The True Story of the KellyGang of Bushrangers Chapter 11 page 2

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In the meantime Dan Kelly had entered the private apartments attached to the bank by the back door, and was keeping guard to ensure that no one should leave the house. All the prisoners were searched for arms. Mr Scott was told that he must summon his wife and family and servants, and when he had done this, they, with the two clerks, were all put in the passage, under the eye of Dan Kelly and the muzzles of his revolvers. Ned Kelly, going out to the hawker’s cart, brought from it a gunny bag, into which he shovelled all the money found in the teller’s drawers, and the safe, mixing notes, gold, and silver pell mell together. The total amount secured amounted to nearly £2,000—£1,500 in notes and the balance in sovereigns and silver, in addition to which there were thirty ounces of gold dust. Kelly was very much disappointed at the smallness of his plunder, and told Scott he had expected to find at least £10,000 in the bank. At first he threatened to carry away or burn the bank books, bills, securities, &c., but Scott persuaded him that this would do him no good, and finally he consented to leave them alone. The Scott household, in addition to the manager and other officers, consisted of Mrs Scott, seven children, and two servants, who were all in the power of the bushrangers, and wondering what was to be done with them. They suffered no violence or indignity of any kind, but were told by Ned Kelly that they must get ready immediately for a drive to Faithfull’s. Mrs Scott seems to have been in no way alarmed by her meeting with the bushrangers, but, on the contrary, to have almost enjoyed the excitement of it, and she even chaffed Ned Kelly about his personal appearance, telling him that he was much more handsome and well dressed man than she had expected, and by no means the ferocious ruffian she imaged him to be. These compliments evidently had a soothing effect on Ned Kelly’s temper. He told Mr Scott to put the horse into his (Mr Scott’s) buggy, as, in addition to the outlaws’ conveyances, it would be wanted to accommodate the large household from the bank. Mr Scott refused, saying his groom was out, and telling Kelly if he wanted the trap, to harness the horse himself. This was not at all the kind of language to which Kelly was accustomed from his prisoners, but Mrs Scott’s flattery had induced a forgiving spirit in him, and accordingly he graciously consented to be his own groom.

The outlaws and the banker took a glass of whiskey together, Kelly, as precautionary measure, making Mr Scott drink first, and very soon afterwards a start was made for Faithfull’s Creek. Hart rode as before; Kelly with Mr Scott and the plunder in the hawker’s cart brought up the rear. Mrs Scott in front of him drove her husband’s buggy and some of the children, and Dan Kelly, with Casement’s cart and more of the household, led the way. A short distance from Euroa the funeral party before mentioned was met returning from the cemetery, and the bushrangers, getting their revolvers ready, gave an emphatic warning to their prisoners against attempting to make any sign. They were most obedient. None of the funeralists appeared to notice the vehicles or their passengers, and they soon passed one another. On the way to the station Ned Kelly talked freely to Mr Scott. He told him something of the police murders, showed him Kennedy’s watch, and told him in a friendly way that he had narrowly escaped by being shot by Steve Hart for want of promptitude in putting up his hands and disrespect to himself, Ned Kelly, when the outlaws first entered the office. During the journey one of the horses in Kelly’s vehicle fell, and a halt was made while the outlaws got out to put the horse on his feet and see to the harness, but without any other incident Faithfull’s Creek was reached before dark.

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This document gives you the text of the report about the KellyGang for this day. The text has been retyped from a copy of the original. We have taken care to reproduce this document but areas of the original text may been damaged. We also apologise for any typographical errors. This document is subject to copyright.

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