First meeting with the KellyGang, taking up the tracks
..
Imprisoned in Jones's Inn
Just before the train arrived Dan Kelly said, "Now you can all go home," and Reardon stood up and picked up one of his children in his arms, I picked up Ryan's child, and Mrs. Jones stood at the door and said, "You are not to go yet; Kelly is to give you a lecture yet," so we all turned back into the house again, and Mrs. Jones came in and said, "Kelly will give you all a lecture before you go." (RC7627) (FH)
The police arrive
Sup Sadlier reported that I was shot
in the groin by Ned Kelly. Many others
think that I was shot by the police. I was not able to leave the kitchen when
the others left the hotel (RC2880)
See more detail about who shot me (Argus2/7/1880)
(Argus3/7/1880) (Herald3/7/1880)
(Herald3/7/1880) (Herald11/8/1880) (OMA14/8/1880)
When the other civilians left the Inn at about 10am they told the police about me. They said that I was wounded and had been carried back into the back kitchen. I was left sitting against some bags of oats with a wound in the groin. (RC10404)
In the kitchen
Const Dixon wanted to get me out of the building (RC2957)
I was found in the kitchen by Rev Gibney.
I was not affected by the fire.(Argus29/6/1880)
(RC7187)
(JJK)
Const Glenny helped Rev Gibney carry
me out of the kitchen. (RC13749)
(Argus5/7/80) (Argus6/7/80)
After the fire
Rev Gibney came to see me after he had found the other bodies. He attended me and administered the sacrament of his church to him as far as he could. (RC12346)
I was found by Sup Sadleir and other police in the kitchen at the back of the Inn just after the building had been set on fire. I died soon after and my body was handed over by the police to my sister. My friend Tom Dixon helped. He was a boot maker from Benalla. (RC2880)
Account of Royal Commission criticized (Argus10/2/82)
A magisterial inquiry was held this day at Powell's Hotel, Benalla, into my death (Martin Sherry) (Cherry). I was 40 years of age and single. Dr Nicholson stated that there was a bullet wound on the left side of my stomach. The wound must have ended fatally. Under the circumstances it must have caused death.
After evidence had been given of my rescue from the burning building Sup John Sadleir, stationed at Benalla, gave the following evidence; He was incharge of the attacking party of police on Monday morning, at Glenrowan. The firing continued at intervals both from the hotel and by the police. It was not until the captives had made their escape from the hotel that he was made aware that I was lying wounded in the back kitchen. He then endeavoured to avoid the firing into the kitchen. In firing the main building Sadleir arranged that I should be rescued before the fire could reach me. He rushed up to the kitchen and saw Dixon and others lift me out. I was alive. I died in a few minutes. (Age1/7/80) (Argus1/7/80) (Argus21/7/80)
Other evidence was given by my sister Jane Mcauley(Argus1/7/80), wife of Edmund Mcauley, Dr John Nicholson (Argus1/7/80), Const Bracken (Argus1/7/80), Thomas Dixon (Argus1/7/80) (JJK), bootmaker of Benalla, Const Phillips (Argus1/7/80), Sup Sadleir (Argus1/7/80) (MDTel1/7/80).
The following is the verdict:- 'That having heard the evidence given herewith touching the death of me, the deceased Martin Cherry (Sherry). And having carefully considered the same, I find his death was caused by a gunshot wound received during the time he was a prisoner of the KellyGang in Jones's Hotel, Glenrowan, on Monday last, and that no blame can be attached either to any member of the police force, or to any civilians who were firing at the KellyGang and Jones's Hotel and kitchen. R McBean JP
'After the inquest I was buried quietly in the Benalla Cemetery. (Age 1/7/80) (Argus1/7/80)
Sup Sadleir's summary of the verdict was, 'Shot by the police in the execution of their duty.'(Argus20/7/80) (RC2903)
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