The Argus at KellyGang 6/1/1879 (2)
The last-named lives in the Wombat Ranges, a very short distance from the scene of the police murders, and it has all along been suspected that he knew something of that affair. It is, however, well known that the whole lot of the prisoners have a friendly feeling towards the outlaws, and it is stated that in some cases it can be proved that they have been in communication with them since the Outlawry Act came into operation. They were all carefully guarded at the police camp during the night, and yesterday morning they were taken before Mr. B Smith, P. M., and upon the application of the police authorities remanded for one week. As soon as they reached Benalla they were forwarded on to the Beechworth gaol by the evening train. Another arrest was made at Euroa yesterday afternoon by the trooper stationed there. The prisoner in this instance was a man named M'Kenny, living at Balmattan, about three miles from Euroa. The charge against this man was the same as in the other cases, but he will not be dealt with until to-morrow, when he will also be remanded to Beechworth gaol. Two more arrests were also made on Saturday but in this case the locality was Lake Rowan, about half-way between Wangaratta and Yarrawonga. The names of the prisoners were Hanney and Joseph Ryan. They were taken into Benalla, and having been taken before Captain Standish, J.P., they were also remanded to Beechworth gaol.
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT)
MANSFIELD , SATURDAY
I have ascertained that John Hart is not a brother to Steve Hart, but the families are so mixed that it is hard to tell how they are connected. He is related to Kelly by marriage. More arrests are talked about. It is believed here that the police have taken the proper steps at last.
BEECHWORTH, SUNDAY
Thirteen men of the garrison corps arrived on Friday under Captain Stubbs, and were quartered in the gaol. On Saturday afternoon eight men were brought here, arrested under the Outlawry Act as accomplices of the Kellys; seven more were brought in the evening, and all were lodged in gaol. A further batch from all parts of the district is expected to-morrow.
THE MANSFIELD MURDERS
TO THE EDITOR OF THE ARGUS
Sir, – The sensation which has been created by the cold-blooded cowardly slaughter known as the Mansfield tragedy, must be my excuse for asking your permission to make use of your columns as a medium for calling the attention of the Legislature to the necessity of making some legal provision for preventing the temporary success of these criminals from inducing others to follow their example, as there can be no doubt that the audacity of their proceedings in robbing a bank in the centre of a town and deporting its officials and other inmates through the public streets in broad daylight has had the effect on some minds of glossing over the brutal and cowardly crime this gang had committed, and creating a feeling of admiration if not approbation.
| ! | The text has been retyped from a microfiche copy of the original. We have taken care to reproduce this document but areas of the original text may been damaged. |
