Last modified on 20 November 2015, at 16:44

Herald (10)

The Herald continued with its reports of the KellyGang and Glenrowan

ANNIHILATION OF THE KELLY GANG

PARTY SYMPATHISERS ARMED

  ANOTHER OUTBREAK THREATENED

  INQUEST ON SHERRITT

The interest in details of the events which led to the final destruction of the Kelly gang still continues, and any additional items are eagerly looked for and discussed. Our reporters who are on the spot have been able to send us some late particulars, which are given below. We are also able to supply information as to the condition of Ned Kelly.

UNFOUNDED RUMOURS

This morning rumours of the most astounding character was set afloat, and received more or less credence, but in every instance were without foundation. The one most generally accepted as true and most widely spread was to effect that Kate Kelly had shot Sergeant Steele dead. The Sergeant, it will be remembered, was about the most prominent men in connection with the recent encounter, and was mainly instrumental in securing Ned Kelly. The public have been led to believe that Kate Kelly is a young woman of much spirit and strong passions, and, under the circumstances, the story that she avenged her brother’s fate by shooting Steele was generally accepted as at least probable, if not absolutely true. It appears, however, that there is no foundation of the statement. Our reporters who are on the spot are silent on the subject. The police have no information of the sort, and the rumour cannot be traced to its source. It may therefore be regarded as untruthful.

NED KELLY IN GAOL

Ned Kelly, the vanquished leader of the now historical Kelly gang of bushrangers for, has been in Melbourne gaol since yesterday, and is a patient in the hospital of the establishment, under treatment for the wounds which he received in his encounter with the constituted authorities. He lies in a ward where there are two other prisoners, and a fourth prisoner, who is not a patient, is told off to watch him unceasingly. The door of the ward is kept constantly locked, and thus proper precautions are taken against his making an attempt on his own life or effecting his escape. Indeed, under existing circumstances, either be a matter of the possibility. Last night Ned slept well. During yesterday he partook of some food, not from mere sullenness, but no doubt from natural inability, consequent of the state of his health from the wounds, which he received from the firearms of the police. He is dull in manner and spirit, but quiet in his position and evidently in his right mind. It has been erroneously stated that seven or eight bullets were extracted from Kelly body. The fact is that only one piece of lead – a slug - has been removed, and that from his right hand. If he received any more lead in that desperate encounter at Glenrowan it must have passed from the body immediately after entering, or must still be secreted beyond the surgeons ken or the reach of his probe. The most severe wound from which Kelly suffers is one in the left arm. Perhaps it might be more correctly described as two wounds resulting from the same shot. There is one gunshot wound under the left arm and the bullet seems to have travelled along the arm and gone out halfway between the elbow and the shoulder. It is very probable that this wound was received while the left arm was bent in some use. Ned has been ordered by the surgeons in attendance only farinaceous food, and even this he is not likely to partake of in other than small quantities for some little time to come. Yesterday he seemed to lack a little stimulant more than food, and of course the directions of the surgeons are rigidly adhered to. There can be no doubt that Kelly, now that his companions-in-arms have been annihilated, that he has been removed from exiting surroundings, and has had time for reflection, as well as has been subject to religious influences, to which he is not all unsusceptible, feels deeply his position, and mayhap regrets the pas. He still expresses regret that he did not fall with his companions and shared their grave. Kelly was visited yesterday by the Rev P. J. Aylward of St Patrick's Cathedral, whose visit and ministrations he is understood to have received well.

MRS KELLY INFORMED OF HER SON’S FATE

Subsequently Father Aylward had an interview with Mrs Kelly, Ned's mother, who is also a prisoner in the same gaol with her son. It may be here explained that Ellen Kelly, on the 9th of October, 1878, was sentenced, at the Beechworth Circuit Court, why Mr Justice Barry, to three years hard labor, for having wounded Constable Fitzpatrick, at Greta, while he was arresting her son, Ned, on a charge of horse-stealing. That occurrence was the commencement of all the Kelly troubles, which have since stained the criminal annals of the colony, and brought death, misery, and sorrow into a number of families. Mrs Kelly has now been an inmate of the female division of the Melbourne gaol nearly two years. She is a well conducted woman in the establishment, and will probably have nine months remitted form the sentence. She would therefore be discharged in January next-little more than six months hence. Father Aylward was the first person to communicate to Mrs Kelly some intelligence of the dreadful occurrence of the last few days. He told her in gentle words that her son Ken was dead, and that Ned was lying wounded, and a prisoner, only a few yards from where she then was. Mrs Kelly is an unimpassioned woman, but it was evident she was terribly grieved at the tragical news. Father Aylward told the off the desperate encounter with the police on Monday last, and she immediately told him that on the same night she dreamt that such an encounter had taken place. Mrs Kelly had come from the workroom, where she had been employed, to see the clergyman; but after her interview with him she requested not to be taken back, and to be left alone to her grief. This request was of course complied with; and up to the time of our going to press today she was still alone, and had not resumed her wonted occupation. Mr Castieau, the governor of the gaol, visited the woman, and told her that as soon as her son Ned had so far recovered as to bear an interview, she would be taken to see him. That meeting of mother and son will doubtless be such as to excite even strong men to emotion.

NED KELLY’S TRIAL

A widespread impression prevails that Kelly, being an outlaw, can, and will probably be summarily executed without, or at most only after a magisterial investigation as to his identity. This impression is incorrect. It is stated on the best authority that being now in legal custody, he is under the protection of the law, which must be precisely carried out. His present position is that he now lies under a warrant of remand till the 5 th prox., issued by Mr Wyatt, the local police magistrate. He will then had to be brought the form a magisterial bench and committed for his trial for a jury, which trial must take place at Beechworth, unless some judge or judges of the Supreme Court changed the venue to the Central Criminal Court, Melbourne, which course will probably be adopted for a trial.

SUPERINTENDENT HARE

This gentleman, it will be heard with pleasure is much better this morning. The fever has abated and he will probably be moved to Mr W. J.Clarke's house this afternoon, and remain as that gentleman’s mother guest till restored.

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