Sydney Morning Herald
18 / 4/1878
... part of the KellyGang story
Desprate Affray At BENALLA -The police authorities it Sandhurst are stated by the Bendigo Advertiser of Wednesday last to have received a telegram the previous night from Benalla, advising them of a desperate encounter which had occurred at place called Greta, near Benalla. It appears that when endeavounng to arrest a man named Daniel Kelly for horse stealing, the arresting constable, mounted constable Fitzpatrick, received a shot from a revolver in his left wiist, wais struck on the head by the mother of the culprit with a shovel, and threatened by a brother and two other men with revolvers, and they eventually compelled the constable to best a retreat.
The facts telegraphed are as follows - Constable Fitzpatrick attempted to arrest Daniel Kelly at his mother's residence near Greta on Monday, when Ned Kelly, the brother, fired two shots at the constable with a revolver, and the second ball lodged in his left wrist. Two other men named Willliam Skillen and Wîlliams, alias Brickey, were there at the time armed with revollvers, which they presented at the constable. Mrs Kelly struck the constable on the head with a shovel, and it was in throwing up his arms that he received the ball from Ned Kelly. The descriptions given of the offenders are - Skillen, nationality, Irish age, 20 years height, 5 feet 6 inches; stout built, round shoulders, fair complexion, and beard cut short; Williams, alias Brickey, nationality, lrish, age, 25 years, thinn build, fair complexion, beard cut short. Both in bush dress and easily identifiable. Mrs Kelly is well known to the distiict police, and the offenders will probably make for New South Wales . Constable Fitzpatrick is not in danger.
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