The Argus at KellyGang 6/10/1879
THE SHOOTING OF A CONSTABLE
[BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH]
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT)
AVOCA, SATURDAY
The man who shot Constable Monks is not yet arrested. He went in the direction of Percydale and afterwards doubled back, and was seen by Mr Bennett's daughter and a carter in the employ of 'Wise and Co last light, near Bridge Bung Bong Maryborough road. It was reported to the police that he was seen this morning at Green hill Creek, between the Ballarat road and Amphitheatre Constables Shanklin and Kelly, with Shanklin's son as a volunteer, have been out to- day, well armed, but have not been successful. It is believed the man was making towards Clunes. When last seen the man was lame. He galloped away when the first shot was fired, and passed through Avoca bofore the occurrence was known. His horse was recovered to day by the Maryborough police, he having sold it to a person on the Maryborough road. On searching the waggon it was found to contain a complete set of housebreaking tools, keys, picklocks, two masks showing signs of wear, and a pair of mufiled slippers made of bagging. It has been ascertained that the waggonette was stolen fiom the other side of Beechworth. The saddles and grass seed stolen from Clunes have also been recovered.
Constable Monks is progressing well but the bullet is not yet extracted. It has gone nearly through the thickest part of the thigh. Monks blames the restiveness of his horse for preventing the capture, as it would not stand fire and will never be tied up. He was unwilling to abandon it, and its reativeness hindered his actions. A general opinion is expressed that he acted very pluckily, but it is considered that if the police were allowed revolver practice, the man would not have escaped the four shots fired by the conatable. Some of the police in this district have not fired a shot for over 20 years.
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