The Argus at KellyGang 13/12/1878 (4)
Euroa Robbery
The gang do their work so thoroughly that nothing is left to chance, for when the bank clerks put their arms up as ordered, Ned Kelly made sure they had no firearms by passing his hands over their clothes before he allowed them to put their arms down. A remark made by Ned Kelly proves that he was a little disappointed at the comparatively small sum he obtained from the bank. He said he fully expected to get about £10,000. This remark of his of course strengthens the belief that many persons have that if they are not captured very shortly another bank robbery will soon be heard of. In addition to the notes and gold carried away, it is stated that a number of valuable securities and title deeds were also taken. Mr Scott, the manager, asked Ned to give them up, as they would be of no use to him but this he refused to do, and at the same time announced his intention of burning them. Mr Scott then asked particularly for one which he named. Ned Kelly gave a rough glance through the mass of notes and papers, which were all mixed up together in the sack he was carrying, but as he could not put his hand on it at once, he said it was too much trouble to find it amongst so many documents and refused to look for it any more.
From the systematic manner in which Ned Kelly set about destroying the telegraph wires, in order to put an end to all communication with Benalla, the head quarters of the police, it is evident he had most carefully studied the subject, so as to do the greatest amount of damage in the least possible time. Immediately facing the home station the road leads under the railway. At one of the poles a few yards above the culvert, the four wires were cut. A length of about 50 yards was then cut out of one of the wires and the remaining three were carried under the culvert twisted up in the form of a cable, and several knots tied in them, the ends being then carried down to the nearest post below the culvert, and the piece of wire they cut off twisted about the whole mass. The single line belonging to the Railway department was rendered useless by merely destroying the insulator and letting the wire fall to the ground.
The line repairer, who was sent down from Benalla, to see what was the cause of the interruption, had no anticipation of finding such a complicated job, and when the train which dropped him at the spot had proceeded on its journey, he at once saw it would be necessary to obtain assistance, and with that object in view he walked towards the homestead.
It was there that he was bailed up by Byrne, who had been left in charge of the prisoners while Ned Kelly and his confederates proceeded to the bank. When the gang returned to the station and Ned Kelly was informed of the new prisoner, he called him out and made several inquiries of him. He asked the number of police in Benalla, and was informed that there were a few there. Kelly then told him that he considered he had done a fine thing in cutting the wires, and that if he attempted to repair them that day he would make sure of him on some future occasion by blowing his brains out. It is also said that when Kelly returned from robbing the bank he was so elated at his success that he gave them some specimens of his horsemanship, and they all agree in saying that he is a splendid horseman.
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