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The Melbourne Daily Telegragh (3)

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AN APPEAL TO NED KELLY

When Kelly lay on the door in the railway van, Inspector Sadlier appealed to him to send some signal to his comrades and spare further bloodshed, but he replied, “I cannot; they will never give up, and you cannot take them alive."

Inspector Sadlier: Now, Ned, 1 know you can influence those foolish fellows if you like to do so, come, give them some signal, and put an end to this.

Ned Kelly : Oh no, they will not give up. They au have armour on, and you can’t take them.

Inspector Sadlier: 1 do not speak for ourselves, but for the lives of innocent men and women who have been taken to the house.

Ned Kelly: 1 cant help that. The boys won't give up.

Reporter: How came you out of the house Ned ?

Ned Kelly : I have not been in the house since the special train came. I heard you coming. and went down to meet you. I could have shot you, but I didn't. When I saw the engine stop down in the cutting, I went up close to you, and had a look, but you put the lights out, and as you moved slowly on, I came ahead, and walked up the station platform just before the train arrived. I went round the station and over to Jones’s, where I stood. and saw the men come, over.

Reporter: But you ran after the first volley

Ned Kelly : I didn't run away. I was shot in the foot in the first volley, and in the am arm,. and I wanted the boys to go with me. I thought they would follow, and got on my mare and rode quietly up along the fence over the hill, and as they did not come, I turned back.

Reporter: Your resolving was found stuck in the earth on the side of the hill.

Ned Kelly : Yes, I could have got away if I wanted; but I wouldn't leave the boys.

Reporter: Are they in the house now?

Ned Kelly: 1 think so. Byrne is hurt. but they cannot hurt the others they have amour.

Reporter: It did you little good. Come, Ned , why don't you comply with Mr Sadlier ’s request, and send the boys a signal to give up.

Ned Kelly : Don't ask me. They will never give up.'

SEARCHING THE OUTLAW

The duty of searching the outlaw was entrusted to Senior-constable Kelly , who only found a tlireepenny piece, a silver watch, and a few chains on him. On asking the outlaw what he did with Kennedy ’s watch, he said that he wouldn't tell.

THE ARMOUR

The armour which the outlaw wore weighed 1cwt. exactly, and consisted of six plates of 1/4in. steel, manufactured from ploughshares stolen from the farmers around Greta . On the armour there were eight perceptible bullet marks on the breastplate, five on the helmet, three on the shoulders, and nine on the back plate. These were mostly all deep dents in the steel plates.

THE SCENE

The scouts kept up an occasional fire on the hotel until about 1 o'clock, when an order was given that if all the persons in the house did not come out they would be fired upon, and immediately about twenty or twenty-five boys and young and old men ran out, holding hands up in the air, to where the scouts were posted behind trends for fear of treachery. On coming close to the scouts the prisoners were made lie on their faces and hands, and they were called away one by one and released. Their terror was most abject, and it is not to be surprised at, seeing that they were lying on their faces all day expecting death every minute. Two lads named M’Auliff were arrested from this batch for being associates.

KELLY's WOUNDS

On examination, it was discovered that Ned Kelly had sustained seventeen wounds, only two of which, however, are looked upon as likely to result seriously. These are in the arm and thigh, where the bullets still remain, the doctor having been unable to probe them Ned Kelly’s condition is a precarious one, and he is not expected to recover. He expresses a hope that he mall not.

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