OUTLAWRY BILL
The Ministry propose to bring the Outlawry Bill into operation without an hour’s unnecessary delay. A meeting of the Executive Council will be held this morning, at which the bill will receive the Governor’s assent. The Chief Secretary had several interviews with the Chief Commissioner of Police yesterday with a view of satisfying himself that nothing is being left undone to apprehend the Mansfield murderers.
The Legislative Council had only a short sitting yesterday, but they disposed of all the business on the paper. The Outlawry Bill, to facilitate the apprehension of the police murderers, was received from the Legislative Assembly, and passed through all its stages with applause, the only remarks made being a few explanatory observations on the first reading. The various bills which had passed through committee during the week were advanced another stage, and the Council adjourned at a quarter-past 5 o’clock until Wednesday next.
KENNEDY
The feelings of horror and indignation excited by the crimes of Kelly and his associates were intensified yesterday when it became known that the body of Sergeant Kennedy had been found, pierced by bullets. The particulars of this new phase of the tragedy are given elsewhere. According to a telegram received from the police at Chiltern, the murderers are endeavouring to escape into New South Wales . They have stuck up a man, it is reported, at a place on the Murray nearly opposite Howlong, and are supposed to be waiting an opportunity to cross the river.
THE POLICE MURDERS
' FINDING OF SERGEANT KENNEDY’S BODY.'
A general feeling of regret was expressed throughout the city yesterday afternoon when it became known that any hopes which had been entertained with regard to the safety of the missing Sergeant Kennedy had been dispelled by the discovery of the dead body of the unfortunate officer. The melancholy intelligence was brought into Mansfield between 1 and 2 o’clock yesterday, by a search party under the direction of Inspector Pewtress and Mr Tomkins, the president of the shire. Many conjectures had been made as to the probable fate of the missing sergeant, but while a general impression appeared to gain ground amongst the people in the locality that Edward Kelly and his band of Marauders had taken Kennedy with them to the King River, scarcely anybody ventured to do more than hope that the gallant officer, who appears to have been ruthlessly shot, had not been murdered.
The worst fears, however, have at length been realised, and the desperadoes have added another diabolical deed to their atrocious crimes. From the particulars telegraphed by our correspondent it appears that the search party, consisting of 16 volunteers and five constables, arrived at Stringy-bark Creek at half-past 7 o’clock on Thursday morning, and renewed the search. Shortly afterwards their labours were rewarded by one of the volunteers named Henry Sparrow, an overseer at the Mount Battery Station, finding Sergeant Kennedy’s body within half a mile of the camp where Constables Scanlan and Lonergan received their death wounds.
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