KELLT INCIDENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 97, 30 July 1880, Page 3

KELLT INCIDENTS.

-4 AN EXTBAOHDINABY APPARITION. The statement of Constable Arthur with regard to the encounter shows the effect which the appearance of Ned Kelly and his extraordinary conduct had upon the police. After describing the finding of Ned's rifle covered with blood and a skull cap on the ground near the hotel, the Constable says :— " I moved to a log' within 80 yards of a house, into which I commenced to fire. Sergeant Kelly left me there, and a bullet from the hut tore up the ground underneath my stomach. I consequently determined to go to another part of the log. It was very cold, and I filled m y pipe to have a smoke. Just at daylight I was in the act of lighting my pipe, and heard Ned Kelly coming behind me. His extraordinary appearance so startled me that I let the pipe drop out of my mouth, and gaped at the strange object for a minute, not knowing but that it was a madman wno had conceived the idea of storming the hotel with a nail-can on his head._lJbfitt, < jaid M -bum* •Ooßaciryou d fool, you will get shot.' Tfce figure replied, 4 I cots sfcooi you, sonny,' andj* that momaat fiwd hw revolver atria*, but

missed. He evidently was crippled, and did not take proper aim. We were then only between 20 to 80 yards apart. I levelled my Martini rifle, and fired at his helmet, thinking I would knock it off. It only staggerod him slightly. An opening in the helmet looked like a huge mouth, and I fired at that and hit him again. He still came on. I fired a third shot at his body, and heard it scud off him. I was completely astonished, and could not understand what the object I was filing at was. The men around me appeared astonished, too. Someone said, 'He is a madman ! Dowaett, the railway guard, said, ' He is the devil!' Sergeant Kelly exclaimed, ' Look out, boys, he is the bunyip! 1 At once I sought shelter, and tried to get round at the back. I did so because I found it was no use firing at his front. Before I could succeed in doing so, Sergeant Steele ran up from behind and shot him. When I shot at him first, Sergeant Steele thought I had made a mistake, and called to me to stop firing. After he had been captured Ned Kelly shook his fist at me and swore."