by Linda Venn
Click here for a list of key characters in this story
The hearing resumes on Monday 4th January 1932
Six witnesses gave evidence on Monday’s resumption of the hearing in the Police Court, Police Magistrate George Cameron presiding. First to give evidence was Michael Killoran, the Main Roads Commission paymaster and storekeeper, who had commenced work at Mt Spec on 9th September 1931. Killoran travelled to Townsville every fortnight to bring the payroll back to Mt Spec the next day by rail motor. The total payroll on the day in question exceeded £400. Killoran’s evidence corroborated O’Brien’s up to the time of the hold-up, adding further detail to O’Brien’s description.
Killoran stated that the bandit when he fired the shots “appeared to be in a kneeling position, and was well disguised.” (Townsville Daily Bulletin, Tuesday 5th January 1932, p. 3.) Killoran confirmed his injury from one of the pellets from the first shot, which hit him just above his right eye. Asked to identify the clothing, Killoran considered that “the coat worn by the bandit was a little longer than that produced in Court.” (Townsville Daily Bulletin, Tuesday 5th January 1932, p. 3.) Killoran did not identify Edmonds as the bandit. “He would not say that defendant was similar to the man who staged the hold-up. He considered the bandit was about 5ft. 10in. in height, and was pretty active. There was too much undergrowth to be able to recognise the man.” (Townsville Daily Bulletin, Tuesday 5th January 1932, p. 3.) Cross-examined by Roberts, Killoran did admit that O’Brien “was in a more direct line and would have a better view of the man. At Rollingstone he (Killoran) was quite unable to identify defendant as the man.” (Townsville Daily Bulletin, Tuesday 5th January 1932, p. 3.)
Killoran had not used his revolver but corroborated the total number of shots fired as eight. After the first shot from the bandit, O’Brien had fired one shot from his revolver and the bandit returned fire, hitting the bonnet and mudguard of the truck. At this point, both Killoran and Stewart hastily exited the vehicle on opposite sides, Killoran tearing the sole off his boot in the process. Killoran took cover behind the bonnet of the vehicle. (Telegraph, Brisbane, Tuesday 5th January 1932, p. 1.) O’Brien had fired two more shots from his revolver, then “while the bandit, whom witness (Killoran) saw running up the hill, was getting away, the constable got a rifle from the back of the truck and fired three shots at the running figure, which was then some 60 yards distant.” (Telegraph, Brisbane, Tuesday 5th January 1932, p. 1.) The payroll party then proceeded to the Main Roads camp.
Next to give evidence was Edward George Howard, a labourer employed by Mr. Vivian Tealby. Howard stated that he knew Edmonds. On December 9th, at about 10:30 a.m., Howard “was gathering pineapples in front of Tealby’s house, when the pay lorry passed through the yards towards Mt. Spec.” (Townsville Daily Bulletin, Tuesday 5th January 1932, p. 3.) (Author’s note: Here we need to remember that the hold-up took place at 10:45 a.m., and that Tealby’s was between Edmonds’ hut and the scene of the hold-up.) Howard is reported as continuing, “about an hour later he saw defendant riding a chestnut horse in the direction of Tealby’s yard, coming from the direction of his hut. The horse was sweating freely, but he did not take particular notice of the defendant. He noticed defendant leaving Tealby’s, riding one horse and leading another, but neither of the horses was the chestnut.” (Townsville Daily Bulletin, Tuesday 5th January 1932, p. 3.) Cross-examined by Roberts, Howard agreed it had been a very hot day when Edmonds rode up to Tealby’s. (Author’s note: Perhaps this explained the sweating horse?) Howard had been close enough to identify Edmonds at Tealby’s, from 15 to 20 yards away. Howard knew that Edmonds had several horses at Tealby’s. (Author’s note: Of what significance is the fact that Edmonds changed horses?) Asked later by the Magistrate, Howard said he believed Edmonds had been wearing a blue shirt. (Author’s note: How does this compare to O’Brien’s description?)
On Wednesday 10th December, Howard was present when Edmonds, “in company with a party of police, brought the mare into the yard. He did not recognise the horse which he examined outside the Court as the one defendant rode that morning.” (Townsville Daily Bulletin, Tuesday 5th January 1932, p. 3.) (Author’s note: Which morning? The day of the hold-up, or the day the police arrived with Edmonds at Tealby’s?)
Howard next saw Edmonds a day or two later, when Edmonds had asked him “the general opinion of people in the district as regarded his case”, but Howard had said he did not know. (Townsville Daily Bulletin, Tuesday 5th January 1932, p. 3.)