Kilmore Free Press at KellyGang 2/9/1880
ANOTHER GANG OF BUSHRANGERS
Beechworth Tuesday
Since the trial of the outlaw, Edward Kelly, rumors have been freely circulated to the effect that the friends and sympathisers of the Greta outlaws did not intend to allow the Glenrowan affair to pass over without some attempt being made to take vengeance on the police for the wholesale destruction that took place that memorable morning. Indeed, it has been said, that another and more effective gang of bushrangers had been formed, and a suitable opportunity was only waited for to induce them to take to the bush. Little attention appears to have been paid to the rumours. The removal of Ned Kelly to Melbourne caused the excitement to die out, and as the sympathisers of the defunct gang have long since returned to their homes in the neighborhood surrounding Benalla, the matter had almost been forgotten.
This quietude was rudely broken this evening by the receipt of intelligence that another gang of bushrangers had taken to the bush, and had commenced operations by sticking up a farmhouse on the Chiltern road, about ton riles from Beechworth. Owing to the lateness of the hour at which the intelligence came to hand, and the reticence of the police.
I have not been able to obtain complete particulars of the occurrence, but; briefly told, the following appears to be the facts:- Shortly after midday, a young man attired in bush riding dress, and mounted on a flash horse, rode up to a small farm house, on the Chiltern road, about ten miles from here, occupied by a splitter named Hester, and his wife, and presenting a revolver at Mrs Hester, demanded that she should hand him over whatever money she had in the house. Being frightened by the revolver, Mrs Hester could do no more than indicate where the money was kept, and the man at once took possession of it. Seeing Hester's gun standing in the corner of the room, the bushranger at once appropriated it, and after obtaining what ammunition there was in the place, he coolly mounted his horse, which he had tied up near the door, and rode rapidly into the dense bush which surrounds the hut.
He appeared to go in the direction of the Woolshed, where Mrs Byrne lives, and near where, it will be remembered, the, unfortunate man, Aaron Sherrit, was shot. When Hester arrived home his wife informed him of what had taken place, and he at once came into Beechworth and informed the police of the occurrence. Senior-constable Mullane and a posse of troopers at once started for the scene, accompanied by Detective Ward one or two volunteers, but up to the present nothing has been heard of.
It is supposed that the man who stuck up Hester's house is one of a gang of bushrangers who, have taken, or are about to take, to the bush, and it is thought that they awaited his return in the neighborhood of the Woolshed. Whether this surmise be correct or not cannot now be ascertained, .but, there is every reason to believe that there is more in the affair than appears on the face of it.
The identity of the man is not known, but the description which has been given to the police is such as to warrant the suspicion that he is not altogether unknown in this district.
The country around the scene of the occurrence is extremely dense, and wild, and as easy access is obtainable to the Pilot and other ranges in the neighbourhood, it would be extremely difficult, under the most favourable circumstances, to trace anything or any body.-- Telegraph.
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