Shortly before 2pm on Monday 10/2/1879 I saw the door open and smoke coming from a fire out the back of the Bank of New South Wales branch in Jerilderie. I entered the bank with Mr Rankin a local shop keeper. We were greeted by the KellyGang. They ordered us over counter to join Mr Living the accountant. Rankin and I decided to run. After they caught Mr Rankin Ned Kelly with Const Richards and Mr Living came looking for me. See (OMA13/2/1879) (SMH12/2/1879)
They eventually came to my home and saw my wife. She told Ned Kelly that I had run awayfor Carrah Farm from where information could be sent on to Deniliquin police. Ned Kelly said 'I have a statement here which contains a little part of my life, and I want it published by Mr Gill.' Mrs Gill declined to accept the document.
The KellyGang then left but Living offered to have the document published. It is now known as the Jerilderie Letter. I doubt if the authorities would have let me publish it. I hid out until they had gone. My house is still a private residence.
See also (FH)
A few days later I wrote the scoop of my life. I wrote a long article for my paper and large sections of it formed the basis for the reports in the Sydney and Melbourne papers. The text is published in Keith McMenomy's book on the KellyGang.
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6-jun-09