Difference between revisions of "The Argus at KellyGang 13/9/1881"

Latest revision as of 22:04, 20 November 2015

CHARGES AGAINST JAMES KELLY AND “WILD WRIGHT"

[BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH]

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT)

BEECHWORTH, MONDAY

At the local police court to-day, before Mr Foster, PM, James Kelly, a brother of the late notorious bushrangers, and Isaiah Wright, better known as "Wild Wright," were brought up on remand to answer a charge of having stolen two horses, the property of Mr PR Burke, a resident of this district. Inspector Montfort conducted the prosecution, and Mr Zincke appeared for the prisoners.

The circumstances connected with the arrest of the prisoners were narrated by the apprehending constables, after which Constable Gascoigne deposed that on the 21st August he saw two strange horses near the Railway Hotel, about a mile from Glenrowan, and about an hour and a half after wards he met the prisoners on horse-back. The constable accosted them, and after vainly endeavouring to procure drinks, the prisoners rode off into the bush. When they had proceeded a short distance, Kelly fired four shots from a revolver into the scrub, and challenged the constable to "come on." Gascoigne went towards them, but they put their horses into a canter, and rode off.

Henry Lambert , a farmer residing at Seven-mile Creek, detailed portions of a conversation which he had with the prisoners on the same day with reference to two horses which they asserted were straying near his place. This witness told the prisoners that they would probably find the horses at the railway gate, and after their departure the horses disappeared from the neighbourhood.

A lad named Costin, living at the railway gate, near Glenrowan, deposed that he saw the prisoners catch two of three horses near the gate, and ride away with them.

Constable Leahy, stationed at Greta, Mr Michael Clancy, of King River, and Mr Hiram Harrocks, of Eldorado, each stated that they had seen the three horses in the possession of the prisoners, while another witness detailed a conversation which he had held with Kelly on the verandah of Martell's Hotel at Eldorado, in which the latter stated that be had just come down from Queensland with Wright on a cattle droving expedition, and that they were returning to that colony.

After hearing the evidence of 13 witnesses, the Bench committed both prisoners for trial at the next Beechworth assizes, to be held on the 14 the October next. An application for bail was refused.

The charge against Kelly of having unlawful weapons in his possession was with drawn by the police.