Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 February 1912 — WORLD’S FAMOUS POLICE MYSTERIES [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WORLD’S FAMOUS POLICE MYSTERIES

TRUE RECORDS OF EXTRAORDINARY CASES IN ANNALS OF CRIME

The Last of the Bushrangers

By H. M. EGBERT

(CSopjrighli by W. a. Ch»pm*n)

HE story of the Kelly family reads like a romance * ■yj —better than a romance, VM/J for one at least of the Ajlnin'S most popular novels of /yyvvliv Australian bush life hhfi been founded upon It. V The Kelly gang was the last of those outlawed M 0 41 companies that had their f\ home In the back-country of New South Wales and Victoria in earlier days, and between 1870 and 1879 their exploits terrorized those two Australian colonies and rivaled the achievements of the James boj%. It was the northeastern triangle of New South Wales that came to be known as the Kelly country, a district peopled largely by Irish settlers, many of whom actively t sympathized with the cattle marauders, as the Kellys were before they flew at greater game. Theirs was a difficult country, and they knew it by heart, and though their hiding place was more or less determinable, their intimate knowledge -of every pass, ravine and gully rendered their capture impossible. When the whole colony began to be stirred by the constant cattle thefts, the authorities resolved to make a determined effort to surest the maraud--ers. At this point, and disregarding the earlier activities of this clan, we may begin to record the Kellys’ activities. gergt. Kennedy, who was in charge of the police station at Mansfield, was put in command of the police operations, and, at his suggestion, an advance post was established beyond the Wombat range of mountains in the Stringybank hills, a neighborhood in which the Kellys had their stamping grounds. There were four members of this force: Sergt. Kennedy, Lonlgan, Scanlan and Maclntyre. Kennedy and Scanlan went out to reconnoiter the bush, leaving Lonigan in camp to prepare supper, whilq Maclntyre took his gun and went forth alone to procure a kangaroo or some other game for the pot. His shots attracted the notice of the Kellys, who were even nearer at hand than their pursuers had believed. They crept up to the camp just as Maclntyre returned, and fell upon it with the customary warning: “Bail up!” Maclntyre, who was unarmed, could offer no resistance, but Lonigan attempted to draw his revolver, and was at once shot dead by Ned Kelly, the leader of the four outlaws. The Kellys then took possession of the weapons, sat down, lit their pipes and entered into conversation with their prisoner. They advised Macintyre to request the two other policemen to make no resistance, promising under those circumstances to spare them. About half-past four Sergt. Kennedy and Scanlan rode into the camp and Macintyre, advancing toward them, said: “We are surrounded, and I think you had better surrender.” The four~outlawß sprang forward: with, their customary 4eman4. Scanlan attempted to seize his rifle, but was shot dead and fell from his horse. Kennedy leaped to his feet and rushed Into the bush, where an unequal duel between the one and four continued from behind trees until it was terminated by the sergeant’s death. The body was riddled with bullets. Meanwhile Macintyre, having caught Kennedy’s horse, flung himself upon it and. made a successful dash for life. This was known as the Wombatt affair and convinced the authorities that thenceforward there would be no peace In New South Wales until the Kelly gang was hunted down and exterminated. Prompt measures were taken. A reward of a thousand pounds .was offered for the arrest of the outlaws; :A body of picked men was sent up from the coast under the command of an assistant commissioner, Mr. Nicholson, and several repeating rifles were fur-' nlshed to the police under his command. While the 11,000 square miles of bush were being scoured-for the desperadoes the most sensational of all their exploits was accomplished. This was the '‘sticking up” of the Euroa National bank. The robbing of the Euroa bank on December 10, 1878, displayed that cool judgment, forethought and intimate 4ttention to details which are among the most essential requisites of military generalship. Euroa is a town situated on the railway line about a hundred miles from Melbourne, the capital of the state of Victoria, and at the time of the outrage, contained some 350 inhabitants. It is in the vicinity of the Strathbogie ranges, thickly wooded country which afforded the outlaws an excellent hiding placfe. The robbery was effected in broad daylight, when the whole town was alert, and upward of two thousand pounds was obtained in plunder. / The first care of the gang was to provide themselves with a base of operations, and this they secured by “sticking up” the station of a squatter named Younghusband, about three miles from Euroa. On December 8 a small party of the outlaws, consisting Of Ned and Dan KeUy, Steve Hart and Jce Byrne, took possession of a hut on the outskirts of the station oecunied

by a couple named Fitzgerald and detained these people there as prisoners. Then they quietly waited the station hands knocked off work and returned to the house for dinner. As they entered they were made prisoners in the most orderly manner by Ned Kelly and Steve Hart Fitzgerald and all the station hands were locked into a large empty room and guarded by Joe Byrne. The rest remained on the watch for Mr. Macauley, the manager. Within the station house the utmost god humor prevailed. One woman remarked in a jocular manner: “Well, M s. Kelly, If I was single I think I would marry you If you asked me.” “There is only one woman I care for, and that is my mother,” the leader of the band answered, smiling. Macauley soon came along and was added to the number of the prisoners. A little later there appeared upon the scene a traveling hawker named Gloster, who drove his van up to the station and began to unharness his horses with the intention of spending the night there. Qloster, when ordered to “ball up,’ treated the matter as a joke, and came neaf losing his life; but the interposition of Macauley at last convinced him that he had better surrender, and he was added to the number Ih duress. The outlaws helped themselves to a considerable quantity. _oi. clothing which they secured from Gloster’s van. Ned Kelly, convinced that the close confinement might be injurious to the health of his prisoners, allowed them to exercise in the open air before returning to sleep. The bushrangers remained on guard by turnß throughout the night. On the following morning Kelly was still in command of the situation. He bad established his base of operations against Euroa, had made prisoners of flve-and-twenty people, all of whom were so cowed that they dared offer no rebellion, had severed the telegraph wires and seized the line repairer who was sent out .from the town. That afternoon four gentlemen who came along the road were promptly added to the number of prisoners and, plans being matured, Kelly prepared for his attempt upon the bank. Ned Kelly compelled Mr. Macauley to sign a check for three pounds and, at half-past three, he, Dan Kelly and Steve Hart started for Euroa in the hawker Gloster’s cart, which was covered, while Joe Byrne was left behind, the sole guard over the prisoners. Joe was well armed, having two revolvers in his belt besides a doublebarreled gun which he carried in his hand;-and he had two rifles within easy reach. Had any of the prisoners possessed sufficient courage to lead a dash for freedom the whole attempt would have been frustrated and the Kellys captured. But this courage did not mature, and Joe Byrne easily overawed them. Meanwhile the rest of the gang moved into Euroa, Ned driving the covered cart arid the others riding behind. The bank had already closed by the time they arrived, but Kelly went up to the door and rapped loudly until a clerk came out, when he begged him, as a great favor, to cash the small check for him. The clerk at length agreed and, not suspecting anything wrong, opened the door. Ned stepped in, closed the door after him and, st>

moment later, presented his revolver' to the clerk’B head with the injunction to “ball up.” At the same instant Steve Hart ran in at the back door and in a moment all the firearms in the bank were secured. Mr. Scott, the hank manager, was in the office adjoining the bank. Ned Kelly entered, covered him with his revolver and said in a mild tone: ( “I am Ned Kelly. Bail up!" Mr. Scott “bailed up,” and leaving Steve Hart In charge of him Ned Kelly began to search the bank. Between three and four hundred pounds in gold and silver were secured. As Ned was about to enter the private apartments in which Mrs. Scott and her family resided Mr. Scott threatened to strike him, but Kelly only passed him politely and, bowing to Mrs. Scott, announced hlB name and said that he hadnb'tntentibn of molesting any person present. Mrs. Scott was so little alarmed at her visitor that she paid him the compliment of saying that'the bad reports she had heard concerning his personal appearance were greatly exaggerated. Ned returned the compliment with a few expressions of conventional courtesy and continued: “As I wish to enjoy the pleasure of your company; together with that of your family, I am going to invite you to take a drive with me to Mr. Younghusband’s station.” Mrs. Scott, seeing that refusal was useless, at once obeyed his commands and told the children and servants to get ready for their little jaunt While this was being done Kelly, not satisfied with the amount of money obtained thus far, told Mr. Scott that be knew there was more upon the premises and Insisted upon having it Up to this time .the safe had not been but Soott yielded under threat of death and unlocked it, when it was "found to contain fifteen hundred pounds in notes, three hundred sovirsicni. nine tv in silver and

thirty ounces of golddust. The strong room was then searched but was found to contain only bills and securities. These were left undisturbed, Kelly exclaiming that he had no wish to destroy property that was of no use to him but of value to others. The party consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Scott, two bank clerks, Mrs. Scott’s mother, seven children and two ser vants. Kelly saw that it would be-in-convenient for so many persons to ride in the hawker’s van, and requisitioned the service of Mr. Scott’s buggy, but upon being ordered to harness his horse, Scott, who was not in the best of humor, positively refused to be ordered about by a murderer. “Well, I will do it myself,” Kelly replied in a submissive tone, and did so without more ado. Then, with the greatest politeness, he handed Mrs. Scott and her family into the buggy and requested her to drive it. The utmost affability existed between Mrs. Scott and the outlaw, whom she afterward described as a tall, handsome man with a flowing beard, well dressed -and of kindly speech. Kelly then told Mr. Scott that he would have to travel with him in the hawker’s wagon, which he consented to do. Before starting he proposed that they should all have some drinks and the prisoner and his captives pledged each Other’s health in whisky, Kelly making fecott drink first for fear the liquor might be poisoned. Then the procession started through the streets of Euroa iu broad daylight, marching away in full view of the inhabitants of tbe town who thought some pleasure jaunt was in progress. Dan Kelly led the van in the hawker’s wagon, with Mrs. Scott following in her buggy, and Steve Hart bringing up the rear on horseback. While driving with Mr. Scott Ned Kelly told him all about the-shooting of the police at Wombat. He produced a gold watch which he had taken from the body of Sergeant Kennedy, and which he considered aHrophy of war. On the way one of the vehicles upset, but was quickly righted, and finally Ypunghusband’s was reached, where the faithful Joe Byrne was still on guard. It was afterward discovered that there were fifteen or sixteen American axes in the large room in which the prisoners were confined; yet none of the inmates dared to make an attempt for liberty. When the outlaws had saddled their horses and divided the plunder Ned Kelly went to the door of the room and made a speech. “Ladies and gentlemen,” he warned his prisoners, “we are about to depart, but you will not leave this storeroom for three hours longer. I caution you that if any one of you disobeys my orders I will shoot that man dead, and I assure you that I will keep my word. There is one of your number,” he added, “whom I will hold responsiDle for the escape of any prisoner.” Then, calling Mr. Macauley to the front, he added: “I shall hold you responsible for tbe escape of any of the prisoners before and if I find out hereafter that you have let any of them go, if ever I meet you again I will shoot you dead.” He then demanded a watch from one of his captives, a gentleman named McDougall, who had been captured on the second day. Without hesitating for a moment the latter handed it to him, but remarked:

“I value this more than it Is really worth, because it is a memento of my dead mother.” Kelly shivered and, displaying much emotion, returned: “No, I will not take It from you.” The outlaws then leaped into the saddle and set off In the direction of the Strathbogie ranges. Not until the three hours had expired did the captives dare to stir out of their voluntary prison. The outrage at Euroa threw the whole country into a state of intense excitement The daring of the deed, the successful retreat of the depredators into their own country, where they seemed able to baffle all attempts to unearth them, had completely shaken public confidence* in the police. Mr. Nicholson was relieved from duty, and Captain Standlsh and Superintendent Hare took charge of operations. One of their first steps was to enforce the felons apprehension act by arresting a large number of the most notorious Kelly sympathizers. About twenty of these persons were arrested, but during a period of three months no evidence could be procured against them and eventually they were discharged. Meanwhile, on February 11, 1879, the bank of Jerilderie had been rifled. a One evening the four outlaws took up their post on the bank of a creek at the rear of the police barracks in this town and waited until all lights were extinguished. Then Ned . Kelly rode round to the front gate while the others stationed themselves according to the plan. Riding up to the stoop, Ned, assuming the voioe of a drunken man, called out: “Police! Police! Quick! They are killlhg a man at Davidson's hotel!” There were only two policemen & the barracks at the time and they

quickly dressed and hurried out. Seeing the outline of a man on horseback they approached, demanding to know what the trouble was, when Kelly shouted, presenting a pistol: “Bail up! I am Ned Kelly!” His .three companions, springing out of their hiding places, quickly seized the two policemen, took them into the barracks and, after securing all the arms, ammunition and keys, locked them into a cell. The following day being Sunday, the wife of one of the constables was allowed to prepare the courtroom hard by for mass, the butcher was permitted to bring the meat, and the day passed without the townsfolk becoming aware that the dreaded Kelly gang was actually in their midst and in possession of the police station. Early on Monday morning Byrne took the horses to the blacksmith and had them shod. About eleven o’clock Ned Kelly and Byrne attired themselves in police uniforms and, taking one of their captives with them, walked along the main street, Steve Hart and Dan Kelly in plain clothes following on horseback. All suspicion was thus removed from the minds of the inhabitants. In this style the outlaws made their way to the Royal hotel where Ned Kelly ad» dressed the owner in these words: harm as long as you carry out my wishes. lam come to stick-up the bank and I want your room as a lockup.” The terrified hotelkeeper offered him the bar parlor. All the visitors and servants, together with the owner, were at once Imprisoned there, and then, standing at the front door, Kelly invited all and sundry who passed to enter and refresh themselves. As the inhabitants one after another walked into the trap he presented his revolver and said, “I’m Ned Kelly. Go in!" , The coast being clear, Byrne, staggering like a drunken man, entered the back door of the bank, which adjoined the hotel. While the clerks were attempting to persuade him to leave Ned came to his assistance and ordered them to “bail up.” The manager, Mr. Tarleton, was at that moment having a bath upon the premises. Ned Kelly ordered him to dress at once, and then leading him into the office compelled him to deliver up the keys of the safes and drawers. The bank’s money were found to be too small to contain all the cash and notes, so four large flour sacks were obtained and filled with the plunder, which amounted to more than two thousand pounds. A'passing van was impressed, the sacks were thrust inside and the captive policeman, the postmaster and the telegraph operator were placed inside and driven to the barracks, where they were all imprisoned. Then, organizing a band of inhabitants, the gang compelled them to cut down all the telegraph poles for a mile out of the town, after which they returned to the barracks and spent a lively evening drinking and feasting, while none dared to molest them. Toward midnight they mounted their horses and rode away. When the news of this daring outrage reached the authorities the government of New South Wales and the banks offered additional rewards totaling eight thousand pounds for the apprehension of the outlaws. Black trackerß*wf*re placed upon their trail and a former associate, Aaron Sherritt, was enlisted in the cause of hunting down the fugitives. Sherritt was

trapped, called out of his hut and shot dead by Dan Kelly and Byrnes. It was the Intention of the gang to commit one more robbery, bolder than any hitherto accomplished, and then to flee the country. Their plans were carefully matured. By the murder of Aaron Sherritt they calculated not only to wreak their vengeance upon one who had betrayed them, but to induce the authorities to dispatch on the next day, which was Sunday, a special train to the locality of the crime loaded with police. This train they were resolved to wreck and, after shooting any police who might escape the disaster, they would proceed to one, of the near-by townships, rob the banks and get clear away to their haunts until the hue and cry died down sufficiently to enable them to leave Australia. Ned Kelly and Steve Hart rode across country to Glenrowan, where they prepared tpr the destruction of the train. The others' followed and established thempelves in a hotel kept by a Mrs. Jones, dose to the station and not far from the mountains. In accordance with their usual tactics, they made prisoners o? a number of persons whom they encountered during the day, so as to keep all knowledge of their whereabouts from the day morning the tracks were torn up by two railway repairers whom Ned Kelly had Raptured and threatened with death If they refused to act as he directed. The spot selected for the catastrophe was about 1,000 yards north of the Glenrowan station at a curve In a deep cutting. By evening no fewer than sixty-two persons were arrest in the hotel and, as usual, very friendly relations prevailed between them and their captors. One of these, Mr. Curnow, the local state school teacher, contrived to ingratiate himself into the good graces of the gang by pretending sympathy with their designs. Mr. Curnow was released about midnight and immediately took steps to warn the approaching train. He improvised a danger signal by placing "a lighted candle behind a scarlet cloak and with this he set out along the line to meet the train. The special was preceded by a pilot engine and the driver, observing* the signal, stopped. The information given by Mr. Curnow was communicated to Superintendent Hare, who was in the train behind, and the train was brought to a standstill in time to avoid the catastrophe. The outlaws perceived that the warning had oeen given, but they had no thought of flight and, having locked up their prisoners, went into a room together and assisted each other to don the iron armor which they had manufactured out of old pots and scrap iron. Thus equipped, they awaited the attack. Superintendent Hare and his men discovered that the gang had taken possession of the hotel and resolved to attack. In the blight moonlight the outlaws came ho Idly forth to the front of the house and fired a volley, one of the bullets shattering Hare’s wrist; bat with great courage he reloaded and fired again. Several volleys having been exchanged, the gang withdrew into the hotel, when the cries of the prisoners induced the police to train from firing. But Hare was foroed by his wound to withdraw from the scene of operations, and was succeeded by Sergeant Steele. Firing was now resumed, hut so wildly that several o t

the 'prisoners who attempted to make their escape were wounded, aud it waa afterward asserted that the police fired indiscriminately upon all who showed themselves. Toward, morning Ned Kelly, having been wounded in the foot, resolved to attempt and crept out at the back ot .the hotel and began to lead his horse through the brush. He found it impossible, however, to mount on account of hie wound and the weight of his armor, and so, unable to divest himself of the latter, determined to return and rejoin his companions. The aspect of a tall man in his “nail can*’, helmet'terrified the attackers, but soon they found that he was not Invulnerable, and a shot fired by Sergeant Steele brought him to the ground. Kelly was wounded in several places and was taken prisoner. • * At ten o’clock in the morning, the prisoners succeeded in effecting their escape and brought word that Joe Byrne had been shot dead while toasting the gang in the bar of the hotel. Dan Kelly and Steve Hart had been last seen standing in the passage, both equipped in their armor, and returning the fusillade. The police, fearful of the reputation of the murderers, dared not push home the attack, but a telegram was dispatched to the chief seoretary In Melbourne; asking tnat % siege gun, with ammunition and trained artillerists, might be-sent up, with the object of demolishing the building. This request was complied with. In the meantime, however, after fifty policemen had been held back by the outlaws for nearly fourteen hours, it was determined to set fire to the hotel. nils was done, and a priest. Father Gibney, Was the first to enter the burning building. He found the bodies of the three outlaws already charred by the flames. Joe Byrnes had been killed as the escaped prisoners stated; Dan Kelly/and Steve Hart, having removed their armor, had evidently committed suicide when they realized that escape was hopeless. Ned Kelly waa conveyed to Melbourne and convicted on the charge of the murder of Sergeant Kennedy. Ho walked to the gallows with a firm stop and faced his with courage and seeming contrition.

“I am Ned Kelly. Bail up!"