Herald at KellyGang - 8/8/1880 (6)

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(see previous)

James Gloster , a draper, residing at Seymour, was next called. He said: I am in the habit of sometimes hawking drapery. ????? On that day I was out hawking. Frank Beecroft, a man in my employ, was with me. We intended camping at Faithful Creek Station that night; and, after unharnessing our two horses, went to the station for the purpose of getting some hot water to make tea. I got the water, and was leaving to go to the dray again when I was called on to come back. I had been previously told that the Kellys were there, but did not believe it. When I was called on to come back I did not obey, but went back to my waggon, late which I got for the purpose of getting my pistols. The prisoner and another man came up as I was in the waggon, and each pointed a revolver at me. The prisoner told me to get out of the waggon. He had a revolver in one hand and a pair of hand cuffs in the other hand. I got out of the waggon and sat down close by, and proceeded to get my supper. The prisoner was close by me and the other man also. Prisoner said, “I have a good mind to put a bullet through you for not obeying.” I did not know at the time that they were the Kellys, and was annoyed at the interferences. He said, “It is a very easy thing of me to pull the trigger if you do not keep a civil tongue in your head.” I said, “Who are you, and what are you?” He replied, “I am Ned Kelly, son of Ned Kelly, and a better man never stood in two shores.” I said, “Well, if you are I suppose it is no use resisting.” He said, “If you keep a civil tongue in your head you will take no harm. You were nearer being shot then any man here.” He asked me, “If I had any fire arms, and I did not carry firearms for sale. He said. “I know you have a pistol, and if you don’t give it to me I will burn the waggon down.” Under the circumstances I thought it better to give it to him, and did so. After my man and I had finished our suppers prisoner said, “You had better go into the kitchen,” and we went there. Besides Kelly and the man who was with him at my wagon, there were two other armed men there. Each man, I think, carried a gun and a revolver. We were taken from the kitchen to the hut known as the store. There were a number of other persons there. We were locked up. The prisoner kept guard over us. He told us to make ourselves comfortable for the night. I could not sleep, as the prisoner talked to me a good deal. We had been asking him questions, and Kelly said in reference to the murder of the police on the Wombat Ranges. “I did all the shooting, and the others were not guilty of murder. The people and the papers call me murderer, but I never murdered anyone in my life.” I said, “How about Sergeant Kennedy?” and he said, “I killed him in fair stand-up fight,” and he argued that that was not murder; that a man killing his enemy was not a murderer. He said that the police were his natural enemies. He described the manner of the death of Kennedy. He said that after the conflict with Lonigan. Kennedy appeared on the scene. I don’t recollect the exact words he used. He proceeded to say that Kennedy and he were firing at each other. Kennedy retreated from tree to tree. Two of Kennedy’s shot were very close. One went through his (Kellys) waistcoat, and the other through the sleeve of his coat, he said they must have been very good shots. He followed Kennedy and Kennedy turned as he thought to fire again. Kennedy raised his arm as if to fire, when he (Kelly) fired again, hitting Kennedy under the arm pit. Kelly and Kennedy then fell. In a subsequent conversation during the night he said he had a long conversation with Kennedy while he was wounded, and, as they wanted to leave the ground they did not like to leave him in a dying state, and so to end his misery, he (the prisoner) shot him and, as he respected Sergeant Kennedy, he covered the body over with a cloak, and left him. In course of conversation, addressed to some one else, he described the death of Lonigan. I overheard that conversation. He said that M’Intyre surrendered, but that Lonigan ran to a log, and was attempting to fire, when he (prisoner) fired, and hitting him in the head killed him. He said it was a pity Lonigan did not surrender, that he did not wish to kill him, but only to take the arms. That is about all I heard in reference to the murders. I do not recollect anything being said about the shooting of Scanlan. Prisoner said that since he had commenced business he had stolen upward of 250 horses himself, and if the police had taken him for anything of that sort he would not have grumbled. He said that when a man once did anything wrong the police would not let him alone. He did not pay me for the revolver and clothing he took from me. The revolver was worth £3 5s, and the clothing about £13 or £14.

The court at quarter to 1 adjourned for an hour.

ANOTHER APPLICATION FOR A PRIVATE INTERVIEW REFUSED

In reply to a second telegram to the Chief Secretary, asking him to reconsider his decision not to allow Mrs Skillian to see Kelly. Mr Gaunson has just received the following message:-

“Your second telegram received, but under all the circumstances the case I must decline to vary the order of my predecessor in offices. – Graham Berry”

Kelly’s demeanor in court is as collected as ever. He almost laughed outright when his hanging was referred to in the evidence this morning. He is Bedford cord trousers, supposed to be taken from Mr Tarleton at Jerilderie.

end

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