The Argus at KellyGang 6/12/1878

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THE POLICE MURDERS.

[BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH]

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT)

MANSFIELD , Thursday

Nothing is now being heard of the Kellys. Some suppose the police are on a good scent, while others say they are being drafted back to their districts. I believe the latter is a report spread for a purpose, and that many of the police are still on the alert. All the spare men are out of Mansfield, as are also the black trackers. The irrepressible "Wild" Wright appeared yesterday morning at court, in answer to a summons charging him with using abusive and threatening language to Constable Allwood Sunday evening, the 24th ult. Wright said – "I suppose I must plead guilty." Mr. Sub-inspector Pewtress said the language was used on Sunday evening just as people were going to church, and without the slightest provocation. He considered Wright an overgrown larrikin who seemed to take a delight in keeping the town in a state of terror. He used many threats to the police, such as "making them kiss the dust." Mr. Pewtress hoped the Bench would fine him, and bind him over to keep the peace also. Constable Allwood saw Wright about 7 o'clock on Sunday evening, the 24th November, in High- street, and heard him speaking in a loud tone to a crowd of people around him, and went to him just as some person told him the police were coming, when Wright said to him, "If you want to lock me up, I will go over to the — — lockup. If I had you outside the town, I would make all the — — police lick the dust." Constable Strachan corroborated the evidence of Allwood, and said no provocation was given whatever. Wright said he admitted he was guilty, and that no provocation was given. He could not deny anything that had been said against him, because he did not know what he was saying. Mr Pewtress wished to remark that the reports which appeared to the effect that the search party had arrived at this time, and that Wright defied all the police, was wrong, as the additional police did not reach Mansfield until some time after   the occurrence. The Bench thought the offence was a serious matter, and fined the defendant £1, and also ordered him to be bound over to keep the peace for six months, himself in £40 and a surety (approved by the   police) in £20. The father of the defendant became the surety. The Bench clearly pointed out to the defendant the result, should another breach of the law be committed.

WAHGUNYAH, Thursday

Information reached here to day that four men stole a boat from the puntman at Yarrawonga, 10 miles from here, and crossed the river. The puntman states that on hearing the noise of oars he went out from his house at half- past 12 (midnight), and saw four men in his boat. He challenged them, and they turned the head of the boat down stream. The puntman then ran inside and brought out a gun, ran after the men, and challenged again. The men in the boat then turned towards the Victorian side. The puntman fired two shots at them, and then lost sight of the boat in the darkness of the night. He then gave information to the police, and a search was instituted at daylight this morning, when tracks of men landing on the New South Wales side were found and followed by five police. The men who took the boat are supposed to be Kelly's gang. The Kellys have relations about Yarrawonga who are supposed to have connived at their escape. Whether it was the Kellys or not who crossed, it is certain that the boat was stolen temporarily, and four men crossed into New South Wales without the permission of the owner, and without answering when fired at.      


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