The Argus at KellyGang 17/12/1878 (3)

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Chasing the KellyGang

From Seymour news has been received that on Friday afternoon last, the overseer of an out station near the Black Ranges found the tracks of four shod horses coming down from the direction of the ranges. Subsequently, he and his wife heard two shots fired in the victim of their place, and becoming frightened of a domiciliary visit from the Kellys, they made their way as rapidly as possible to the home station, and the occurrence was not notified to the police until the next day. No great importance is attached to it, however, as there are a great number of selectors in that locality, and any of them might have fired off their guns. The authorities have, in order to make sure, carefully examined all the punts and crossing places on the Goulburn, but have not come upon any trace of persons having crossed. A horseman who was travelling between Longwood and Seymour on Saturday last was arrested by the police on suspicion of being Ned Kelly, his appearance being identical with the description given of the leader of the gang. The man, however, conclusively proved that he was an inoffensive traveller making his way from New South Wales to Melbourn, and he was therefore at once released. The man's appearance so much resembles that of Ned Kelly that it has become a regular nuisance to him, this being the third time he has been detained by the police on suspicion of being that notorious individual.

The inhabitants of Euroa were alarmed last evening by the report of a gun on the outskirts of the town. It was rumoured that the Kellys had returned. The detachment of Victorian Artillery at once turned out, and leaving two of their number to guard the bank, proceeded to search the scrub m order to find out who bad fired the gun. The whole affair turned out to be a hoax.

Sub Inspector Toohey proceeded to Mansfield to day in order to take charge of the district, and it is understood that Sub Inspector Pewtress will take charge of one of the metropolitan or suburban districts. The police force here was further strengthened by the arrival from town of six more troopers by the night train.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS)  

ALEXANDRA, MONDAY

Information reached me to day with regard to the movements of the Kelly gang previous to the Euroa bank robbery which may, perhaps prove interesting, if only to show how completely the police were astray in their ideas of the exact locality where Ned Kelly and his gang were hiding. I received the news which I now forward to you from a most reliable source, but I am bound by the strictest promises not to divulge the name of my authority. It appears that for nearly three weeks before the bank was stuck up, Kelly's gang was residing in a hut in the Blue Ranges, between Gobur and Longwood, reconnoitering the surrounding stations and watching the roads to and from all the adjacent townships. By these means, and through the energy and activity of their friends and federates, they knew everything that was going on, and laid their plans accordingly for the robbery of Younghusband's station and the Euroa bank. The police at the time were many miles distant, and so secure did the gang feel, that it went riding about through the ranges quite unconcerned, inwardly laughing at the attempts which were being made to capture them in a totally different part of the district. They were supplied with provisions by a Chinaman, whom they bound by solemn promises not to tell the police where they were, threatening to shoot bun if he gave any information.  

All the gold was removed from the Union Bank here today and sent to Melbourne . It was rumoured here yesterday that one of the gang (which particular one I have forgotten) was seen at the end of the week not far from Seymour, near which place, it is believed, they have friends. Not much reliance can, however, be placed on this rumour, so I give it merely for what it is worth.

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