Graves

Member of the Royal Commission and member of the Victorian Colonial Parliament Links to the KellyGang below, Early Years , Fitzpatrick Incident , Murders at Stringy Bark Creek , Sebastopol Cavalcade , Euroa Robbery , Jerilderie Robbery , Autum 1879 , Hare replaced by Nicolson , Spring 1879 Early 1880 , Death of Aaron Sherritt , Glenrowan Siege , Ned Kelly's Trial , Royal Commission , Early service , Later service , Family ,

1876 Photograph From time to time the members of the Kelly family were taken up for different offences, and sometimes they got off-in fact they carried their audacity to almost an incredible extent.

As an instance, just before I left Benalla in May 1876, that I had two very valuable mares that I had heard for some time would be likely to be stolen, and I determined to remove them. I brought them into Benalla, and on the day they came into town for the purpose of being trucked down to Melbourne, the Kellys followed them into Benalla.

They were locked up in the stock-yard, and those men remained watching those horses till towards morning. The man I had in charge of them left his own horse, saddle and bridle at the hotel close by.

One of the Kellys, I believe Dan Kelly, walked into the stable, and as he could not get the horses he stole the man's new saddle and rode out of the town with it on his horse. He was after some months arrested by the police.

In the Beechworth court my man swore to the saddle having been made for him, and that it was stolen out of the stable.

Dan Kelly got a number of witnesses to prove that he himself had bought the saddle, so that it was almost impossible to convict him. He was discharged. (RC15493)

The horses are described in the Gazette 1876 P1158 as, a black filly, dark iron-grey filly, chestnit gelding and chestnut mare, chestnut foal, bay filly, bay gelding

Hear about my role in the 1877 election (Sadleir)

In 1877 I was appointed the Member of the Legislative Assembly, in the Victorian Partliament for Delatie. See the 1877 election .

Fitzpatrick Incident 15/04/1878 Later

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)

Murders at Stringy Bark Creek at Wombat Creek 26/10/1878 The President of the Mansfield Shire complained to me about the arms the police who followed up after the murders were carrying. (RC15493)

I was involved in arranging for the police memorial. (Argus13/11/78) (Argus14/12/78) (Argus20/12/78)

Euroa Robbery 10/12/1878 On the morning after the Euroa bank robbery I was in Mansfield. I was at breakfast at the hotel about eight or nine o'clock, getting ready to come down to Melbourne by the coach when we heard that the bank had been robbed the previous day.

Lots of people wrote to me about this matter. (RC15493)

I was concerned about the threat to banks (Argus14/12/78)

Spring 1879 Early 1880 Connor letter

I gave evidence about a letter from a person called 'Connor' that was critical of Nicolson.

I believe James Wallace handled the letter. But I don't think that he wrote it. (RC15216) (RC15497) (RC15541) (Argus11/8/81) see also (RC15896) (RC 2nd report XIII)

I was concerned that Sgt Kennedy's widow was not being looked after properly (Argus12/11/79)

I was present when the memorial to the police was opened in Mansfield (Argus23/4/80)

John and William Sherritt

I also recieved an affidavit from John Sherritt. (RC15216)

I had been concerned that John and William Sherritt were sacked from the police after they had been taken in. I went to see Mr Berry about the matter. (RC15216) '

I attended Ned Kelly's committal hearing in Beechworth (Herald11/8/1880)

Royal Commission Call for an inquiry (Argus8/12/80)

I had a few problems. (Argus22/2/81) (Argus11/3/81) (Argus16/3/81) (Argus19/3/81)

The day before the Royal Commission started the Argus conducted an attack on me. I offered to resign. I was supported by the other Commissioners (RC App20) (JJK)

I had a conversation with Mrs Kelly when the Royal Commission visited her home (Argus16/581)

I was not part of the Royal Commission at the time when it made its decisions about the police officers. On 2/8/1881 I informed my fellow Commissioners that owing to the nature of my departmental duties as Commissioner of Customs I would be unable to attend the meetings, and I thought it therefore desirable that I should send in my resignation (RC App20) (Argus4/8/81) (Argus10/8/81)

I later gave evidence as a witness on 9/10/1880 (RC15216) and 10/10/1880 (RC15488)

see critizism of my evidence (Argus11/2/82)

In 1864 I was a magistrate of New South Wales and a station owner on the Murray in New South Wales at the place called Terremia, adjoining Mulwalla. (RC15488)

"I have been for a considerable time connected with that district. In 1864 I was a magistrate of New South Wales and a station owner on the Murray in New South Wales adjoining this very district, at the place called Terremia, adjoining a place then called Mulwalla, now called Yarrawonga. It is the junction of the Ovens River with the Murray. At that time that district was in a very great state of excitement in consequence of Morgan being then at large, and the adjoining stations to mine had been all stuck up. I was asked to take the Commission of the Peace for Victoria in 1865, and I accepted it as a territorial magistrate for Victoria, and from that time to the present I have been intimately connected as a magistrate with that district as I am now. My station was on the Murray opposite Peechelba where Morgan was afterwards captured and shot; and this position on the river was the one where the men connected with horse and cattle stealing generally crossed over, near Mulwalla, because it was the only fordable part of the Murray River, and in the summer months they could almost cross that part of the river dry-footed. I re 9-mar-120 going away for two or three years, and about 1872 I returned and resided at Tatong station, being the manager of that station, comprising the Emu and Springs. The Emu station was the one of those under my charge. The boundary fence of that station adjoined the Kellys' residence, and therefore I became thoroughly acquainted with the members of their family.(RC15488)

I had a cousin who was in the police force. he had some run ins with the KellyGang (SMH31/1/1906)

wife ?... children ?.... home ?..

KellyGang