The Argus at KellyGang 19/11/1879 (5)
CONSTABLE HOWES STATEMENT
Captain Moonlite
I was despatched in charge of three mounted men from Wagga Wagga on Sunday night at 9pm. The troopers with me were named Hedley, Williamson, and Johns. We arrived at Wantabadgery homestead at 4 o'clock (daybreak) Monday morning. Having tied up our horses to the fence at the back of the homestead, we walked on towards the house. As we approached a dog rushed out and barked at us. The noise alarmed the in mates, and Moonlite came rushing out with a gun in his hand. Constable Hedley called out, ' Stand, in the Queen's name. Moonlite presented his gun and fired a shot, the ball passing Williamson and myself.
The three constables with me returned the fire "Moonhte then rushed into the back and through the hall. He then called out, "Fire." We all then retreated under cover for safety. "Moonlite" and six others then came on one of the party went into the stable and set fire to it, and said if we did not clear out he would burn the building. Moonlite said it would be a mean action to burn the man's property and himself put the fire out. The police then rode round to the front of the house, and tied their horses up. The bush ringers then tried to surround the police, all the time forcing through the thistles. As the police retired two of the bushrangers were sent to execute a flank movement, and got at the rear of the police. Seeing this we retreated through a swamp 4ft deep in water. There was a continuous fire all the time, but none were wounded. I got behind a sapling, and whilst there three bullets struck the sapling in quick succession. We saw them take our horses.
Seeing we could do no more we retreated to Mr Jas Beveridge's, of Tarrandera park. From him we obtained fresh horses. The Gundagai police met us at this point about 11 a.m. We then all started in pursuit. At Patterson's Hotel we got definite information that the bushrangers had gone in the direction of Eurorgilly, and we conse quently proceeded in that direction. About a mile from Patterson's we met a man named Lidwell. He told us that the bush rangers had made a fire, and had buried some weapons under the side of the hill adjacent. We visited the spot, and found our informant s statement to be correct. We afterwards proceeded to M'Glede's, where from information received, we understood the bushrangers to be camped. Near where the firearms were buried a dead horse lay. The horse was the property of Mr Beveridge, who, while on his way from his house to Wantabadgery, was stuck up by the bushrangers. When he met with the gang he was very roughly treated, and "Moonlite" threatened to shoot him or hang him. He, however, contented himself with shooting the horse, observing that now he could not do much harm. They then took him on to M'GIedes as a prisoner. Constable Wiles, from Bethungra, was on his way to join the police force, but was met shortly after the Beveridge episode by the gang, and was compelled to surrender. His arms were taken from him, and he was also brought as a prisoner to M Glede's.
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