THE HANGMAN GATELY

Dunstan Times, Issue 1116, 21 September 1883, Page 3

THE HANGMAN GATELY

I One tif the Sydney iin pern irvioifL 1 j reported the death of the mm (hftelv, , who for alo ig time was luuigm irt and i flagellate) l in Vic oria. lie li d a sti'.mge eriininal historv. Ac a* ding t> his prim I'Biord, the greiter por tion of his life was spent in a career of Crime. Hu was transported fr an I eland to Van Diemen’s Land when a mere boy, and after senior hi« alio'ted period in that island, he came to Victoria shortly after the discovery of the gold fields. From that period till he left that Colony his time was spent mostly in the Melbourne Gaol and Pentridge. Although possessed of a savage disposition, and detested by his fel ow prisoners, h- left on the records of Pentridge mmiti nof several meritorious acts which could hardly have been expected from a criminal of his class. <)n two occasions he was instrument's, in saving the ives of officers At one time, in the year 1856, when the late Chief Warder Begg Was savavely attacked by a desperate Convict named Neigh our Flynn on board the hulk Lysande , Gately rushed to the officer’s assistance, and overpowered the prisoner before he had time to carry out his murde’-ous designs. For this act he received a mitr. arion of his sen tone •, besides a substantial recognition from Mr Begg for his services Another occasion was when a prisoner named Connelly attempted to murder the late Overseer Kilmartin in the year 1861. The assault r suited in Mr KPmartio havi g both his legs broken, besides receiving sew val severs wounds ou the other parts of hj s hodv Connelly, who was frantic with rage, next rushed at au overseer named Marine and would have, murdered him but tor the timely assistance of Gately, who secured the prisoner and prevented anv further mischief being done. Gately was again recommended for a mitigation of his sentence, and was also rewarded by Mr Mathie. (lately was a most powerful man, and with a very unprepossesing countenance. As he had become a Cause of Constant disturbances. and as the police could not afford him protection on all occasio is from ill-disposed mobs, be was advised to leave Victoi a. He did go, and had fieen living for some time near the borders of Queensland, where he died.