parents John (Red) Kelly and Ellen Kelly brothers and sisters Mary Jane, Anne (53), Margaret (Maggie) 55?, James 59, Daniel (Dan) 61, Catherine (Kate) 63, Grace 8/65, half brother and sisters Ellen 74 , John 75 and Alice 78 Uncles ... aunts ...
I was described as being 5ft. 10in. high, medium build, has a fresh complexion, dark- brown hair, and hazel eyes (Argus28/10/78)
I got involved in a dispute between two hawkers that started with an insulting note wrapped around a pair of calf's testicles and finished up with a brawl in Greta and the butt of the joke Jeremiah McCormack complaining to the newly arrived local policeman, Senior Constable Hall. He accused me of assaulting him with a stirrup iron. As a result I was sentenced in September 1870 in the court in Wangaratta to 3 months gaol for offensive behaviour and fined £10 for assault. Because I could not pay the fine he spent 6 months in Beechworth prison. This was my first time in prison. The other hawker involved in the original dispute was Ben Gould who had an interesting role in this story later on in relation to the Euroa robbery. I spent time in Pentridge prison and I worked in the gaol quarries at Point Gelibrand. I was released from Beechworth on 27/3/1871. See also (JJK)
On 2/8/1871 I was convicted of horse stealing and recieved 3 years.Wild Wright and Bricky Williamson were also involved (RCApp10)(JJK)When I was released in 1874. At that time I swore that I would rather face the gallows rather than go back to goal again. My mother remarried soon after this and I left home and went off to work in saw mills for a period of 3 years without any criminal convictions. I worked with with John Evans of Whitfield run for a time then with Mr J Saunders and R Rule in their sawmills as a faller. I also worked with Heach and Dockendorf in the timber industry. One of the sawmills was on Red Camp station.
In 1874 and 1875 I had a number of 'conversations' with Det Ward when he was stationed at Wangaratta.
In August 1874 while I was working at the sawmills he had his famous bare knuckled, 20 round fight with Wild Wright. I won.
There is some evidence that I worked as a builder at Chesneyale near Winton in 1875. I could have learnt how to cut rocks while in goal. Later in 1875 I was back with Saunders and Rule as overseer at their sawmill on Burke's Hole farm near his mother's home. About this time I also spent some time at the Royal Hotel at Jerilderie.
In January 1876 there was a strange incident. A warrant was issued in Oxley for me for horse stealing of a chestnut mare and foal. The horses were owned by my uncle John Quinn. Later Michael Woodward was arrested for the same offence.
In September 1876 with the end of Beechworth branch line, the sawmills income almost ceased and Saunder and Rule wanted to relocate the sawmill to Gippsland were they had a contract supply timber for the railways. My friend Jack McMonigle went off to the new camp but I did not follow with the rest. Why did I leave my well paid job?
In 1877 I left home again, he may have been shearing and he went off up the King River valley to work unbranded horses with my Quinn uncles John and William. I told the story of the bull he sold to Lydicker in the Cameron letter. Later James Whitty accused me of stealing it from him. I was also accused of stealing a mob of calves from Whitty and his son in law Farrell. This was behind the warrant that Fitzpatrick used when I went to my mother's home. Whitty was a wealthy land owner and Farrell was a policeman. At about this time I started riding out with my new father in law George King and my brother Dan. Well there may have been lots of reports of cattle and horse stealing around the Greta area.
In April 1877 police including Nicolson
came to Mrs Kelly's home looking for me.
The police alleged that we would move cattle and horses up around areas like
Glenmore where we changed
the brands and gave then a spell. After a time they said that we moved over
the boarder into New South Wales were would introduce them to their new owners.
They even alleged that we brought animals back to Victoria on the return trip.
We were of course helped by our friends who travelled under the name of 'the
Greta Mob'. They included our
cousins Tom and John
Lloyd and Aaron Sherritt and Joe
Byrne from up near Beechworth.
Aaron Sherritt thought that I was special. He said,' Ned Kelly would beat me into fits. I can beat all the others; I am a better man than Joe Byrne, and I am a better man than Dan Kelly, and I am a better man than Steve Hart. But I look upon Ned Kelly as an extraordinary man; there is no man in the world like him, he is superhuman. Ned sends the other three a hundred yards ahead.' Aaron also said that I carried out my orders at the point of my pistol. Sherritt look upon me as invulnerable and he told the police that they could do nothing with me. When the police had a row with any of the sympathizers they would always finish off by saying "I will tell Ned about you; he will make it hot for you some day,"(RC1282)
On 17 September 1877 I rode into Benalla
and met up with a mate, a young policeman called Alex Fitzpatrick
and some other friends. After a time I found that I had had rather too much
to drink which was unusual for me. Just as I rode my horse over the footpath
there appeared Fitzpatrick again and he arrested me for being drunk and riding
on the footpath. I was put in the cells for the night.
In the morning Sgt Whelan joined by
Constables Fitzpatrick, Lonigan,
and Day escorted me to the court
house from the police
station cells. My 'friend' suggested that I should be handcuffed for this
trip which I did not appreciate. I broke free and headed for King's boot makers
shop. In the course of the attempted arrest in the shop Fitzpatrick endeavoured
to catch me by the foot, and in the struggle he tore the sole and heel of
my boot clean off. With one well directed blow I sent him sprawling against
the wall. Those bastards tried to take my trousers off and Lonigan even blackballed
me, grabbing me by the testicles.
Eventually I allowed William Magennis, the Justice of the Peace and
local flour miller to handcuff me but I would not let those police have the
honour.
The court accepted my
side of events and I was fined 1 shilling or 4 hours imprisonment for being
drunk and 2 pounds or 1 month for assaulting police and an additional 2 pounds
or 1 month for resisting arrest. I also had to pay Fitzpatrick 5 shillings
for damage to his clothing. I paid the fines and was reasonably satisfied
with justice. Hear my version of this strot (Age9/8/1880)
In the mid to late 1877 the police started to get the upper hand and while
I was not caught a number of my good friends including my brother Dan,
my cousins Tom and John
Lloyd and William Cooke were all caught
and I decided to give horses and cattle a miss.
I find it a bit of a laugh; Const Fitzpatrick
said that he convinced me to give up to him Dan and Tom and John to him after
the Goodman incident. (RC12873)
Where did I go and what did I see, shearing, the back of the Wombat ranges?
Yes and no
On 15 March 1878 a warrant was
issued for me on charges of horse stealing
Early in the day I sold a mare to Frank Harty
of Winton and to Joseph Ryan
in Lake Rowan.
Fitzpatrick came to the Kelly
home to arrest Dan Kelly. After talking to
my mother Mrs Kelly and my sister Kate
for some time Dan arrived back home and asked Const Fitzpatrick
if he could have dinner before they left home. It is suggested by some writers
that during this time there may have been some disturbance, perhaps Fitzpatrick
had made some advances towards Kate. Of course
he did. There is also a suggestion that Mrs
Kelly used a shovel. Of course she did not. She did not need to that sort
of thing to protect her children from people like Fitzpatrick.
While I have always denied being at home it is suggested by most writers that
I came in at about this time and fired a revolver at Fitzpatrick and hit him
in the wrist. Fitzpatrick said that I offered to take the bullet out. Soon
after this Fitzpatrick left soon after. He eventually, after further assistance
from David Lindsay's brandy, reported that he had been shot by the Kellys.
Apart from my mother Mrs Kelly and Dan and I and our younger brothers and
sister Brckey Williamson,
the next door neighbour was present. Fitzpatrick also said that my sister
Maggie's husband Bill
Skillion, was present. Some writers suggest that Bill had been mistaken
for Joe Byrne.
See my friend Fitzpatrick's verion, some of the reatest rubbish I ever heard.
(RC12822)
See also (CHC) (BWC)
Hear my very own version of what happened (Age9/8/1880)
See also(Argus17/4/78)
Did I take Nolan's saddle (Argus7/5/78)
The KellyGang set out my side of these
events in the Cameron letter.
I and Dan decided to go bush.
On the 16/4/1878 the police
issued a warrant for my arrest. Later my mother, brother in law Bill Skillion
and Brickey Williamson were charged with the attempted murder of Fitzpatrick.
They were sent to Goal for long periods. It was a total disgrace. I described
what happened in the Jerilderie
letter
In April 1878 the government offered a £100 reward for my arrest. Dan had the same offer and the police started going through the hills after us.
Dan and some of our other friends headed off for a base in the hills on Bullock Creek where we did some gold mining and made some whiskey and other things to stay out of mischief. Joe Byrne, Tom Lloyd and Steve Hart joined us from time when they got out of goal. The KellyGang was forming as a force.
Dan, Joe Byrne, Steve Hart and I, worked constantly mining for gold from April till October 1878. We lived in a log hut built years before by some previous prospectors on Kelly's Creek.(JJK)
On the 29/8/1878, Ward received information that I was seen about three weeks ago between the Woolshed and Sebastopol, in the Ovens district, riding and carrying a gun under my arm, with a revolver strapped on my saddle.It is well that we did not find out who sold us out. (RC3109)
Graves told the Royal Commission, ' For a series of years from Power's time they had a regular well-beaten track from Mansfield to cross, which was only used by themselves. A week hardly elapsed that I did not find in my paddocks either one of my horses ridden, or one of theirs left there and one of mine taken. The KellyGang had always relays of horses at those back country places, as you are not allowed to impound horses if they belong to neighbors, and there they would remain till they would come for them. They were always on the beaten track backwards and forwards to Mansfield.' (RC15554)
Sgt Kennedy had a photograph of me that was taken while I was in Pentridge Prison (Age9/8/1880)
I had an old Enfield musket that was useful for shooting around corners. I have set out my version of events in the Cameron and Jerilderie letters. Const McIntyre survived our attempt to protect ourselves. The police had their version of the 'truth' and they 'used' it at my trial. See also (CHC)
On 25 October 1878 I had been
to Table Top and the Bogs and Emu
Swamp and on my way back to Bullock
Creek I came cross the tracks of a police party.
One of the police fired at some parrots during the afternoon of Saturday 26/10/1878
so we knew that other
people were in the area. The police were camped on Stringy
Bark Creek less a mile and a half south east from our camp on Kellys
Creek. This is what we had to say in the Cameron Letter:
'...found police camped at the Shingle Hut with long fire arms and we came to the conclusion our doom was sealed unless we could take their fire-arms, as we had nothing but a gun and a rifle if they came on us at our work or camp. We had no chance only to die like dogs as we thought the country was woven with police and we might have a chance of fighting them if we had firearms, as it generally takes 40 to one.' (CHC)
The rest of the story of this incident is really the story of what happened at Stringy Bark Creek,
See the description of me that appeared in the paper. (Age30/10/78) and my discussion with McIntyre (Argus30/10/78)
Did I tell the press about what happened to Sgt Kennedy (Argus13/12/78) (Argus14/12/78)
We needed money and we needed to do something for our friends. The banks
had money and they had mortgages that sapped the pride of our friends.
After a lot of planning we headed off to Faithfull's
Creek Station. There we first met the Mr and Mrs Fitzgerald.
She has given a good account of our first meeting. We then took all those
who came to the station into custody including Mr Casement
and his party and Mr Gloster, the
hawker.
On the afternoon of 11/12/78 Dan and Steve Hart and I went into Euroa and robbed the bank. We returned with Mr Scott and his family. They give a good account as to what happened and what I did. See also (CHC)
Soon after they arrived back at Faithfull's Creek Station we had the ladies
locked in the homestead and all the rest except Mr McCauley
locked in the out buildings. I then told Mr McCauley that he should wait for
at least 3 hours before he let the people out or sort any assistance. Of course
we had our friends amongst the captives.
See also (Argus12/12/78)(SMH12/12/78)(FH)
Description of my horse. (Argus12/12/78)
WE recieved some very bad press (Argus16/12/78)
About midnight on Friday the 8th of February 1879, we the KellyGang surrounded the Jerilderie police station, which was all in darkness, the constables having retired to their beds, when they were awoke by some one calling out- "Constable Devine, there is a drunken man at Davidson's hotel in the township who has committed a murder. Get up at once all of you." Constable Richards came outside and he was followed immediately by Devine. They were both undressed and unarmed. I told them there was a great row in the township, and after conversing with them for some time, to make sure there were no other constables inside. I then presented two revolvers at Devine's head, Joe Byrne did the same to Constable Richards. We them got the keys of the lock-up, took the two policemen and locked them in their own watch-house. I then went into the police station, secured all the firearms, made the constable's wife and family go into one room, and placed Steve Hart as sentry over them. We then made themselves as comfortable, leaving one on sentry until daylight on Sunday morning. See also (Argus12/2/79) (SMH12/2/1879)
Later in the day we all went into town, to the Royal Hotel where we introduced ourselves to the publican Mr Cox. I positioned the others around the hotel and secured the town.
Before we said good bye to the people of Jerilderie gathered in the hotel I explained to them who we were and why we had done what we had done. The banks store squatters and other rich peoples money and take land from poor farmers. The police only protect the interests of the wealthy. I also explained that on the occasion when Constable Fitzpatrick was wounded, he was not within 400 miles of his mother's place. I admitted that we had stolen 400 horses from Mr. Whilty's run at various times and he sold them, but explained that beyond that, up to the time we shot the police at the Wombat, we had not been guilty of any other crime. People were interested in our exploits and I showed those present my revolvers, and pointed out one which I got from Constable Lonigan. The musket which I shot Lonigan with was an old worn-out crooked thing.
Please see Dan Kelly for the story of the KellyGang in Jerilderie. See also (FH) (CHC)
At about this time I dropped in to see old Mrs Sherritt. This was after Mrs Byrne stopped Aaron from seeing Kate Byrne. We were concerned that Aaron Sherritt was travelling with the police and not being entirely frank with us. I picked up one Mrs Sherritt's children and gave it a cuddle. I think that gave old Mrs Sherritt a fright. This was perhaps the last time we tried to get Aaron on our side.(RC13166)
Did I go to have a good time in Melbourne (BWC)
James Wallace alledged that I stoled a saddle from him (RC14441)(RC14516)
As the year went by we had to think about what to do next. We could not live off our friends for ever. Joe Byrne sets out many of these issues and Steve Hart will explain a bit about what we were doing at this time.
We were supported by our sisters, Maggie and Kate in the country near home. They did a lot of cooking and baked us great bread so that we did not need to light a fire. They also risked their lives and the future of our young brothers and sisters as they rode through the police who tried to follow.
Joe's mother also gave us wonderful support. We had a way over the old gold workings to her place which meant that we could get there without being seen by the police.
I wrote to Mr Gill. (Argus5/7/79)
Was I ill (Argus26/7/79)
One day I got an offer from George Scott, perhaps better known as Captain Moonlite. He had recently been released from Gaol and thought he could use our skills and wanted to team up with us. I knew his reputation from friends in Pentridge so I told him to stay out of the Kelly Country.
You ask me whether the KellyGang still
existed
You ask me why had we hidden in our faces in the dirt, dust and mud.
You ask me what was I doing about my Mother and other people who are dear
to me and who were in gaol because of me
Can't u thrust u friends Mr Kelly
What happened to all the money Mr Kelly
When are we going to see you again Mr Kelly?
Steve Hart and my brother Dan were getting bored. Joe went through mood swings from a frenzy of thought and planning to private despair without hope for our future. In the last few years I have done a lot of thinking. Every one knows about Ned Kelly. Some how we have even become an Australian icon. People now take pride in the fact their great grandfather saw me once or even better exchanged a few words with me. Others who share our story are descended from people who tired to destroy us with less care than they would shown to a slug under foot. They even go to Champaign sipping functions in our memory and look in awe at things like our armour.
Where did the idea for the armour
come from?
Who made my armour; a friend in the Strathbogie
Ranges (Herald3/7/1880)
Why of all the bush rangers and all the selectors have we been treated this way. While it was hard for us at the time, I would trade all my fame for the pain that was to come. Nothing can make up the death of my 3 three good friends at hands of the enemy or my own death at the end of their rope.
People were right; we could not just sit around, we had to do something. Sneaking through the bush as outlaws had no future. If nothing less, a life on the run was not a good basis for a relationship. Ladies unfortunately have a more practical approach, they even ask questions about a future. Children are really the only to remain immortal, generation after generation.
We had stolen some cattle and horses, stuck up the banks at Euroa and Jerilderie and dragged police officers all over the place as they sort to find us. I suppose that we could have robbed banks and taken pocket books from people on the highway as my old friend Harry Power had done, but I did not embark on this path to be a common criminal. There is no future in that. People need to be uplifted by the things that you do. I could not ask my friends to risk their homes and families for low crime that would drive us further into the dust. Euroa and Jerilderie worked well, they worked as good theatre as they were productive.
What we needed was an event that would astonish the world. Something that would ensure my Mother's freedom and I lift the Out Lawry Act so that we could ride free with our heads held high. Some people would have had us split up, other suggested that we should go to some other colony and deny our names. All these were short term solutions that may have satisfied Steve Hart or my brother Dan. Joe Byrne understood and he was prepared to work out the detail of any plan.
Joe Byrne was keen on the idea that we take over the train that brought the gold from Beechworth. I was concerned that we needed to more than just commit another robber. Max Brown in his book tells a story of one of the ideas we spent some time thinking about. The newspapers told the story of the Governor of New South Wales, a man called Sir Hercules Robinson had pardoned Ben Hall's mate, Gardiner, on condition he leave the colony. If we could take the Governor of Victoria, a man with one of those names that would only befit an English, 'His Excellency the Governor, Lord Normanby'. He used to spend time at his summer holiday home at Mt Macedon. We had the idea that it would be good to lay before him over a bottle of three-star brandy in the hills the justice of our cause and the mutual advantage of a little bloodless reciprocity.
The beginnings of the plan we finally settled upon was based upon the suffering of all our friends who were trying to make a living despite all the good land being stolen by the squatters and the police enforcing justice in support of the wealthy. We saw from our reading of the that Mr Berry's Government in Melbourne were split between squatter and selector, free spirited people such as ourselves of an Irish Catholic background might have a chance to establish a free country in the great south land. All they needed was a bit assistance. If we could lower the flag of the police the English pride of the squatters would give them little protection against a just society.
The plan for Glenrowan gave all our friends a chance to make a difference. All we had to do was to act out our part. Once we had agreed upon this idea we started the massive task of getting all our friends behind the plan.
Arrive in Town
See also (Argus29/6/1880)(FH)
Soon after Steve Hart and I arrived
in town on the evening of the 26/6/1880
we set up our base at McDonell's
hotel. A bit later we visted Reardon
and the platelayers to get them to lift the railway line. Our attempts was
not entirely successful at the start and we obtained further assistance from
Mr Stanistreet, the station master.
He gave a statement that gives a version of what happened.
I visited Mr and Mrs McDonnell in bed. We got on well with them. My code name was 'Jack Hoyle'. (Herald29/6/1880)
Just before lunch on 27/6/1880 I had a conversation with Mr Curnow and his family while they going for a drive (RC17598)
My horse
My mare had recently been shod just before Glenrowan. The mare, is a beautiful
animal, and is the property of Mr Michael Ryan of the Major Plains. She was
stolen from him, with other horses found in McDonald's stables on Tuesday
morning. The mare is by Hermit and is a very fine jumper as also is the chestnut
horse which Byrne rode. (When did Ned Kelly get her)(Age1/7/80)
My saddle was made by Bullivant from Wangaratta.
Sunday night and Monday morning
What was I doing? Mrs Reardon said that
for most part of Sunday night I was not in sight at all-only when we were
having a dance. She believe that we were playing cards with Mrs Jones
in the little parlour.(RC10542)
see also (FH)
I also took Const Bracken down to Jones Hotel. As we went down there we chatted about politics (Argus30/6/80)
Did I abandon the idea of wrecking the train because of the large number of civilians on the train and have a fight with the police in Glenrowan? (BWC)
Just before the train arrived Dan Kelly told the people could go home and Mrs. Jones stood at the door and said, "You are not to go yet; Ned Kelly is to give you a lecture yet," Soon after this we heard the train. (RC7627)
The arrival of Sup Hare and his police at Glenrowan
and the start of the fight
We the KellyGang heard the train arriving
and moved quickly to put our armour on at about 2.30
am on 28/6/1880. We gathered on the verandah of the Inn to face our foes.
As soon as we could see them coming to shoot us we opened fire. I was shot
in that opening exchange. See also (DailyTelegraph29/6/1880)(FH)
It was clear that the police wanted to surround the Inn and kill us.
The doctor stated in a sworn statement that the wound in my left arm was caused
by a pellet from a shot gun and that must have been fired by the gun of Mr.
Hare or Constable Canny. (RC8393)
The first brush was exceedingly hot. We and the police blazed away at each
other furiously in the darkness. This exchange lasted for about a quarter
of an hour, and during that time there was nothing but a succession of flashes
and reports, the pinging of bullets in the air. The police did not care about
the shrieks of women who had been made prisoners in the Inn.(Argus
29/6/80) Was I shot by SConst Kelly? (Age1/7/80)
I called on the boys to follow me out of the Inn, but Joe Byrne would not
follow me (RC10576)
Hear about my last conversayion with Joe Byrne (RC17786)
Did I shoot Martin Cherry
(Argus2/7/1880).
Proof that I could not have (Herald3/7/1880)
(Herald3/7/1880)
Off to see the sympathizers
After the initial battle with the police I went down to where we had broken
the railway tracks. The fight we had at Jones's Iinn was not their fight.
See also (RC11315)
and (Age4/8/1880)
Before daylight SConst Kelly found my revolving rifle and skull cap lying in the bush, about 100 yards from the hotel. The rifle was covered with blood and the cap was full of blood.(Argus29/6/1880)
I went down to the place where we had taken up the railway line to see our supporters. After I told them to go home and then returned to help the rest of the KellyGang in the Inn.
Where did I go and who did I see? (BWC) Others say that I went to see my sympathizers.
My capture
At about 7am I approached the
Inn from the northern side. I was dressed in a white mackintosh oil skin coat
that came down to my heels with my armour on underneath. Some police said
that they thought that I looked like the devil. Others said that I was a mad
man with a nail can on my head. After a time some of the police who were gathered
around the Inn and firing at me worked out who I was and they determined to
capture or even kill me. As I moved from tree to tree, and received the fire
of the police. Const Arthur was the first.
While my armour protected my upper body they shot me in the legs. I returned
fire with my revolver but I could not keep these murderers away. They fired
at me persistently. see also (Argus29/2/1880)(Argust2/7/1880)(RC10043)
(FH)
Sgt Steele, SConst Kelly
and Dowsett went for me near
a fallen tree about 75 metres from the Inn and the rest of the KellyGang.
Sgt Steele shot me in the legs and he would have killed me if he had been
stopped by the others. I had been shot in the left foot, left leg, right hand,
left arm, and twice in the region of the groin. No bullet penetrated my armour.
(Argus29/6/1880)
They got me in the fork of a fallen tree. Dowsett was at the butt of it, about
twelve yards off. Steele was up on the left hand side, and SConst Kelly was
then twenty or thirty yards on the right hand side. (RC10971)
Const Dywer kicked me.
The police took my armour off me and they carried me down to the railway station
and placed in a guard's van. Later I was removed to the stationmaster's office,
and my wounds were dressed by Dr Nicholson,
of Benalla.
I had a revolver that had "Sydney" on it, as if it belonged to New South Wales
or something. It was plated at the side. (RC14015)
Was this the one that Marsden got?
Dowsett took a revolver off me when they captured me. On the hilt there is
"N.S.W.G.," meaning. "New South Wales Government." I said afterwards that
it was one that I took at Jerilderie.It was covered in blood. (RC10926)
He also got a mustard tin that I had stuffed full of cartridges. (RC10931)
SConst Kelly and Dr Nicholson carried my armour down to the railway station after I was captured. SConst Kelly told me about finding my rifle and I told him that I was shot by Hare in the arm and foot in the first volley (RC8263) (RC6268)
Sadlier reported that I, from my appearance in the imperfect light, looked like some unearthly being, on whom bullets had no effect. He also alleged that I shot Martin Cherry (RC 2880)
Dowsett, SConst Kelly, Marsden, Sgt Steele and gave their accounts on how they captured me and what I did at the time. See also (BWC)
See also (RC10349)
Reportedly, during my arrest, Const Milne
got one of my boots as a keepsake. See (Argus30/6/80)
for other description of my clothing and personal effects
In police custody
At first I was taken down to the railway platform, but after a few bullets
came too close. After I had been in the guard's van some time, by the advice
of Dr. Nicholson, I was taken to
the station master's house and put him in a bunk there. McWhirter
cut my boots off. My feet land hands were very cold, and I fainted two or
three times.(RC10386)
Dr Hutchinson also saw me and made
an assessment of my injuries (Argus2/7/1880)(FH)
Sgt Steele looked over me most of
the time I was in custody at Glenrowan. (RC10388)
He took my cartridge bag (BWC)
Sup Sadlier asked me to get the boys to give up (DailyTelegraph29/6/1880)
I had a conversation with Det Ward and we exchanged 'plesantaries' as they
say (BWC)
Carrington drew me while I was lying in the van, and while I was in the station master's house. He also made drawings of the armour on the station (RC10047)
Interview with the family - overheard by the press
After the Hotel had been set on fire and Dan and Steve roasted like pig by
the police, I was given a chance to have a chat with my sisters Maggie
and Kate and Tom Wright.
Of course it was not in private: The following is a summary of what happened.
My sisters gave me a kiss. By this time I had to some extent recovered from
the exhaustion of my wounds. People said that at times my eyes were quite
bright and that I was abled to talk rather freely. (Argus
29/6/1880)(FH)
During the interview I stated that I was at last surrounded by the police
and only had a revolver, with which I fired four shots. But it was no good.
I had half a mind to shoot myself. Earlier I loaded my rifle, but I could
not hold it after I was wounded. I had plenty of ammunition, but it was no
good to me. I got shot in the arm, and told Byrne and Dan so I could have
got off, but when I saw them all pounding away, I told Dan I would see it
over, and wait until morning. (Argus29/6/1880)
'What on earth induced you to go the hotel?' inquired a spectator.
I replied 'We could not do it anywhere else.' 'I would, have fought them in
the train, or else upset it if I had the chance. I didn't care a - who was
in it, but I knew on Sunday morning there would be no usual passengers. I
first tackled the line, and could not pull it up, and then came to Glenrowan
station.'
Some one in the crowd asked, 'since the Jerilderie affair, we thought you
had gone to Queensland.' I replied 'It would not do for everyone to think
the same way' The interview continued .... (Argus
29/6/80)
When the siege was over Com Standish ordered that I be brought down to Benalla and put in the lockup overnight.My dear Catherine followed me down to Benalla. (Herald29/6/1880) While in the cells in Benalla SConst Kelly had a chat with me (Argus30/6/80) Report on my health (Herald)
The next day ,29/6/1880,
I was taken down to Melbourne in a special carriage by the afternoon train.(RC77)
On Insp Baber escorted me to Melbourne
with Const Armstrong and two constables.
I asked, "Was SConst Johnson in the
hut when Sherritt was shot?" I
said, "No; why do you ask me that, Ned?" He asked me if I tortured Sherritt.
He said, "What men were there?" .. "To have gone out in you light would have
been foolhardy; you would have all been shot but one. It was not our game
to shoot you all. We wanted one man to go in and draw the police away from
the barracks." (RC12214)
After a great reception at the railway station I was eventually taken to the Melbourne Gaol where I eventually had by wounds looked at in some detail. The details of that time are recorded in the records of the Goal. (Argus30/6/80)
A little later the gaol authorities allowed me a meeting with my poor dear mother who was in the women's part of the same establishment. It was the first time I had seen her since the trouble with Const Fitzpatrick.
In the Melkbourne Gaol I was carefully watched by a warder and on 30/6/80
I was visited by Dr Shields. He produced an official report (Argus30/6/80)
Although I continue to suffer very great plain from my wounds I am progressing
favourably, and the police doctor thinks that I am 'out of danger' - in this
place!. I dont think so. (Age1/7/80)
By late July I was declared by Dr Shields at the Melbourne Gaol to be fit enough to be sent to Beechworth to attend my commital hearing. They had just fixed me up so they could have their fun that led to my return to this gaol and my death.
On 1/8/1880 I was taken
by wagonette from Melbourne Gaol to the Newmarket Station and put on a train
under the care of the senoir police officer they call Sgt Steele
and Consts Bracken and Fulkiner.
The police tried to pump me on the trip north but I was not prepared to just
chat. On the way north I pointed out that I was born near Donnybrook. At Euroa
I remarked that while Mr Scott was
hard to get on with I did not have any trouble with Mrs Scott.
I said if I had a tail (that is, a Chinaman's tail) I would go home to China,
as one Chinaman was worth all the Europeans. I would rather trust my life
to them than any European living. (RC5488)
I wore a pilot cloth coat checked waistcoat, and corduroy trousers (Age2/8/1880)
I passed through Glenrowan with a heavy heart as I remembered my friends.
But to stop myself from talking and take away the pain I sang most of the
way to Beecworth, 'The brave KellyGang'
'We have mates where'ev we go
That somehow let us know
The approach of every foe
to the brave KellyGang' (RC5497)
As we passed the Warby Ranges
I remarked 'The idea of Sup Hare,
being a picked man, being sent up to catch me. I can tell you every place
his party camped in the Warby Ranges, and who used to get up the horses'.
I asked what was Nicolson doing at
Benalla, pulling my friends into his office, and giving them money to do the
lazy police officer's work. The Government could have given them all the money
they possess, and then they would not have sold me. (RC5489)(RC1287)(Age4/8/1880)
I also had a swipe at Ass Com Nicolson. I accused him of pulling my friends into his office, and giving them money was a lazy mans way of working. The Government could have given them all the money they possess, and then they would not have sold me. (RC5491)
When the train got to Beechworth I was hurried into a cab and taken past the post office and court house up the Gaol where the new iron gates had been installed to replace the wooden gates, just for me.
See also my Trial for the next part of my story.
While I was in Beechworth Gaol awaiting from the committal hearing I gave a press interview (Age9/8/1880)
At the end of my committal hearing, on 12/8/1880 I was taken by wagon from Beechworth to Wangaratta where a train took me to Melbourne and back to the Melbourne Goal. (Age13/8/1880)
There are many reports of me enjoying the pretty girls who came to see the committal hearing in Beechworth and my trail in Melbourne. Those reports also tell of me being depressed and disinterested from time to time and of my other emotions. I think I could have done a better job myself. At one point I even tried to run the case. They wanted to defend me in accordance with the normal rules of the legal system.
From all that has happened to me I knew that I was not going to get off. I did not want to seek their justice. All I wanted was an opportunity to present my side of the story. I was denied that at every turn. I never recieved even an indication that the Cameron letter was read and the Jerilderie letter sat in obscurity before it became a historic relic that is of no use to me. After the jury found me guilty I was eventually asked if I had anything to say. Can you believe it. This is what they call justice.
As an example of the way I was treated read Mr Gaunson's affidavit before my trial. (Age16/10/1880)
My execution at the Melbourne Gaol on 11/11/1880 was a great affair. They turned it into a public spectical with an official list of witnesses and all.
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