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THE KELLYGANG IN NEW SOUTH WALES

We are informed by the Inspector General of Police that, immediately on receipt of the news of the outrage committed at Jerilderie by the KellyGang, he sent off some 30 or 40 telegrams containing warning and instructions to all the police stations in and near the frontier district. There is a large additional force of police in various parts of the Border, all well mounted and well armed and no doubt if they have an opportunity they will give a good account of the unwelcome visitors. From the telegrams received by Mr Fosbery it would appear that the Jerilderie lockup was struck up about 12 o'clock on Sunday night, when most probably the men were in bed. It must be remembered that Jerilderie is some 40 miles or so north of the Murray, and the watch that was kept for the outlaws was of course on the banks of the river its self. It would therefore naturally appear to the police and the people of Jerilderie the most unlikely thing that the gang would be able to cross the Border without being seen. But at present time it unfortunately happens that the river is very low and is crossable at almost any point along a distance of a hundred miles or so. Jerilderie is 90 miles or so direct north of the Mansfield district where the Kellys have been for some time concealed. A journey of that kind would of course be nothing to them and their road would be through an almost unoccupied country, and the probabilities are that they would have traversed the whole distance without meeting a single human being. According to accounts received by the Inspector General on Monday night the outlaws were returning in the direction of Tocumwal, a town on the New South Wales bank of the Murray. The police have been warned; so that if the ruffians venture to put in an appearance there, the chances are that they will find themselves trapped. Last night a number of police constables left Sydney by train for Wagga. They will be dispersed though the south western districts in order to relieve the mounted troopers from duties which would otherwise keep them near their respective quarters.

[By Telegraph from our own correspondents]

DENILIQUIN, Tuesday

Further and fuller particulars have reached here in regard to the Kelly outrages. It appears that about 12 o'clock on Saturday night Kelly's gang struck up the Police Barracks at Jerilderie. They bailed up the police and put them in the lock up, where constable Devine who was in charge , was kept a prisoner until Monday night. The other constable at the station, Richards, was at times taken round the town in charge of Ned Kelly and Steve Hart . Mrs Devine and the children were shut up in another room during Sunday and Monday, and no one was allowed to go around the barracks. Early on Monday morning Kelly's horses were shod in Jerilderie. On Monday, when everything had been made secure at the barracks the Kellys dressed in police uniform. At about 11 am the two Kellys , being then disguised, walked down the street in company with constable Richards. Hart and Byrne followed on horseback. The Kellys walked to the Royal Hotel. where they saw Cox, the landlord. Richards introduced Cox to Kelly, who said he wanted the rooms in the Royal, as he intended to rob the bank but would not do anybody any harm. The bushrangers were then placed by Ned Kelly at the front part of the hotel and as people went in for a drink they were seized and placed in a room, were Dan Kelly acted as sentry . The bank was then entered at the rear by Kelly, who with two revolvers in hand, announced who he was. Resistance was considered useless and the manager and the bank clerks all surrendered. Up to this time no one had the slightest idea that the Kellys were in Jerilderie.

At about 1 o'clock pm, three gentlemen entered the back in the usual way, not thinking anything was the matter, when Kelly rushed in from another room with two revolvers, and the gentlemen when they saw him ran out. Eventually he brought them back and threatened to shoot one of them but better counsels prevailed. About 2000 pounds was taken from the bank. When they had finished this cool proceeding they went to some of the hotels, treating every one civilly, and had drinks. Hart took a new saddle from the saddlers and several watches were taken, but afterwards returned. Two police horses were taken, and other horses wanted, but the residents begged as they belonged to a woman, that they should be left and Kelly did not take them. The telegraph operators with a number of others were taken prisoners to the lock up and were not let out until 7pm. Eight telegraph poles were cut, and Byrne took possession of the office. He overhauled all the telegrams sent that day.

The affair caused a most profound situation and many able bodied men turned pale and almost fainted when they learned that the Kellys were in possession. The Kellys managed the whole affair with judgement, and had there been twice the number of police would have carried out their design.

The bushranging party left about 7pm but no one can say what direction its members took. The Kellys openly stated that they came purposely to shoot Devine, and had it not been that his wife begged for his life, he would have been shot. Kelly also stated that he intended to stick up the Urana coach and bank. Two police and two civilians, armed with guns, offered to go in the coach, but the drive declined to take the police. The police had no means of following them, being unarmed and without arms.

JERILDERIE, Tuesday

This afternoon additional particulars transpired in regard to the Kelly outrages. Great excitement prevails here just now. Yesterday afternoon the town was filled with swagemen of suspicious character. Today unknown men are seen about. In the swags of the strangers revolvers were seen. Mr S Gill, journalist, when called upon to stand, ran away and ‘planted’ in the creek. Ned Kelly, in company with Living and Richards, went over to the printing office, when Richards said, “Mrs Gill, don’t be afraid; this is Kelly.” Mrs Gill replied, “I am not afraid.” Kelly said, “Don’t be afraid; I won’t hurt you nor your husband, but he should not have run away.” Mrs Gill replied, “If you shoot me dead, I don’t know where Mr Gill is; you gave him such a fright, I expect he is lying dead somewhere.” Living said, “You see, Kelly, the woman is telling the truth.” Kelly said, All I want him for is to print this letter; the history of my life, and I wanted to see him to explain it to him.” Living said, “For God’s sake, Kelly, give me the papers, I will give them to Gill.” Living, under promises then received the papers. This is given as I received it from Mrs Gill, who, though alarmed, never evinced any fear. Later in the day Kelly mixed up with a number of persons at Mr McDonald’s and said any one could shoot him, but they would have to abide the consequences, as, if they killed him, every inhabitant of the place would be shot.

WAGGA WAGGA, Thursday

There has been no communication up to the present time with Jerilderie or Urana further than what has reached you. It is supposed that the gang have gone to Urana, as threatened by them. When leaving Jerilderie at about 4 o’clock yesterday afternoon, they were riding two bays and one chesnut, and used three Government horses as pack horses. They also stole the kits, arms, and ammunition of the police at Jerilderie. The line is to dead earth between here and Urana, and its supposedto be cut. A visit from the gang is much feared in Wagga Wagga and the banks have taken precautions to guard their interests. The inspector of police for the district is at Albury, and there is only Sergeant Vizzard in charge with one mounted trooper. Considerable excitement prevails in town, the state of the police from here giving no sense of security against an attack from the gang.

ALBURY, Tuesday

When the news reached here of the sticking up of bank at Jerilderie, police were told off to guard the banks in Albury and the country districts.

MELBOURNE, Wednesday, 1am

The following is an account of the interview with Messrs Tarleton and Living, of the Bank of New South Wales, Jerilderie. The above gentlemen having reached Melbourne yesterday afternoon, they supplied the following information:- Mr Living, the teller of the bank, states that about 10 minutes past 12 on Monday morning he was sitting at desk in the bank, when he heard footsteps approaching him from the direction of the back door. He at first took no notice, thinking it was the manager, Mr Tarleton. The footsteps continued him, when he turned round on his office stood and noticed a man approaching from the back door. He immediately accosted the fellow, who had a revolver already levelled at him, and on asking the intruder who he was and what right he had to enter the bank by the back way, he answered that he was Kelly, and ordered Mr Living to bail up. The fellow, who afterwards turned out to be Byrne, ordered him to deliver up the firearms he had. Living replied that he had none. Young Mackin, who was standing in front of the bank, then came in, when Byrne ordered hin to jump off the counter, which Living did. He then told him to come with him to Cox’s hotel, and remarked that they had all the police stuck up. They went into the hotel, where they met Ned Kelly, who asked for Mr Tarleton, and was told that he was in his room. They went back to the bank, but could not find the manager in his room. Ned Kelly said to Mr Living, “You had better go and find him.” Living then searched and found the manager in his bath. Mr Living was at first a little alarmed at not finding the manager in his room, and at first thought he had got some clue that the bushrangers were in the place and cleared out. On finding the manager in his bath, he said to him, “We are stuck-up, the Kellys are here and the police are also stuck-up.” Byrne then got Hart and left him in charge of the manager. After he had got out of the bath, Ned Kelly came and took him into the bank, and asked him what money they had in the bank. Living replied therewas between £600 and £700, when Kelly said “You must have £10,000 in the bank.” Living then handed the teller’s cash, amounting to about £891. Mr Elliott, the schoolmaster, then went into the bank, and as soon Kelly saw him he ordered him to jump over the counter. Mr Elliott replied that he could not, but Kelly made him, and they then tried to put the money in a bag but not having one sufficiently large, Ned Kelly went and brought a bag, and we put the moneyinto it. Kelly asked if they had more money, and was answered “No.” Kelly then obtained the teller’s revolver, and again requested more money. He then went to the treasure drawer, and requested to know what was in it, and was told by Living that it contained nothing of any value. Kelly insisted on its being opened, and one of the keys was given to him, but he could not open it owing to the manager having the second key, which was required to open it. Byrne then wanted to break it open with a sledge hammer, but Kelly brought the manager from the Royal Hotel and demanded the key, which was given to him, and the drawer was opened, when the sum of £1450 was taken out by Kelly and placed in the bag. Kelly then took down a large deed box, and asked what it contained, and was told that the contents consisted of a few documents which were of no use. He replied that he would burn the contents, but Mr Tarleton argued with him, and Kelly took one document and put it into the bag, and then expressed his intention of burning all the books in the office. He, however, left the rest of the papers, and said that he would come back and see if there were any deeds for town allotments. The whole party then went into the Royal Hotel. Daniel Kelly was in the hotel, and Ned Kelly took two of the party out to the back of the hotel, where he made a fire and burned three or four of the bank books. In the meantime Mr Rankin and Mr Gill seeing the bank door open, went in, and was immediately followed by Kelly, who ordered them to bail up. Both gentlemenat once made off, Mr Rankin remaining into the hotel, and Mr Gill in some other direction. Ned Kelly ran after Rankin and caught him in the hotel. Kelly caught him by the collar, and asked him why he ran away, at the same time telling him to go into the passage, and that he intended to shoot him. He took Mr Rankin into the passage, and, after straightening him against the wall, levelled his revolver at him. Several persons called out to Kelly not to fire, and he did not. He then called Hart by the name of “Revenge,” and told him to shoot the first man that attempted any resistation, and told Rankin that if he attempted he would be the first shot. Kelly then asked for Gill, and took Richards and Living with him to look for Gill. The policeman had his revolver with him, but Kelly had previously withdrawn the cartridges. They went up to Gill’s house and saw Mrs Gill. Kelly said to her, “I have a statement here which contains a little act of my life, and I want it published by Mr Gill; will you take it?” She refused to do so. Mr Living then took the paper, and promised to have it published, and asked to get one. The party then went to McDonald’s Hotel, where Kelly took a brood mare out of the stables, and remarked that he would take the animal but would return it in three weeks.

The party then went to the telegraph office and met Byrne, who had cut the wires. Ned Kelly then broke the insulators at the office with his revolver, and after this he took the postmaster and his assistant to the Royal Hotel and left the party there. Kelly then returned to the bank and obtained a saddle and pair of riding trousers belonging to Mr Tarleton, and also a gold chain and a gold watch. The saddle was then put on the mare and Dan Kelly mounting it rode away, but returned in five minutes. Dan Kelly and Hart then both kept guard at the hotel, and Ned Kelly informed the postmaster that if he attempted to mend the wires before next day, or offered any resistance, he would be shot. He also told Mr Jefferson that he intended to take him a few miles in the bush, and then liberate him. He informed those present that he intended sticking up the Urana coach that night and would shoot any one who attempted to give warning. Byrne still rode in the direction of the Murray with the money, and in the meantime Mr Tarleton had suceeded in dispatching a manager to Urana to warn the bank manager there. The remaining part of the gang then rode in the direction of the police camp, and the party were liberated, and Mr Living started for Deniliquin. This completed Mr Living’s narative, and the following additional particulars are given by Mr Tarleton, manager of the bank. The manager states that at the time of the occurrence he had not long returned from a ride of forty miles and was having a bath when the teller came rushing into the bath-room, and explained that they were stuck-up. Mr Tarleton at first thought it was rubbish; but on seeing two men with revolvers he believed such to be the case. As soon as he came out of the bath, Hart pointed the pistol at him, and then searched his clothes. Mr Tarleton then made some inquiries as to the movement of the Kelly gang, but Hart, answering one or two questions, replied in an angry voice, that he had better cease makingsuch questions. Hart then took him into the hotel ansd as he was going as he noticed Byrne strike the Chinese cook. He was then placed with some other in the bar parlour, where he was kept until walking back to the bank. Hart stood the whole time at the door of the room with revolvers and evinced a strong desire to shoot anybody occasionally, if there was a little too much talking in the room. During his confinement in the room he was placed in such a position that he thinks he could have knocked Hart down, but on asking the policeman if he would back him up, he replied that Dan Kelly had then covered with his revolver, and if he happened to miss them he would be sure to kill some of the outlaws. The gang then prepared to go, but before doing so Ned Kelly made a speech with the evident intention of exciting pity.

This document gives you the text of the report about the KellyGang for this day. The text has been retyped from a microfiche copy of the original. We have taken care to reproduce this document but areas of the original text may been damaged. We also apologise for any typographical errors. T

From the Sydney Morning Herald day before < > next day , Same day Age, Argus, Herald, Melbourne Daily Telegraph, Ovens & Murray Advertiser, Later in the Week
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