The Argus at KellyGang 9/6/1881
THE POLICE COMMISSION
Wednesday, June 8
Present - Messrs Longmore (chairman) Anderson, Fincham, Hall, Graves, and Gibb, MLA's and Mr Dixon.
Margaret Reardon , wife of a platelayer, one of the persons captured by the outlaws and detained in Jones's Hotel, said the outlaws came to her house and captured the inmates about 20 minutes past 2am on the Sunday. Was not in the bar, and did not see any drinking. Saw Ned Kelly in the kitchen with Mrs and Miss Jones. Two of the other outlaws were playing cards. Miss Jones, with a revolver in her hands, counted the prisoners. Mrs. Jones seemed quite pleased and merry, and danced. When the firing commenced, the prisoners were in a back room. Heard the screams when Mrs Jones's boy was shot. Heard no talk of the outlaws surrendering. They offered to let their prisoners out. Miss Jones said all the women and children were to go out. Witness did not get away at that time, as one of her children could not walk.
When witness and her children went out, a voice from under a bridge in the drain said, "Who goes there?" Witness replied, "Women and children." The prisoners were then met by shots from a drain in front of the hotel, and they had to return to the hotel. Could not say who the shots were fired at, but they were fired right across the faces of the prisoners. She had to shut her eyes on account of the smoke. She had a baby with her, also other children, and her husband. They came out of the hotel at the back and round to the front, and towards the station- master's house, and went back to the hotel in the same way. It was a bright, clear, moonlight morning. Heard some of the shots strike the railway fence. When they returned to the hotel she was the only woman in the house. Remained there for a long time – until 7 o'clock am. In that time saw none of the outlaws, but only their prisoners.
Byrne was not shot when she left the hotel at 7am . She went back to the room in the hotel in which she had been before. She asked the outlaws, who were standing in the passage, if she could go out, and they said "Yes, but the padre will shoot you." Dan Kelly asked her, if she got out safe and saw Mr Hare, to ask him to cease firing until daylight, so as not to injure the prisoners, and then the outlaws would come out and fight the police. She went out into the yard and screamed for mercy to the police. Heard Sergeant Steele say to the prisoners "Put up your hands or I'll shoot you like —— dogs." He kept firing in the direction of the prisoners. She got close to the fence, and saw a gun pointed at her by Steele. Shots followed, one hitting, her child in her arms, or rather the shawl in which the child was wrapped up. (Shawl produced with holes in it .) Her grown up son was close beside her, and asked her to come back to the hotel, or she would be shot. She declined, saying she might as well be shot outside as inside the hotel. Heard a voice asking Steele not to shoot at her, as she had a child in her arms. The voice was that of Constable Arthur.
Her grown-up son was shot by Steele. Did not see him shot. He was shot while again retreating into the hotel. Heard no one call out, "Stop, or I'll fire," or anything to that effect. Entreated them to spare her life, as she was but a woman. Ultimately Guard Dowsett took her to the railway station. The shot which struck her son had not been extracted yet, and her son was disabled. (The Commission here resolved to ask the Chief Secretary to order surgical treatment for the son, in order that if advisable the shot which had lodged in the chest, might be extracted.) James Reardon, husband of the witness, stated that he had sent in to the Government a claim for £500 compensation for the injuries done to his son.
Mrs Reardon (to Mr O'Connor) – Was not positive that the shots from the drain were fired at her and the other prisoners. But they were fired in their direction, or towards the hotel.
James Reardon who was examined at Glenrowan by the commission deposed further - Sergeant Steele's statement that his son was crawling on his hands and knees when shot was incorrect. At the time his son was shot by Steele he was walking with one hand up and holding a child in the other. The lad was shot when retreating into the hotel.
GV Allan, reporter on the Daily Telegraph stated that Mrs Reardon's evidence in the main was perfectly correct. Saw her and other prisoners come out of the hotel and heard the challenge from the drain where the black trackers were. Then heard shots fired towards the hotel from the drain. Heard a voice say with reference to Mrs Reardon, "It's Dan Kelly in disguise." Witness, who went with Mr Hare in the special train from Melbourne to Glenrowan, described the events of the day. When the train stopped at Glenrowan, and the police made for the hotel, Mr O'Connor was in the van. In fact the police left the station together. Saw the capture of Ned Kelly.
Saw the police moving, and thought they were running away. Observed to the ladies in the train, "The beggars are running away." Afterwards saw that they were only taking up a better position, in order to approach Ned Kelly. Senior-constable Kelly moved directly towards the outlaw. Heard Steele make a remark to Ned Kelly that he would be in at his death. Could not swear who took the revolver from Kelly. There was no firing from the hotel he believed, after Ned was captured. Thought there was reckless firing by the police. Certainly did not recommend that a cannon be sent for. Mr Sadleir was amongst those who surrounded Ned Kelly before be was removed from where be finally fell to the railway station. That was witness's impression; but if Mr Sadleir swore he was in the drain when Kelly was captured, witness would be wrong. Was satisfied there was no firing from the hotel after 10 or 11 o'clock am . There seemed to be a want of discipline and general supervision after Mr Hare left and before Mr Sadleir came. After Mr Sadleir's arrival there was an improvement in the firing of the police.
To Mr O'Connor – Did not think it was known at Benalla when the special train passed through that the line further on had been taken up.
Jesse Dowsett , railway guard, deposed that he arrived at Glenrowan at the same time as Mr Sadleir. He gave an account of the capture of Ned Kelly and the prominent part he took therein. When Steele caught hold of Ned by the beard, Steele said – "You —— wretch. I swore I would be in at your death."
Steele then put his hand to his side as if he intended to shoot Kelly with his revolver, and witness said "No, take him alive."
Kelly said, "Give me a chance." Constable Dwyer kicked Kelly when he was down. Kelly would have been arrested even if Steele had not been there.
The commission adjourned until 11o'clock next morning.
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