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The Royal Commission evidence for 7/9/1881

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Ass Com Charles Hope Nicolson giving evidence

16907 That was one of the strong objections?— Yes, and the unsuitableness altogether. A stable, with mounted men, is expected to be kept the picture of cleanliness, and this was kept in the most slovenly manner, and it was teaching the young men who were going out into the country very bad habits. This is a declaration on the subject:—“1, John Fegan, of the Police Depot, St. Kilda road, sergeant and instructor of mounted police, make oath and say:-In the year One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six, I was sergeant and mounted drill instructor in the Police Depot at Richmond. Mr Assistant Commissioner Nicolson (who was then inspecting superintendent) made an inspection of the depot in or about April , One thousand eight hundred and seventy six. In going through the stables, Mr Nicolson drew my attention to the men doing stable duty (cleaning horses, &c.) in uniform, and asked me for an explanation. I said I could not explain the origin of it, but it was according to order. Mr Nicolson asked me if I had seen the men in any cavalry regiment I had been in, or any other mounted service I was acquainted with, attend stables in uniform. I replied no. Mr Nicolson then called two troopers and enquired about their uniforms. I do not remember exactly what passed between them, but I believe it was to the effect that troopers could not do with less than three or four pair of pants each under the then arrangements. I know, of my own knowledge at that time, that it was necessary for a recruit on joining to have three pair of pants, and, as he could have no old uniform, to use his military boots (which cost three pounds a pair) in stables. No alteration was made with respect to this matter until November, One thousand eight hundred and eighty, when the Acting Chief Commissioner ordered that the men should be permitted to attend stables for the future in fatigue dress, which mean” any half-worn plain clothes they may have. I have served in Her Majesty's Life Guards and in the Irish Constabulary, where I had an opportunity of seeing the manner in which stable duty is performed by cavalry men in Her Majesty's service in England and Ireland, and it is invariably the custom there for the men, when engaged in cleaning their horses or stables, to dress in fatigue dress. That, in my opinion, the men do their work better, with more ease, and with less expense to them selves under the present arrangements, than they did when obliged to do it in uniform, and are able to appear cleaner when on parade. – JOHN FEGAN . Sworn at Melbourne , in the colony of Victoria , this fifth day of September, One thousand eight hundred and eighty-one before me —Frank Madden, a Commissioner of the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria for taking affidavits.” There was an allusion made by Mr Hare about his sending men, when he came out, watching so many houses of the sympathizers, that it compelled the outlaws to break out, and amongst others he stated that the Harts' house, near Wangaratta, was one. Here is an affidavit on that subject:— “Wangaratta, 6th September 1881 . I, Arthur Loftus Maule Steele of Wangaratta, sergeant of police, make oath and say:—

1st. That during the month of May 1880, I received instructions from Charles Hope Nicolson, Esq., Assistant Commissioner of Police, to place a party of police at Three-mile Creek, to watch the residence of Richard Hart, senior.

2nd. That, in accordance with such instructions, I placed a party of police at the Three-mile Creek, and had the house occupied by Richard Hart, senior, watched.

3rd. At the time Superintendent Hare took charge of the pursuit of the Kelly gang, during the month of June 1880, Hart's house was being watched by a party of police from Wangaratta between the hours of 9 p.m. and 4 a.m. every night.

4th. When Superintendent Hare came to Wangaratta, a few days before the capture of the gang, and during the month of June 1880, he asked me what duty my party was doing in connection with the pursuit of the Kellys, and I informed him that we were watching Hart's and Byrne's alternately.

5th. He said I had better continue this duty, as he considered it was the best we could be employed at. –A. L. M. STEELE . Sworn at Wangaratta, in the colony of Victoria , this 6th day of September A.D. 1881, before me — Fred. J. M. Marsden, a Commissioner of the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria for taking affidavits.”

Up to the time I left the place was watched. Captain Standish , being asked about the cause of the outbreak, has alluded to the manner in which that district had been officered for a number of years back. You can see that officers were not more that six years in the district, and some not more than six months; and that I give as one great reason of the outbreak, want of knowledge of the district owing to the frequent removals. This return will, I think, show that-[handing in a return, which is as follows:]-

LIST OF OFFICERS in North-Eastern District from 1854.

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This document gives you the text of the report about the KellyGang for this day. The text has been retyped from a microfiche copy of the original. We have taken care to reproduce this document but areas of the original text may been damaged. We also apologise for any typographical errors. This document is subject to coypright.

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