The Age (16)

Whilst at Glenrowan this morning I met the railway guard, Dowsett, who distinguished himself by his bravery during the fight with Ned Kelly. He made me the following statement. My name is Jesse Dowsett. I left Benalla at five o'clock on Monday morning by the special train, which was sent for to convey more police to the fight. On arrival at Glenrowan found that the fight was going on, and the police and gang were still firing. I was armed with a Colt's breech loading revolver, and I rushed up to within 30 yards of the house. I heard Mrs Reardon in front of the house, and I called to her softly to come to the police. She came towards me and I caught hold of her, and as soon as I thought it safe I brought her to the railway station. I then got some more cartridges for my revolver from another guard, Archie McVie, and made the best of my way back from tree to tree, and joined a constable who was behind a tree close to the hotel. Before I joined him he challenged me, and I called out 'railway.' The firing after that became very warm. All the shots from the hotel came from the window in the back building. When it was daylight I all at once saw a strange figure at our back, about 150 yards away. I said, 'My God, what is that!' Senior constable Kelly, or some one else challenged him twice, and he replied by firing several shots in quick succession. He then steadily came on, as if it was his intention to go to the hotel. He then scattered for cover, and I made towards him. Ned Kelly (for it was he) fired a number of shots all round him and then he sat down by the side of a tree. I think he was then reloading. When he was in that position I called to Senior constable Kelly, 'Can't you hit him now?' Senior constable Kelly fired, and I said, 'You have hit the tree beside him.' Senior constable Kelly then fired again. The only portion of Ned Kelly them exposed was his hand. I saw that Senior constable Kelly had hit him on the hand, and I told him so. Ned Kelly rose from the tree and walked towards me. When he was within 12 or 15 yards of me I fired five or six charges straight at him. I heard the bullets scud off him, and he still continued walking. I then cried out to the others, 'That man must be the devil' When I said so he struck his helmet with the butt of his revolver, causing it to ring, and at the same time he said, 'You __ dogs , you can't shoot me.' I called out, 'He must be mad; he is ringing a bell to let us know where he is.' When he struck his helmet it made a ringing noise. Ned Kelly then came to the fork of the lying trees. I was standing behind the trunk. I said to him, 'You had better surrender; throw up your hands,' He replied, 'Never while I have a shot left.' I had then taken deliberate aim at him, saying. 'How do you like that, old man?' He was leaning against the log at that time, and at once stood up. He fired at me, and said, 'How do you like that, old man?' I then saw Sergeant Steele rush from the tree behind Kelly and run to, within fifteen yards of him. __He then fired twice at him, and Kelly dropped. Senior constable Kelly, myself and Sergeant Steele at once rushed on him. Steele seized him by the wrist, Kelly caught him by the head, and I laid hold of the revolver. The reporters then came up, and Senior constable Kelly removed the helmet. When he did so he remarked, 'By God, it is Ned Kelly.' Steele put his hand on his head and said, 'I have got you: I said I would be in at your death.' Kelly's armour was then taken off, and he was removed to the railway station.

A magisterial inquiry was held this day at Powell's Hotel, Benalla, on the body of Martin Sherry, who was shot at Glenrowan on Monday. He was 40 years of age and a single man.

Dr Nicholson stated that there was a bullet wound on the left side of the stomach. The wound must have ended fatally. Under the circumstances it must have caused death. After evidence had been given of the rescue of the deceased from the burning building

John Sadleir, superintendent of police, stationed at Benalla, deposed; I had had charge of the attacking party of police on Monday morning, at Glenrowan. The firing continued at intervals both from the hotel and by the police. It was not until the captives had made their escape from the hotel that I was made aware that deceased was lying wounded in the back kitchen. I then endeavoured to avoid the firing into this kitchen. In firing the main building it was arranged that deceased was to be rescued before the fire could reach him. I rushed up to the kitchen myself first. Saw Dixon and others lift out the body of deceased who was then alive. He died in a few minutes.

The following is the verdict:- 'That having heard the evidence given herewith touching the death of the deceased Martin Sherry. And having carefully considered the same, I find his death was caused by a gunshot wound received during the time he was a prisoner of the Kelly gang in Jones's Hotel, Glenrowan, on Monday last, and that no blame can be attached either to any member of the police force, or to any civilians who were firing at the Kelly gang and Jones's Hotel and kitchen.R McBean JP. After the inquest Sherry was buried quietly in the Benalla Cemetery.

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