The Argus at KellyGang 13/12/1878 (6)
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT)
ALEXANDRA, Thursday Night
All sorts of rumours are afloat here about the Kelly gang. Most people expect them every day. Several suspicious looking characters have been seen in the district lately, most likely spies or confederates. A few days ago a farmer residing near Alexandra, was crossing the Black Range, near Gobur, and was accosted by a stranger on horseback, who, after making some comments on various subjects, began talking about Kelly's gang, and finally made inquiries about the number of police in Gobur and Alexandra, at the same time saying it would be hard for the Kelly's to go down that way if they wished. The stranger then asked his companion to exchange horses and on the latter refusing said he could easily compel him to do so, but at the present he would not. The strange horseman then rode away in a different direction, and allowed the other to proceed on his journey unmolested. Several rumours are current tonight about the near proximity of the Kelly's and their mates to Alexandra, but not much reliance can be placed on the reports, though it is not at all unlikely they will pay a visit to this district very shortly. It was reported to night that they were seen about 13 miles from here yesterday and that a man was stuck up by them but the report at present cannot be relied on at least till fuller particulars come to hand.
SERGEANT KENNEDYS LAST MOMENTS.
[BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.]
(From Our Own Correspondent.)
MANSFIELD , Thursday
The means by which the following account was obtained I am compelled in honour to keep secret, but I place every reliance upon the source from whence it came. One portion of the sad narrative is confirmed from the fact that when the remains of Sergeant Kennedy were discovered there were found near him some sheets of writing paper, fastened together with a small paper binder, with three leaves torn from it, and upon the missing leaves it is sup- posed the letter was written to his wife. It has since been proved that this paper was bought in Mansfield by the late Sergeant Kennedy previous to starting on the fatal expedition, The particulars given below were related by Kelly himself personally to a confederate some time after the murders were committed, whose name I cannot reveal. The following is the account referred to: -
M'Intyre's evidence as given in the Mansfield Guardian is in the main, pretty correct. Upon seeing M'Intyre gallop away, Kennedy continued to fire at us without effect as we sheltered ourselves. We let him fire about five shots from his revolver, he remaining nearly in the one position, and standing. A shot was fired by one of my mates, after which he started to run, followed by my brother and myself. After running about a quarter of a mile, and apparently seeing no chance of escape, as we were making upon him with our weapons, Kennedy got behind a tree, and as I came within pistol shot he fired his last remaining charge. As I saw him leveling fair at my head, I suddenly fell on my knees, and as I did so I heard the bullet whiz just over my head.
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