I—4a

56

Constable T. Carroll.

4th Oct., 1878.

1573. Had your punishment anything to do with talking to Farrell ?—That was the statement made before the Inspector. 1574. Major Atkinson] The charge was not read over to you ?—No. 1575. Do you know how it was entered ? —No ; but I was fined 10s. 1576. Ten shillings was stopped out of your pay?—Tes. 1577. Mr. Barton] Where was it, and how long were you speaking to Farrell, and on what day did it occur ? Tou say you were fined 10s. for having gossiped with Farrell. Will you relate what was the time and place at which this occurred ? —The only time that I saw Farrell was when he asked me something about duty —if I new of such-and-such a person ? Sometimes we used to walk dow 7n the street together. He would ask me several times about these matters. I think it was on Thursday that ho was speaking to me when Smith saw us. Smith accused me of gossiping in the street, lie said he was sorry he had to talk to me about gossiping in the streets. I said that I only spoke to Farrell on matters of duty, and he said I w7as to speak to nobody. 1575. AA r as Thursday mentioned as the day?—lt was Thursday I went to the Club ball, and it was that afternoon that Farrell saw 7 me coming down AVillis Street, and asked me some question. I said to him, "Goon ; you have got me into trouble." He said, " How ? what for ? " and I said, " For speaking to you." 1579. Major Atkinson] Did you understand that the fine was inflicted on two charges ?—I understood the charge to be disobedience of orders, and gossiping on the streets; but I have not seen the charge-sheet. 1580. Mr. Swanson] Is it generally understood that this Committee of inquiry is sitting here ? —Oh, yes. 1581. And what is the impression amongst the police ? —ls it considered the correct thing to give information, or is a person giving information likely to be "sat upon " in the force ?—That I cannot say. AVhen lam here I will speak the truth, and care for nobody. 1582. Major Atkinson] Has the matter been talked about amongst the constables ?—lt has. 1583. The Chairman] How long have you been in the force here?— About fourteen or fifteen months this last time. I was in twice, and resigned; and now I have joined a third time under the Armed Constabulary rules. 1584. Do you know anything of the maltreatment of prisoners in the cells ?—No. 1585. Have you ever heard of prisoners being maltreated in the cells ? —No. 1586. Do you know anything of the Melbourne Hotel ? —Tes. 1587. Were you in Court when Sergeant Smith informed the Bench that it was a badly-conducted house ? —No ; I saw it in the paper. 1588. Is it a badly-conducted house ? —lt has not been well conducted. 1589. No information has been laid against it ?—No : it is better conducted since that row 7. 1590. Tou were not one of the constables present when the row took place ?—No. 1591. Hon. Mr. Fox] Have you ever known men to be ill-treated at the station ? Have you ever known men to be fastened down to those rings ?—I have known them to be handcuffed and ring-barred to keep them from kicking the door out. 1592. How is that done? —We put handcuffs on a man either in front or behind, and another pair on the ring-bar, and so fasten the man. 1593. And then lay him on his side ? —Tes. 1594. Sometimes on his back, I suppose ?—Tes. 1595. Are the women so treated ?—No. 1596. Do you know the Pier Hotel ?—Tes. 1597. Did you ever hear of the " Pier Hotel gang " ?—Tes. 1598. Who are they ? —There was Sergeant Monaghan ; Saunders, the contractor ; Perrier, who was once editor of the Times ; Fife, the chemist, of AVillis Street; Nicholas Marchant; Davy Rankin, and people like that. 1599. Did you ever hear the name of Inspector Atchison associated with the Pier gang ?—I did. 1600. Have you ever had to go there to him for orders ?—I have seen Sergeant Monaghan go there for orders. That is, when anything would take place at the station. 1601. AVas Inspector Atchison often there? —I cannot say how often he was there. I was never in the house. 1602. Was he looked upon as belonging to the gang ? —Tes. 1603. AVhat did the Pier gang do ? —Played cards. 1604. Did they ever drink ?—I do not know. 1605. Play yankee grab ? —Tes. 1606. In fact, they went there to drink and gamble ?—Tes. 1607. Hon. Mr. Gisborne] How do you know Monaghan ever went there for orders ? —I have seen him go there. 1608. Have you ever known a man to be fastened to these rings unless he was violent?— No. 1609. Have you ever known a man to be tied down without necessity ? —lt is never done unless a man is kicking out the door almost. 1610. Hon. Mr. Fox] Have you ever known troublesome customers treated in a way that is known to the police as "quieting" a man ?—No ; I have never heard that expression nsed before. 1611. Inspector Atchison] Are you sure I did not tell you you were charged with so-and-so ?— I understood that I was up for disobedience of orders, and for speaking to Detective Farrell. 1612. Did I not ask you your reason for being absent from duty ?—Tes. 1613. Tou gave your reason ? —Tes. 1614. Then I read the next charge, disobedience of orders —in not coming down when Sergeant Smith sent for you ?—No ; you did not, that I am aware of. 1615. Do you remember I said I thought there was sufficient excuse for not coming down at 9 o'clock, but not sufficient excuse for disobeying orders ?—Tes ; and then Smith said it was not so much for disobedience of orders, as for gossiping on the street.