Sydney Morning Herald (28)

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(full text transcription)
ACCIDENTS AND OFFENCE

Since our last summary was published the colony has suffered a raid from" gang of Victorian bushrangers. This gang is four in number, and consists of two brothers named Kelly and two men named respectively Byrne and Hart. All are implicated in the, murders of several policemen,viz Victoria and- outlawed. Large rewards have been offered for their-capture, but, having taken, to some mountains in Victoria, they have, so, far, escaped the vigilance of the police. In this instance, however, it is supposed that they have been closely pursued by the Victorian police, and came into New South Wales in order to raise money to satisfy the claims of those who harbour them and supply them with provisions.

This raid against Jerilderie has taken every person by surpriise, because it was not anticipated that, they would cross the border and run the risk of entering country they were, not acquainted with. However, they came and carried out their plans to perfection. Their object seemed only to secure money, but Ned Kelly, one of their number, made an address to some of the people of Jerilderie, in which he claimed sympathy for being harrassed by the Victorian police, and attempted to justify the first violent outrages of which he and his companions were guilty. Their first enterprise at Jerilderie was to bail up the police there for two days. After they accomplished this, they dressed in policemen's uniforms, and thus disguised and accompanied by a constable they stuck up the Royal Hotel. Here, they civilly treated every person they met, but imprisoned all, all who went into the house. Having done this, Ned Kelly, the leader of the gang, proceeded to the Bank of New South Wales where he abstracted about £2000. The telegraph operators in the town were locked up and the telegraph wires cut, so that it was some time before news of the affair got abroad. Having secured what money they requited the gang stole some horses and saddlery and some watches, and now, they have gone, no person knows where.

A question arose here as to whether the gang could be considered out laws in this colony. Sir Henry Parkes, the Premier, without answering this point directly, stated in the Assembly that the case had been considered in all its phases, and that everything would be done to vindicate the outraged law. Since then nothing has been heard of the gang, but Mr Fosbery, the superintendent of police here, with a view to prevent further incursions by them, has despatched additional detachments of police to the frontier. Shortly after this episode a bushranger stuck up a hawker near Wagga, and succeeded in getting away with some valuable goods. The hawker, who is named Stone showed considerable pluck over the affair, grappling with the ruffian and wresting a revolver from him. When the bushranger ran away Stone fired at him twice but, unfortunately without effect. After this he became exhausted, out some good Samaritans passed his wav and had him carried in a vehicle to North Wagga. Here information if the affair was given to the police, and shortly afterwards Sergeant Vizzard and two mounted troopers went in chase of the bushranger. They found him disposing of some jewellery he had taken, and of course arrested him. The police here frequently distinguish themselves in capturing bushrangers, and now numbers of them are volunteering to go in search of the Kelly gang.


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