The Argus at KellyGang 16/12/1878 (6)
The KellyGang was every where
On Saturday morning an old woman who resides on the outskirts of Euroa informed the police in a great state of excitement that Ned Kelly had been at her place during the previous night, but on investigation it proved that the sole foundation for the statement was that a man had called at her hut and asked for a box of matches, and in the course of conversation had a great deal to say about the doings of the Kellys. There is not the slightest doubt but that the majority of these rumours are spread abroad by the friends and confederates of the Kellys with the sole view of putting the police authorities off the scent and impeding the movements of the search parties. The truth or otherwise of these various reports must however necessarily be investigated, and the consequence is that much valuable time is lost. The telegraph operators certainly have no sinecure at present, for what with telegraphic messages containing these statements being received, fresh messages being despatched to ascertain whether the stories are correct and communications between the police authorities in the various portions of the district, they have been kept occupied night and day. It is surprising what an amount of sympathy exists in the district for Kelly and his confederates, and it is this that in a great measure hampers the proceedings of the police.
There are so many of their friends and relations and acquaintances about here that every movement of the police parties is closely watched. By their system of bush telegraph, the information is conveyed from point to point with great rapidity, and any thing that is done is known by the Kellys in a very short time. At the same time there is very little doubt but that certain information which was forwarded to the police on more than one occasion, to the effect that the gang were in the ranges near Violet Town and Euroa, was not treated with that consideration that after events have proved it was entitled to. But it is now too late to consider what might have been. It might, however, be possible to arrest and imprison those who are known sympathisers with the gang under the new Outlawry Act. If this were done, it would strike terror into the breasts of those who do not refrain from openly avowing themselves sympathisers with the Kellys.
At Mansfield there are men continually going to and fro. Steve Hart's brother and one of the Quinns were here on Friday at the railway station. Wild Wright was seen knocking about the town and then suddenly disappeared and Kelly's sister was also hanging about here for some hours on the same day, and returned to Greta in the evening. Of course there may be nothing in the fact of their being in the township, but it is looked upon with suspicion by the residents. Another instance of the sympathy felt with the Kellys was given to me by a gentleman who passed through in the train on Saturday. It was market day at that place on Friday, and among the crowd were seen a number of men known to be friends of the Kellys, and towards evening a number of them congregated in the streets and gave three cheers for Ned Kelly and his gang.
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