The Argus at KellyGang 30/10/1880
Editorial
The end of the Mansfield tragedy, which occurred exactly two years ago, has now been nearly reached, inasmuch as the leader and the sole survivor of the gang by whom the police were slaughtered, was yesterday found guilty of murder, and was sentenced to death. There is always a fear that justice may miscarry through a blunder at law, or through the perverseness of a juryman, and, therefore, it is satisfactory to find that a verdict was arrived at without hesitation. There are many other circumstances on which society is to be congratulated. The Mansfield party might all have been murdered, as were the four constables who set out in 1867 to apprehend the notorious Clarks of New South Wales . The two criminals in question surprised and shot down their pursuers, and they afterwards cut the throat of an accomplice (the third man of the party) who they feared would betray them, and for this particular offence they could not be brought to justice. The escape of Constable McIntyre enabled the Mansfield crime to be sheeted home. It is also well that one of the gang, at last, should undergo a public trial and a death upon the scaffold, if for no other reason than that an opportunity has been afforded for the delivery of a judgement by Sir Redmond Barry , which will be read by all men, and which cannot be too much taken to heart by many. One passage we cannot forbear quoting. It is that in which his Honour calls upon the foolish and the thoughtless to consider and reflect upon what the life of a felon is:-
“A felon who has cut himself off from all the decencies, all the affections, charities, and all the obligations of society, is as helpless and degraded as a wild beast of the field. He has nowhere to lay his head, he has no one to prepare for him the comforts of life, he suspects his friends, he dreads his enemies, he is in constant alarm lest his pursuers should reach him, and his only hope is that he might use his life in what he considers a glorious struggle for existence. That is the life of the outlaw or felon, and it would be well for those young men who are so foolish as to consider that it is brave of a man to sacrifice the lives of his fellow-creatures in carrying out his own wild ideas, to see that it is a life to be avoided by every possible means, and to reflect that the unfortunate termination of such a life is a miserable death.”
This is the moral of the story. The Kelly gang met with extraordinary success. Between four and five thousand pounds came into their possession, and for a long time they were able to defy the police. Yet they never had a place to sleep in, and when the end came, the survivor had not a penny to fee counsel for his defence, but had to cast himself upon the charity of the Crown. He lived miserably, but associates fattened upon him. So it always is. What the story also illustrates is the terrible responsibility cast upon parents―for the whole secret of Kelly’s career is contained in the fact that when he was brought to the Melbourne Gaol to be tried for his life, he found there his mother. He was allowed by his parents to live a common thief, and he dies a murderer. It is now evident that no gang, however well armed, however desperate, and however fortunate, can escape the steady pursuit of the officers of justice, and with the execution of Edward Kelly we may hope will close the history of organised bushranging in Australia .
The trial of Edward Kelly for the murder of Constable Lonigan was continued before his Honour Sir Redmond Barry yesterday morning, at the Central Criminal Court. The court was again crowded, as were also the precincts of the building, and towards the end of the case there was an extensive crush of persons anxious for a glimpse at the notorious prisoner. The evidence was completed by luncheon time, and when the Court resumed sitting in the afternoon, Mr C A Smyth addressed the jury for the crown, reviewing the evidence which had been adduced. Mr Bindon addressed them on behalf of the prisoner, and his Honour having delivered his charge, the jury retired to consider their verdict. The latter returned at the expiry half an hour, and announced that they found the prisoner guilty of murder. On being asked if he had any statement to make, Kelly, speaking in a mild undertone, said that he was sorry he had not examined the prisoners himself, as he alone understood the case properly. His honour the sentenced the prisoner to death, and info rmed him that he need cherish no hope of reprieve. Whilst he was passing the sentence, the prisoner interrupted him frequently, taking exception to the views expressed by his honour of his character and his career. The only relative of the prisoner present was his cousin, Kate Lloyd, who was accompanied by another girl named McAuliffe. As the felon was being removed to the gaol, they bade him good-bye, but nothing in the form of a scene occurred. On reaching the gaol Kelly was placed in irons and confined in the condemned cell.
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