Herald (35)
The Herald
10/08/1880
... part of the KellyGang story
' ' 'full text of the article'
Violence was offered to Mr Tennant. He has a hasty temper, and was going to have a fight in the forenoon, saying he would not see anybody lock him up, but he thought better of it. Prisoner treated us very well for all that.
To Mr Chomley: I last saw the rifle we had in the hands of Byrne. I don’t know what became of the fowling piece and ammunition. There was a bottle of whisky, and I don’t know what became of that. (Laughter) It was only a lemonade bottle full. (Renewed laughter)
Mr Gaunson: Had it been broached? (Laughter)
Witness: No; it was full.
Henry Dudley , ledger maker in the Government printing office, deposed: I know the last witness, and he and I and Casement, the farmer, were in the spring cart on the occasion referred to. Tenant was also of the party, and he was on horseback a little ahead. The prisoner Kelly came to us just as we were nearing the railway gate, and, presenting a revolver, said “The station is bailed up,“ Prisoner said “Where did you shake the horse and trap/ I was irritated and said “How dare you accuse gentlemen of stealing any horse and trap?” I told him I would report him to his superior officer, as I believed he was a policeman. He told me to hold my tongue, or he would blow my brains out. He took us to the home station. A Mr Stephens was standing at the gate, and he made him introduce him to us, saying “This gentleman don’t seem to understand or comprehend who I am.” He was introduced as Edward Kelly. We were put in the storeroom and prisoner paid us several visits. On one of these visits he produced a gold watch, which I took to be a double cased watch. He remarked that it was a fine watch, and I said it was. He said “That watch belonged to Kennedy.” same asking at the same time that, “Wasn’t in better of him to shoot the policeman than for them to shoot him and carry his body a mangled corpse to Mansfield?” He did not name the police he referred to. There was other conversation, but nothing to bear on this affair.
To Mr Gaunson: I have been in the Government service for 22 years. I am a family man. When I got back I made a statement to the newspapers. A Herald reporter first interviewed me. There was only one at first and afterwards I was somewhat sat upon by the other reporters. A Herald reporter met me at the railway station. Of course, in these cases people are not always ready to wait for intelligence. Other reporters came over to my private residence but I refused to give any information as I was tired of it. I have not been personally communicated with. I have not received a letter from the Government on the subject. Put your questions as straight forwardly as you like.
Mr Gaunson: My questions are for the purpose of ascertaining whether you have had any communication with the police in getting up this case.
Witness: Damn the police (Laughter) I have see if Mr Kennedy: he is. I may say, the person who subpoenaed me. I have received two subpoenas, but the first one was no good, and they had to give me another. The person who gave it to me handed it over and departed in peace. (Laughter) We had no discernible quarrel. (Renewed laughter) Mr Kennedy came to the Government printing office, and saw Mr McDougall first and he introduced him to me. I made my statement to Mr Kennedy, and he took it down in writing. I did not make it in the presence of Me McDougall. I was not allowed to do so. I wanted to do so, as, being an aged man, I thought McDougall would assist me and remind me of things. Mr Kennedy said that would not do, as he wanted my statement. I got a copy of my statement, and had it copied by my daughter, as I could not read the Government writing. I think I had a right to the copy. I am a rather a touchy customer. (Laughter) I think if it were not for my britableness I would have got on better with Mr Ned Kelly (Laughter) He would not have used me so roughly. We had been to the Strathbogie Ranges on a pleasure excursion.
Mr Caunson: Had you any Kangaroo skins in the cart?
Witness: Well, there comes in the joke: we had three tails and the hind part of a kangaroo in the cart at the time, and when we were stuck up we were talking about having a good feed.(Great laughter) We had had a drink at Dunning’s and thinking we were some distance from another house, I got some whisky in a sodawater bottle. It was for me; but when we got out trap back my whisky was gone. (Laughter) Even when Kelly told us he would blow our brains out I thought he was a policeman, and gave him a great deal of impudence – if you like to call it so – for the insult of his taking us for thieves.
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