 8, 1879, when I returned to Benalla, the expenditure was £11,371. From July 8, 1879, when I again took charge of the district until May 31, 1880, when I was again relieved, the amount was £6,772. In the second period, Captain Standish had charge of the district. From the beginning of June, 1879, until the 28th of that month, the expenditure was £673. Superintendent Hare was then in charge. Employed some men on secret service. Employed four men, but not constantly. Other persons gave casual information and received a pound or two. Sometimes employed an agent to go to places where I would not have sent a constable. In some cases the assistance was rendered gratuitously. Had substantial information about the outlaws six weeks after my arrival there. About that time the information always came too late. Gradually became more familiar with the inhabitants. At last I felt satisfied that I would have the outlaws arrested without any trouble.
31-may-10
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