The Argus
16/ 8/1879
... part of the KellyGang story
Full text of article
From there Mr Hare posted on to Lancefield, where he arrived at half past 4 o clock. Mounted constable Mays returned in the forenoon. Strangely enough, he met Mr Hare in Melbourne early in the morning before the news arrived, and expressed a hope that the next time Mr Hare went after the Kellys he might form one of his party. The route taken by the desperadoes has been traced for a short distance. After leaving the bank they crossed over the township by High street, and were seen passing Mr Lockwood's malt house by a son of the proprietor and a labourer at work. They proceeded thence by road to Lancefield park. The housekeeper of Mr S Derrick, who lives at the corner of the park, saw them entering that reserve. They crossed, and were next seen by a lad crossing a paddock belonging to Mr John Healy. This led them to a point known as Seven Roads. Taking the road leading in the direction of Kyneton, they continued at a walking pace, and were met by a boy named M'Conville, of whom they inquired how far it was to the nearest township.
The lad replied that it was about 15 miles to Woodend. They were traced then two miles further west, where they were seen passing Mr Shearer's house on the roadside. Turning to the left, they crossed a paddock, and branched off in the direction of Woodend. They were last seen at Monument Creek, which is about six miles from Lancefield. During the day Constable Manny and a farm labourer named Stewart searched the ranges to the west and north of the township for a distance of about 15 miles, but failed to find any trace of the men. Mr Hare, on his arrival, immediately organised three search parties, and sent them out in different directions but it is deemed advisable to publish nothing as to their movements.
Early in the day the six Queensland black trackers were telegraphed for from Benalla, and their arrival here is hourly expected. No clue has as yet been obtained as to the identity of the offenders. Although they represented themselves to be the Kellys, their statement is not believed. Mr Musty states positively that they were none of the outlaws, as they had no resemblance to the pictures of the Kelly gang, which have appeared in the illustrated papers. Mr Hare brought with him the photographs of "Captain Moonlight" or Scott and Nesbitt, who were recently arrested on a charge of breaking into the penal establishment at Williamstown. Mr Musty says he thinks there is a slight resemblance between Nesbitt's card and the younger of the men who stuck up the bank, but Mr Morrison can see no likeness to the men in either of the cards, neither do these gentlemen identify them with the photographs of the Kelly gang. The following is the best deception of the two men that the police have been able to get: -First man, 5ft 9in high, full face, rosy cheeks about 21 years of age, very good looking, had a few dark hairs on cheeks near his ears , dark eye-brows, round shoulders; like a native; wore a long dark waterproof tweed overcoat. Second man about 5ft 6in high, slight build, fair hair, thin whiskers and moustache, about 9st in weight, and about 28 years of age; wore a very long overcoat of light tweed. When the bank was stuck up most of the residents were at the post office waiting for the mail, and the portion of the town in the vicinity of the bank was comparatively deserted. Everything, indeed seemed to favour the offenders. The police here express themselves satisfied that the men were none of the Kelly gang, but they have obtained no information yet as to their identity.
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