Last modified on 20 November 2015, at 22:03

Sydney Morning Herald (32)

(full text transcription)
see previous

Interview with Ned Kelly

“What on earth induced you to go to the hotel?" inquired a spectator.

“We could not do it anywhere else," replied Kelly, eyeing the spectators who were strangers to him suspiciously. “I would," he continued,” have fought them in the train, or else upset it, if I had the chance. I did not 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."

“Since the Jerilderie affair," remarked a spectator, “we thought you had gone to Queensland ."

"It would not do for every one to think the same way," was Kelly's reply." “If I were once right again," (he continued, " I would go to the barracks and shoot every one of the — — traps, and not give one a chance."

Mrs Skillian to her brother: "It's a wonder you did not keep behind a tree."

Ned Kelly: “I had a chance at several policemen during the night, but declined to fire; my arm was broken the first fire; I got away into the bush and found my mare, and could have rushed away to beggary, but wanted to see the thing out, and remained in the bush."

A sad scene ensued when Wild Wright led Mrs Skillian to the horrible object which was all that remained of her brother Dan. She bent over it, raised a dirge-like cry, and wept bitterly. Dick Hart applied for the body of his brother, but was told he could not have it until after the post-mortem examination.

TUESDAY EVENING

Ned Kelly was brought to town to-day. Crowds assembled in the streets and in the vicinity of the gaol, but he was taken out at North Melbourne station, where the crowd was not so large, and taken in a covered conveyance to the gaol, where a large crowd awaited his arrival. His wounds are believed to be only flesh wounds, and Dr Ryan will extract the shot. It is believed that Dan Kelly and Hart shot themselves some time before the house was burned.

The boy Jones died in the Wangaratta hospital to- day. The girl is, however, progressing favourably. The boy Reardon is lying in a critical state, and is not expected to recover. Ned Kelly told Dr Evan that he did not believe Dan Kelly and Hart had the pluck to shoot each other, and that Byrne was the only man amongst them. The doctor believes that any ordinary man with Kelly's wounds would get over it; but Kelly, with such a vast amount on his mind, and a desire not to live, will probably not get over. Superintendent Hare will get well, if all goes on as well as at present.

The following additional particulars in reference to the capture of the gang have been received:-

BENALLA, TUESDAY NIGHT Shortly after 8 o’clock this morning a spring-cart emerged from the local police barracks, and was driven down the street at a slow pace. It was accompanied by eight armed policemen on foot, and the curiosity of the townspeople was naturally excited as to what the vehicle contained. A peep over the side showed that inside, on a stretcher, lay the wounded outlaw Ned Kelly, formerly the terror of the district. The police were conveying him to the railway station, and were all fully armed, lest any attempt might be made by sympathisers of the late gang to rescue him. On the arrival of the train Kelly was carried carefully to the guard's van, and laid on the floor.

Miss Lloyd, cousin of the outlaw, was the only relative present and as the train left she cried without restraint. It is understood here that Kelly has been conveyed to the hospital of the Melbourne gaol. Just before Ned Kelly was taken away from Benalla, senior-constable Kelly had a short interview with him in, his cell. The Senior-constable said, "Look here, Ned, now that it is all over, I want to ask you one question before you go, and that is, did you shoot constable Fitzpatrick, at Greta, when he went to arrest your brother?" The prisoner replied, “Yes, I did; I shot him in the wrist, and the statements which have been made that Fitzpatrick inflicted the wound himself are quite false." This, it will be seen, bears out the statement made by Fitzpatrick, and subsequently by Kelly's sisters. Of course it will be remembered that the shooting of Fitzpatrick was the original cause of Ned and Dan Kelly taking to the bush. The senior-constable also talked with the outlaw about the police murders. Ile told him that Mrs. Kennedy had telegraphed to know whether he had got a letter for her from her murdered husband. Ned Kelly replied that he had got no letter from sergeant Kennedy, and that Kennedy never uttered a word after he was brought down, except “God forgive you." “I shot him," continued the outlaw. "He kept firing all the time, running from tree to tree, and tried to kill Byrne until his ammunition was done."

continued

, .1. , .2. , .3. , .4. ,


 ! The text has been retyped from a microfiche copy of the original.

We have taken care to reproduce this document but areas of the original text may been damaged.

We also apologise for any typographical errors.