The Argus at KellyGang 16/12/1878 (7)
Doings of sympathisers
A hawker named Benjamin Gould was arrested at Euroa on Saturday morning, by Detective Ward, charged on warrant under the new Outlawry Act with aiding and abetting the Kellys. It appears that this man, who is not of very prepossessing appearance, has been travelling about the district for many years past with boots, shoes, and leather, and purchasing or taking in exchange hides and skins. In the course of his peregrinations he used frequently to stop at Mrs Kelly's house, and has consequently known the two outlaws since they were children. Gould is a man of about 50, tall and strongly built, with thick iron grey hair and beard, and has the appearance of a rough bushman. He is tolerably quiet when sober, but when indulging in his periodical drinking bouts he is most violent in his manner. Just now he appears to be suffering a recovery and therefore looks especially seedy and miserable. From information obtained by Detective Ward, it appears that on Tuesday, the 12th inst., the night of the robbery of the bank at Euroa, Mr Wyatt, PM, was sitting in the stationmaster's office there, waiting for the down train to return to Benalla. Gould mistook him for Mr Scott, the manager of the bank, and poking his head through the ticket window, said, "All right, Mr Scott, I mean to have £500 out of your bank today." The Stationmaster (Mr. Gorman) said to him – "It is not Mr Scott; it is Mr. Wyatt, the police magistrate. You had better clear out of this before you get into trouble." Gould then went away.
It has also transpired that some days before the robbery Gould said to Mr Scott, "the Kellys will have as good a dinner as you to day, with the exception of vegetables." This information having come to the knowledge of the detectives, an information was sworn, and a warrant issued for Gould's arrest. Gould was sitting on the railway platform when the warrant was put in force, and at once denied all knowledge or complicity with the Kellys. At first he said he was not in Euroa on the evening the robbery took place. When asked where he was on that day, he said he did not know, as he had been drinking for the last three weeks. When he was asked whether he had made remarks to Mr. Scott relative to Kelly's culinary arrangements, he admitted that he did so, and upon being asked his reason for speaking in that manner, said that "it was only by way of a joke." He was at once taken before Mr Graham, J.P., and Detective Ward having briefly related the particulars of the case, asked for a remand for one week. The prisoner then applied to be allowed out on bail, but this was strenuously opposed by Detective Ward, and the magistrate remanded the prisoner until Saturday next, and refused to take any bail. The arrest was made so quietly that there were only two or three persons in court when the prisoner was brought up. He was subsequently taken to Beechworth gaol.
I understand that when at the Faithfull's Creek station the detectives found some clothes belonging to the Kellys that had not been burnt. Amongst them was a woman's straw hut, covered with a white puggaree, and having a heavy black veil attached. This will perhaps afford some explanation of one or two of the rumours that were afloat respecting the outlaws soon after the murders took place. It was then said that there was a woman with them, and some persons alleged that it was Kelly's sister.
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