THE KELLYS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2293, 23 July 1880, Page 2

THE KELLYS.

FAMILY ANTECEDENTS. In the spring of 1848 two brothers, “ Coclys,” and a man named Kelly were constantly stealing sheep from a farmer named Gorman, in the mountains of Slcvc-na-mong county, Tipperary, their native place. Gorman at last Jay in ambush one night, watching the sheep, and was not long when he saw the two Codys 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 Godys’ shot Gormon. Two days after the murder the three of them wore arrested on suspicion; but the Government not having suflicient evidence to convict them, offered a reward and a free pardon to any of the accomplices who would turn Queen’s evidence against tire other two. Kelly did do so, and on his evidence the two Codj's’were convicted and hanged at Clonmel gaol. Kelly was the hangman on that occasion, and, through some mismanagement of his adjusting the rope round one of the Codys’ neck,the black cap got olf Codys’ head and on to Kelly’s shoulder. Codys’ sister who was in the crowd, called out to her brothers that it was Kelly, their informer, who their executor. At this news Codys 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. Ho had to lly to Australia, as well as many other informers at that time. DRINK THEIR FINAL RUIN. It has been ascertained beyond a doubt that at Euroa and Jerildcric, as well as at Glcnrowan, the gang indulged in too much strong drink. It will be remembered that at Jerildcric 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 lie had to be assisted to mount his horse, and received, in consequence, a severe reprimand from his chief, who told him lie would yet spoil all their plans by getting drunk ; and this prediction has in a manner been fulllilled, as Byrne is known to have drunk heavily before shooting Aaron Sberritt, 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 that 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 Beech worth “ to see his girl,” but he has also been scon by members of the police force in Wangaratta, who, however, failed to identify him as one of the outlaws on whose head a reward of £2OOO was set.

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 as the deaths of Dan Kelly and Steve Hart were, many of their friends and relations wish Ned had met a similar fate rather than be hanged, and they profess to be even 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. IXCIDKXTS 01' XIIKIR CAI’TUIUi. When it became known in "Wangaratta that the Kellys had broken out again, precautions wore 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 the}" could not take Benalla. As an instance of quick riding in connection with the Kelly tragedy, it may be mentioned that, when the news of the light having commenced at (llcnrowan reached Wangaratta, Sergeant Steele and Troopers 11. Cawsey, Moore, and Montefort started on horseback from the latter town a few moments before the special 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 hue repairer, who pluckily climbed the telegraph pole at Glenrowan, and affixed a wire to the railway line, from whence it was carried into the station master’s room, whore a pocket instrument was uuflaggiugly worked by Mr H. Cheshire, of Bccchworth. Mi Osborne, during the time he was climbing the pole, became a target for the outlaws’ guns ; and more credit is duo to him in consequence of his being obliged to repeat the same performance some time 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 words were despatched from Benalla to all parts of Australia—the great bulk being, of course, forwarded by the representatives of the Melbourne Press.