The Argus
18/ 3/1879
... part of the KellyGang story
Full text of article
The trial of Walter Lynch farmer, near Mansfield, for sending a letter in the name of the Kelly outlaws to Mr Edward Monk, sawmill proprietor, Wombat, threatening to murder him, was proceeded with yesterday before his Honour Mr Justice Molesworth at the Central Criminal Court. Mr C A Smyth prosecuted for the Crown and Mr O'Leary appeared for the prisoner. Evidence was given as to the circumstances under winch the letter was posted showing that the district was then in a state of great alarm through the murders of the police by the Kelly gang, and that Monk very naturally concluded that his life was threatened. A number of Lynch's signatures were exhibited and also orders which he had written to local storekeepers, and expert witnesses identified the handwriting with that in which the letter to Monk was penned. No evidence was called for the defence. After an hour and a half s deliberation the jury returned a verdict that the prisoner was guilty of writing and sending the letter with a malicious intention. The prisoner was then remanded for sentence.
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THE TRIAL OF WALTER LYNCH
At the Central Criminal Court yesterday, before His Honour Mr Justice Molesworth, Walter Lynch, farmer, near Mansfield , was charged with writing and sending a letter to Edward Monk, sawmill proprietor, Wombat, threatening to murder him
Mr C A Smyth prosecuted for the Crown, and Mr O'Leary appeared for the prisoner.
Mr SMYTH explained to the jury that there were two counts in the presentment the first count was that on the 8th of November last the prisoner did "feloniously and maliciously send to Edward Monk a certain letter, threatening to kill and murder the said Edward Monk, he (the prisoner) then knowing the contents, which were as follow - "To E Monk-You think you have done a grate thing by searching for the traps, but you have made a grate mistake, for your friend Kennedy is gone, although we made him confess many things and many little things you have told him in confidence and we heard you say you could track us, and our horses, but we will track you to hell but what we will have you. We will make your place a Government camp when we come, and give them some more bodeyes to pack. What a fine thing it is to cut their ears off, but we will poke your eyes out. Yours until we meet, E and D KELLY
His second count was that the prisoner, on the date mentioned, did feloniously and maliciously utter the said letter Mr Smyth also referred to the circumstances under which the letter was received, and the alarming effect it had on Mr Monk and his family.
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