The Argus at KellyGang 31/3/1881 (2)

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O'Connor giving evidence

Left Benalla for Essendon with my troopers on June 25, 1880 . Stopped at Flemington. Made arrangements to ship in a Queensland steamer leaving on June 29. On Sunday, June 27, at half past 7 pm received a note from Captain Standish stating that the outlaws had shot Aaron Sherritt dead, and requesting me to return to Beechworth with my trackers. Lost no time in responding. Forthwith saw Captain Standish, who asked me whether in the urgent state of the case, I could accede to his request. I replied I had ever wanted an opportunity to get the out- laws. Was not half-hearted, as Captain Standish alleges. Asked him to request Mr Ramsay to see my Government held me blameless for disobeying the order of recall.

Told him I would be ready at 10 pm that night. Our arms and uniform were packed up. There was no ruse on my part to make the Kellys believe I was going back to Queensland . Told Captain Standish my wife would accompany me to Beechworth, as the tracking might last some days. Asked him accordingly to get a first class carriage attached. He said there would be one. We arrived at Benalla at 1am , where we met Mr Hare with several men. Mr Hare rode in the same carriage as myself, my wife, and my wife's sister. There was a first class carriage. We all conversed together, and were on the best terms. Mr Hare asked me when I got information from Captain Standish. Replied half past 7. He said, "I never saw such a fellow; he does not care one rush about his work. I begged him to see you personally, as I knew it was condescension on your part to come back after the way he treated you."' We went on towards Glenrowan, and were stopped before we got there by the pilot engine. Mr Hare got out and met a porter carrying a lamp.

The newspapers have reported the proceedings there. We were told the line had been taken up. Mr Hare said, "The only thing we can do is to draw up to the platform at Glenrowan, so as to enable us to get our horses out. That was done. Mr Hare and I were discussing the desirableness of riding to the place where the line was broken, and had decided to do so, when Constable Bracken rushed up on to the platform in a most excited state. With- out addressing anyone in particular, he said, "The Kellys are in Jones's publichouse, for God's sake, take care, or they will escape." Mr Hare said to me, "Come on, O'Connor, or they will escape."

We started, Mr Hare slightly leading. He asked me if the men were coming. Turned round, and sang out, "Come on boys, come on." Saw following me a line of men. It was sufficiently light to see some were blacks and some whites. The party approached Mrs Jones's. When about 25 yards from the house we were stopped by a single shot, which was immediately followed by a volley from the house. This our party replied to. At the first rush to the house there were six or seven of us. Constable Bracken did not tell us any other persons were in the hotel. Before I could load my rifle, a breech loading Snider, Mr Hare sang out to me, "O'Connor, I am wounded – shot in the arm, I must go back." This he did. I give him ample margin when I say he was five minutes in the field. In his report, dated July 2, 1880 , he says: -

"I was struck by the first shot, and my left arm dropped helpless beside me. The firing was continued on both sides with great determination for about five minutes, when it ceased from the verandah and screams from men, women, and children came from the inside of the house. I at once called on my men to cease firing, which they did."

I deny that statement. Mr Hare went back, leaving the front. It was I who gave the order for the men to take cover. It was I who, on hearing the cries of the women, gave orders to cease firing. It was I who called on the women to come out. Did not hear Mr Hare speak after he left the front. I sang out, "Let the women out."

The women immediately afterwards passed out. Challenged the people passing out to see none of them were the outlaws. Mr. Hare also states he loaded and fired his gun several times after being wounded. This I most emphatically deny, and will, in due time, bring one, if not more, witnesses to prove what I say. After Mr Hare left, 10 minutes or a quarter of an hour intervened, when I saw one of the engines returning to Benalla. It was followed in five minutes by the second engine. Subsequently found the second engine contained Mr Hare. About the time he was going away, I saw we were recklessly exposing our lives, and ordered the men to take cover. I dropped into a little gully running past the front of the house. Had five of my men with me. About half an hour after we took cover, a bullet struck a piece of wood in front of my position, which showed me I was not in a secure place. Followed down the gully until I came to a position, which I did not leave until superseded by Mr Sadleir from this position. I commanded the whole of the house, and was convinced no man could get out of the front of the house without my knowledge. Senior-constable Kelly came to me and said, "Oh, my God, I believe the outlaws have all got away." I replied, “I’ll swear they did not get out of the front, as I never left this place from the first attack." He said, “As I was passing round at the rear of the house, about 100 yards from the back door, I came on a rifle covered with blood and a skullcap. He said he believed the rifle belonged to the outlaws.

Subsequently Senior-constable Kelly again came to me, and said he heard there were 40 prisoners in the kitchen of the hotel. In my report, dated September 7, I say Mr. Hare "never left the railway platform after he returned there." At any rate, he left the front. Am not aware of my own knowledge that he went to the platform. Heard he went to the plat- form and stopped there. Several volleys had been fired by the police when I was told there were prisoners in the kitchen. Mr Sadleir, after that, made his way to my position, and spoke to me. Subsequently, at half past 10 am , he sent for me. Went to him at the railway station. We had a long conversation. Ned Kelly had then been taken prisoner. Mr Sadleir and I walked round the line of men, getting what information we could, and suggesting improvements in the way of watching the house. Mr. Sadleir says the outlaws let the prisoners out at a certain time, which I don't dispute. When the prisoners came out, they told us Joe Byrne had been shot.

They came out about 11 o'clock . They said Byrne had been shot by a ball entering the front door while he was in the act of drinking a glass of grog to the toast, "Many more years in the bush with the Kelly gang." Mr Sadleir and I conferred as to the desirableness of breaking into the house. When we considered there were two determined ruffians in it in invulnerable armour, and that, as the prisoners had told us, the doors were barricaded, we decided not to risk a single life if there was a chance of getting the remaining outlaws without doing so. Senior-constable Johnson proposed a plan to drive the out- laws from the cover. He proposed to set fire to the building, stating that when the smoke got thick, the outlaws would rush out. Mr Sadleir acquiesced, but deferred execution of the plan. Called out to the outlaws to surrender.

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