The Argus at KellyGang 9/11/1880 (2)
A meeting of the Executive Council was held yesterday afternoon, at which the resolutions adopted by the meeting held at the Hippodrome on Friday night, and the petitions for the reprieve of the condemned man Kelly, were considered. It was resolved that the law should be allowed to take its course. The convict will accordingly be executed on Thursday morning as previously directed.
Fully a thousand idle persons collected in front of the Treasury buildings yesterday afternoon in the expectation of seeing some members of the Kelly family, and hearing the result of the petitions to the Governor for the reprieve of the condemned man. Shortly after 2 o'clock a cab containing Mr W Gaunson, Mr J P Caulfield, Kate Kelly, and Mrs Skillion drove up to the Treasury steps, and Mr Gaunson conducted the convict's two relations into a retiring room. Mr Gaunson then saw the Governor's aide-de-camp, and left with him for the presentation to His Excellency of the petitions for Kelly's reprieve which have been in course of signature during the last two or three days.
Mr Gaunson afterwards waited on the Chief Secretary, and informed him that the petitions contained 32,424 signatures and that he believed had the time been a little longer 500,000 signatures could have been obtained. The petitions are for the most part signed in pencil the handwriting being that of illiterate people. In a great number of cases the names of whole families are attached and in numerous instances whole pages of signatures have evidently been written by one person. The decision of the Executive that the law would take its course was received by the crowd outside without any expression of feeling whatever.
The execution of Edward Kelly will be as strictly private as the law directs. All applications for admission from the general public will be refused. The spectators are limited to the sheriff and officers of the gaol, a few magistrates and the representatives of the press. Various applications have been made to the Chief Secretary for permission to interview Kelly before his death including one on behalf of the widow of the late Sergeant Kennedy who is anxious to obtain information as to the whereabouts of the stolen watch and also as to whether her deceased husband left any message for her. Mr Berry has determined to refuse all such applications believing that they are not likely to serve any good object.
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