THE KELLYS.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2002, 24 July 1880, Page 3

THE KELLYS.

The following iB from a contemporary: It has been ascertained beyond a doubt that at Euroa and Jerilderie, aa well as at Glenrowan, the gang indulged in too much strong drink. It will be remembered that at Jerilderie Joe Byrne got so drunk while "larking" with the barmaid of an hotel, and during the time his mates had possession of the police station, that ho had to be assisted to mount his horse, and received, in consequence, a severe reprimand from his chief, who told him he would yet spoil all their plans by getting drunk ; and this prediction has in a manner been fulfilled, as Byrne is known to have drunk heavily before shooting Aaron Sherrit, and both he and the others took nobbier after nobbier of brandy in Jones's hotel on the Sunday night and Monday morning before they were shot. There is not the slightest doubt that, but for this, the gang would have had the forethought to have made their escape as soon as they saw their plans had failed and that the police were about to surround the house.

Altogether, Byrne seems to have led a charmed life. Not only was he in the habit of making periodical visits to Boeohworth " to see his girl," but he had also been seen by members of the polios force in Wangaratta, who, however, failed to identify him as one of the outlaws on whose head a reward of £2OOO was Bet.

It is also stated that a few days before the murder of Sherritt, he was drinking in Marchain's hotel, Benalla, and one of those who were bailed up in the Glenrowan hotel asserts he "shouted " for him on that occasion.

Horrible oa the deaths of Dan Kelly and Steve Hart were, many of their friends and relations wish Ned had met a similar fate zather than be hanged, and they profess even to be more satisfied at every vestige of what they possessed being destroyed than that their clothes and effects should have fallen into the hands of the police. The reason for this is, that it is believed Dan and Hart had letters in their possession which would criminate more than one of their numerous sympathisers now at large. Regarding the capture of the Kelly gang, a great deal of comment has been passed by many residents of the north-eastern district that Superintendent Nicholson's namo has not received any prominence, whereas it appears that the plans for capturing the outlaws, which for months he had been maturing before his removal from that district, have, in a great measure, been carried out. In support of this, several influential residents of Benalla have got up a testimonial and presentation, both of which are of a very flattering nature.

In the spring of 1848 two brothers, " Oodys," and a man named Kelly, were constantly stealing sheep from a farmer named Gorman, in the mountains of Sleve-na-mong county, Tipperary, their native place. Gorman at last lay in ambush one night, watching the sheep, and was not long when he saw the two Oodys and Kelly taking three of them. He followed, and they seeing they were detected, and that it would be hanging or transportation for them, one of the Codys shot Gorman. Two days aftor the murder the three of them were arrested on suspicion; but the Government not having sufficient evidence to convict them, offered a reward and free pardon to any of the accomplices who would turn Queen's evidence against the other two. Kelly did do so, and on his evidence the two Codys were convicted and hanged at Glonmel gaol. Kelly was the hangman" on that occasion, and, through some mismanagement of his in adjusting the rope round one of the Codys neck, the black cap got off Cody's head and on to Kelly's shoulder. Cody's sister, who was in the crowd, called out to her brothers that it was Kelly, their informer, who was their executioner. At this news Cody caught hold of Kelly, and was shoving him on to the drop, but was prevented by the sheriff and warder on duty from committing a further murder on Kelly. This Kelly was the father of the outlawed Kellys. He had to fly to Australia, as well as many other informers at that time. When it became known in Wangaratta that the Kellys has broken out again, precautions were at once taken to guard the approaches to the town. Trooper Dwyer and Trooper Dixon were stationed at the two principal bridges with orders to challenge everyone crossing towards the town. The Kellys expressed a wish to get into Wangaratta if they could not take Benalla. As an instance of quick riding in connection with the Kelly tragedy, it may be mentioned that, whon the news of the fight having commenced at Glenrowan reached Wangaratta, Sergeant Steele and Troopers R. Cawsey, Moore, and Montefort started on horseback from the latter town a few moments before the Bpecial train, and galloped the eleven miles to Glenrowan in thirty-five minutes, getting to the scene of the fight ahead of the special, and placing themselves in position at once. Very little mention has been made of Mr Osborne, the line repairer, who pluckily climbed the telegraph pole at Glenrowan, and affixed a 'wire to the railway line, from whence it was carried into ithe station-master's room, where a pocket instrument was ucflaggingly worked by Mr H. Cheshire, of Beechworth. Mr Osborne, during the time he was climbing the pole, became a target for the outlaws' guns; and more credit is due to him in consequence of his being obliged to repeat the same performance Borne hours after, when the fixings got out of repair. It may also interest the public to know that during the five days (from Monday to Friday)|that the excitement lasted, over 50,000 wordß were despatched from Benalla to all parts of Australia—the great bulk being, of course, forwarded by the representatives of the Melbourne press.