Last modified on 20 November 2015, at 22:04

The Argus at KellyGang 13/8/1880

(full text transcription)

TELEGRAPHIC DESPATCHES, VICTORIA

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT)

BENALLA, THURSDAY

Ned Kelly was brought from Beechworth to Wangaratta his morning in an open buggy, and afterwards passed through Benalla on his was to Melbourne by special train


Edward Kelly was transferred back to-day from the Beechworth to the Melbourne gaol.

He was secretly removed from the former at 8 o'clock in the morning, being handed over to the custody of Sub-inspector Baber and driven away in a cab. A special train had been ordered, and it was arranged that it should await the prisoner at Wangaratta. A spare engine was kept under steam at the Beechworth station, but it seemed to be merely used to deceive the sympathisers of the late gang. The cab containing the prisoner and three armed policemen was driven by Mr Baber out of town without being observed. On the Wangaratta road four mounted troopers joined the cab and whilst two of them were sent on ahead, the other two acted as a rear guard. In this order the party travelled at an easy pace along the road without halting once, and arrived in Wangaratta at 12 o'clock . They were met there by Superintendent Sadleir. The special train, which consisted of but an engine, tender, and van, having been brought to the platform, the prisoner was placed in the van. The train started at half past 12 , and making good time arrived at 5 o'clock at Newmarket station. Here the prisoner was removed to a cab and driven to the Melbourne gaol, where he was safely lodged. It may be mentioned that the full-length portrait of Kelly given in the last issue of The Sketcher is regarded by those who have seen him as a very striking likeness of the notorious outlaw. The prisoner has been committed for trial at Beechworth, but an application will be made for a change of venue so that be may be tried in Melbourne . The evidence given at the police court trial was collected and arranged by Sub-inspector Kennedy, of the Detective department.

Mounted-constable M'Intyre, the principal witness in the Kelly case, returned to Melbourne yesterday from Beechworth, and owing to a rather severe attack of pleurisy he has been sent to the police hospital at the Richmond Depot. Exposure to cold while doing duty in the corridors of Beechworth Gaol is the supposed cause of his illness.


THE TALLAROOK WILD MAN

It was arranged that the preliminary investigation of the charge of vagrancy against the man Henrich Neilson the Swede who was found to be the inhabitant of the caves at Tallarook, should be proceeded with at the Kilmore Police Court yesterday. When the case was called on, Constable Owens stated that as the police witnesses were engaged in the municipal elections, it was necessary for him to apply for a remand. The prisoner during his presence in court preserved a stolid appearance, and did not say a word. The remand was granted without comment. Mr T De Courcy Mead, solicitor, who was in court, caused some amusement by his remarks, which he made as amicus curiae.    

He pointed out that the prisoner was only charged with vagrancy, while it was alleged that he had in his possession a quantity of butter and a turkey. Probably the police did not consider that sufficient for his maintenance, but he might remark that if the prisoner were remanded for another week, neither would be in a fit state to produce in court. It now appears that the man Mullavey really discovered the cave and also arrested the man after he absconded. The man, it would appear, is simply a vagrant and a pilferer and it seems that he has subsisted by his petty larcenies for some years past. In fact, two years ago he inhabited a cave near Broadford. When arrested he had only a pair of trousers composed of multifarious patches and a Crimean shirt, but in his swag were many useful articles of clothing. He will be brought before the local police court on Thursday next, when the case will be fully investigated

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