“Only about the number of natives,” Billy said. “At the house, I mean. We thought twelve but probably there was only the four.”
“So you miscounted?”
“It was dark, we was scared.”
“But you are certain that you saw at least some natives fleeing the house, and that your former boy, Joseph, was among them?”
“Yes.”
“And these were the same four natives—a woman and three men—that the chief inspector later tracked and attempted to arrestin the foothills of the western ranges, as we have just heard.”
“That was them, aye.”
“But they resisted? They attacked you?”
Billy nodded. “Locke got speared in his shoulder. Just like he said.”
“Very well. And what about the remainder of the chief inspector’s testimony, about what came next: the altercation that led to the suspects getting shot; your party not going beyond the ranges, never having met the Kurrong tribe, or for that matter Reverend Bean—this is all as you remember it too?”
“It is.”
“Sir, please!” Henry Wells could no longer contain himself. Donnaghy snapped to life and raised his revolver like Henry hadjust let off a grenade. “You are guiding him through this entire testimony. Mr. McBride knows fine well who Reverend Beanis—he admitted as much last night.”
“Last night?”
“He came to my hotel room, yes.”
“Oh, aye?” MacIntyre said, eyebrows raised. “What for?”
“To discuss the case, of course.”
MacIntyre turned to Billy. “That right, Billy? You visit this ponce last night?”
Gravely Billy stared at Henry, stared right through him almost. “I never seen him till this morning when I walked in thiscourtroom.”
“It seems you are mistaken, Mr. Wells. Perhaps you are confusing him with another nighttime visitor. For a man like yourselfI imagine it can be hard to keep track.”
Sniggering from the gallery. Henry threw up his hands. Katherine noticed Noone smirk and roll his eyes. But Billy had disappearedlast night after dinner and had not come home until late, and there’d been all sorts of messenger boys back and forth thesepast few days.
“Just to be clear, then,” MacIntyre continued, once the gallery had settled down, “you did not witness Chief Inspector Nooneor his Native Police troopers engage in any other conflict while you were out there, specifically with the Kurrong tribe?”
“Correct.”
“And you were with them the whole time, until they came back?”
“Yes.”
MacIntyre drew a long breath. “Right, well, I think we’re done here. Thank you, Billy, you can get down.”
Billy motioned uncertainly to the gallery. MacIntyre nodded and Billy stood, a weight sliding off him, rapidly blinking his eyes. He returned to his seat, Noone angling his legs for Billy to pass, and sat between him and Katherine. Noone patted his thigh kindly. Billy looked utterly lost. He groped for Katherine’s hand but she wouldn’t give it, holding herself tightly, stiff and straight-backed.
“I don’t see the need for an adjournment,” Magistrate MacIntyre said. “We’ve spent long enough on this nonsense as it is. My task here today is to assess the evidence before me and determine whether there are sufficient grounds for a finding of wrongdoing by Chief Inspector Noone or by any other person or persons in relation to the murders of members of the McBride family and thereafter Aborigines belonging to the Kurrong tribe. Much of the impetus for this inquiry arose from allegations made by an individual named Reverend Francis Bean, allegations which Mr. Henry Wells assisted in bringing to light. Sadly, Reverend Bean has decided, for reasons unknown, not to appear in court today. That is most regrettable. I have of course read his written testimony, but without the witness here to swear it and to answer questions, I must take what he has said with a pinch of salt. It does not reflect well on the witness that he is unwilling to stand behind his version of events. The reliability of his evidence is therefore significantly compromised in my eyes, particularly when set against the robust rebuttals of Chief Inspector Noone and Mr. McBride. The chief inspector has been willing to appear in person to answer these most grievous of charges, and I am grateful to him for that. Despite Mr. Wells’s spirited attempts to discredit him, I find Chief Inspector Noone’s account most persuasive. He is correct when he notes that the colony today is much changed from how it was only twelve years ago—and mostly for the better, I might add. We all remember the depredations of the Kurrong, how they would kill our livestock, attack our citizens, how they outright refused to lay down their spears. I find it proven that four of these natives did attack and murder Edward, Elizabeth, and Mary McBride—may they rest in peace—and that it was these same four natives, including the boy known as Joseph, whom Chief Inspector Noone did attempt to apprehend near the western ranges a week or so hence. I believe him when he tells us that his patrol was set upon, and that only in defending itself were the four suspects killed. I find it utterly unproven that anything else did occur, and wish to make clear that any implication of violence by Chief Inspector Noone against theKurrong is an unwarranted smear on the character of one of our finest public servants. He should not have been put throughthis ignominy, neither should Mr. McBride, and I shall be writing to the colonial secretary in the strongest possible terms,to request a formal apology be issued to both men, for having their valuable time wasted, their reputations jeopardized, and,in Mr. McBride’s case, for having been dragged through what must have been a most trying ordeal. There is not a shred of evidenceto support any of the allegations or insinuations made before this court. There are no bodies. There are no witnesses. Theseare as trumped-up charges as I in all
