with their own ex-convict connections. In north-eastern Victoria, Stock Protection Leagues were established by stock owners. When there were stock thefts, the police found it convenient to frame the junior Kelly's rather than "find" the real culprits. Rewards were paid to police when arrests were made. Easy money was to be made. Charges that police perjured themselves to gain convictions were conveniently and unsurprisingly overturned by a Royal Commission into Victoria Police; the right appointee being placed in the role with the right given parameters, the outcome was unsurprising. The Royal Commission was held in 1881 into Victoria Police looked into that allegation. Here is their "finding":"It may also be mentioned that the charge of the persecution of the family by the members of the police force has been frequently urged in extenuation of the crimes of the outlaws; but, after careful examination, your Commissioners have arrived at the conclusion that the police, in their dealings with the Kelly's and their relations, were "simply desirous of discharging their duty conscientiously" (well known to be false); and that no evidence has been adduced to support the allegation that either the outlaws or their friends were subjected to persecution or unnecessary annoyance at the hands of the police."On 15 April 1878, Constable Alexander Fitzpatrick was sent to relieve the officer in charge at Greta and, on his way, he "decided" to "attend" the Kelly homestead en route from Benalla to Greta. This is despite there being an official instruction that no police officer should attend the Kelly home on their own. Fitzpatrick was aware that a warrant for horse stealing had been issued against Dan Kelly, even though it had been proved Dan was employed by the owner to transfer the horse from one place to another. Fitzpatrick went to the Kelly home, and he stopped there with the intention of executing the warrant. On the way he stopped at the Winton Hotel and had been drinking. This was later confirmed by the hotel owner. Fitzpatrick did not have any warrant in his possession, but it was allegedly not necessary to produce the warrant at the time. Fitzpatrick located Dan Kelly with the intention of arrest with no warrant, and Fitzpatrick required Mrs. Kelly to provide a meal before taking Dan to Greta. Fitzpatrick demanded that Kate Kelly, Ned's sister, who was 14 at the time, should serve him the meal, and