The Argus at KellyGang 12/11/1880 (2)
Editorial
The outgoing mail will convey the intelligence that at length the colony has seen the last of the band of ruffians that went by the name of the “Kelly gang."
It will be remembered that in June last three of these murderers met their fate at Glenrowan, where at last they were brought to bay by the police, and yesterday, EDWARD KELLY, the moving spirit of the atrocious fraternity, who was taken prisoner when his more fortunate comrades were shot, paid the penalty of his crimes upon the scaffold. For a long time it seemed as though Sergeant KENNEDY'S party, who were shot down by these criminals in cold blood, would go unavenged. The country in which the offenders had their haunts was so difficult as to be almost inaccessible; while one half of the inhabitants was composed of sympathisers, and the other of persons rendered dumb by terrorism.
The police seemed entirely at fault. They had the assistance of detectives and black trackers, and— judging by the sum expended—an almost unlimited command of money. It was all, however, to no purpose. In vain were the culprits outlawed, and heavy rewards offered for their apprehension; they appeared to bear charmed lives, and to draw upon the favours of Fortune at pleasure. Now and again they broke cover in unexpected places, and startled the colony by their boldness and address as thieves, but before the constabulary could come up with them, they were back in their mountain fastnesses, carrying with them plunder wherewith to reward the exertions and fidelity of then friends. Of course they soon became heroes in the eyes of the criminal population throughout the colonies, and there is too much reason to fear that hundreds of weak-minded or vicious youths, who had not at that time come within the clutches of the law, enrolled themselves amongst their admirers. The long continued immunity the ruffians enjoyed afforded these people the greatest gratification, and, owing to the length of time which elapsed with- out anything being heard of their whereabouts, many indulged the hope that they had managed to pass into some of the other colonies, and to make their escape by sea. But all this time the men of whom justice was in pursuit were living the lives of hunted wild beasts, while the toils of fate were slowly being drawn around them.
Those who are inclined to regard the criminal career of these miserable creatures with a feeling almost amounting to envy, would do well to study the revelations made concerning their mode of life during the time they were in hiding. Anything more wretched and less heroic can hardly be imagined. They were driven about from one lair to another, in all sorts of weather, haunted by the fear that the avenger was on their track, and never knowing how soon the price set upon their heads would tempt some seeming friend to betray them. They scarcely dared light a fire to warm themselves or cook their food, lest the smoke should betray their camps. At last, growing weary of this weary death, they became reckless, and determined on the grand coup which led to their destruction.
What was the exact object that took them to Glenrowan after the murder of SHERRITT will never be known. They had plenty of time to regain their haunts before a constabulary force could arrive from Melbourne, but they neglected the opportunity. They tempted fortune once too often, and in endeavouring to wreck the police train, they put a sudden termination to a long course of crime. Punishment was long delayed, but it came at last, and this is the fact which people who are deluded by what they consider the romance of crime would do well to remember.
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