AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 892, 24 February 1879, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(by steamer at auckland.) New South Wales. About 12 o'clock on Saturday night the Kellys stuck up the Police Barracks at Jerilderie, bailed up the police, and put them in the lock-up. Constable Devine was kept a prisoner until Monday night. The other constable (Richards) was. occasionally taken round the town by the Kellys and Hart. Mrs, Devine and her children were, shut up. in another room on Sunday and Monday. No one was allowed near the. Barracks. Early on Monday the Kellys' horses were shod in Jerilderie. When everything was secure in the barracks, the Kellys dressed the police, and the two Kellys, disguised, walked down the street in company with Richards and Hart. Byrne followed on horseback. Kelly walked to the Royal Hotel, and Richards introduced Cox, the landlord, to Kelly, who said that he wanted rooms, as .he intended to rob the. bank, but would do nobody harm. The bushrangers were then placed by Ned Kelly in the front part of the hotel, and as the people went to drink they were seized and placed in a room, where Dan Kelly . was ' sentinel. The band then entered at the rear, and Kelly, with two revolvers in his hands, announced who he was. ' Resistance was considered useless, and they surrendered. Up to th.i? tim,e there was no idea that the Kelly's were in Jerilderie. As about three gentlemen entered, the. bank, the Kellys issued from another room with two revolvers. The gentlemen ran out, Rankin running to the hotel and .W. Gill in another direction. Ned Kelly ran after Rankin and caught him by the collar and asked him why he ran away. Kelly ■ then took Rankin into a passage, and, straightening ,

1 ".'■■ r ■'•■• '■■' •■■ •.;•• •* ' —-a him against a wall, levelled his revolver' at him.,' He several times called Hart bv the name of " Revenge," told him to shoot the first who attempted resistance and asked for Gill. He took Richards and Living to look for Gill. The police? man (Richards) had a revolver with him but Kelly had drawn the cartridges' He went to Gill's house and saw Gill. He said to her, "This statement here contains a little act of my lif e . r want it published by Gill; will you take it?" She refused to do so. Mr. Living took the paper and promised to publish it He (Kelly) then went to the telegraph office and met Byrne, who had cut the wires. Ned Kelly broke the insulators off with his revolver, and took the postmaster and his assistant to the Royal Hotel, and left them there. About L'2ooo was taken from the bank. When they had finished this they went to the hotel treating the inmates civilly, and had drinks. Hart took a new saddle from the saddlers. Several watches were taken afterwards. They then returned to the police station, where some horses were | taken and others were wanted ; but as they belonged to a woman they were left. The telegraph operators and a number of others were taken prisoners to the lock-up, where they were kept till 7 p.m. Eight telegraph poles were cut by Bryne, who took possession of the office, and overhauled all the telegrams sent that day. Later on Kelly mixed with a number of persons at M'Donald's Hotel. He said that anyone could shoot him, but must abide the consequences. If he were shot they would be shot. The Kcllys managed the. affair with judgment ; had there been twice the number of police they wouldt; have carried out their designs. The-bush-rangers left at about 7 o'clock p.m., but in what direction is unknown.. It is openly stated that they came purposely to shoot Devine, but his wife begged for his life, or he would have been shot.. Kelly stated that he intended to take the Urara coach and rob the bank of that, place. Two police and civilians, armedl with guns, offered to go with the coachdriver, but he declined. The police have no means of following, as they are unarmed and without horses. On Monday the town was filled with swagmen and suspicious characters.