The Last Moments of Sergeant Kennedy.

Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3084, 6 January 1879, Page 2

The Last Moments of Sergeant Kennedy.

The following, in reference to Sergeant Kennedy's last moments, are received from a reliable source, and were related by Dan. Kelly himself to a confederate some time after the murders were committed. He says that M'lntyre's evidence, as given in the Mansfield Guardian, is in the main pretty correct. Kelly says :—

" Upon seeing M'lntyre gallop away, Kennedy continued to. fire at us without effect, as we sheltered ourselves. We let him fire about five shots from his revolver, he remaining nearly in the one position, and standing. A shot was fired by my mates, after which he started to run, followed by my brother and myself. After running about a quarter of a mile, and apparently seeing no chance of escape, as we were making upon him with our, weapons, Kennedy got behind a tree, and as I came within pistol shot he fired his, last remaining charge. As I saw him level* liag fair at my head, I suddenly fell on my knees, and as I did so I heard the bullet whizz over my head. I then fired at Ken-: nedy, who fell wounded at the foot of the tree where his body was afterwards found. The other two men, Hart and Byrne, that were coming up to us, seeing that the sergeant was secured, turned and went in pursuit of Mclntyre, who had escaped on Kennedy's horse. The sergeant never moved irom the spot where he fell, but complained of the pain he felt from the bullet wound. I should say we were with him nearly two hours, trying to get what information we could out of him. He always endeavored to turn the conversation in the direction of his domestic affairs, his home, his wife, and family, and-'-very frequently of the little one he had recently buried in the Mansfield cemetery, to whom he seemed very much attached, evidently knowing he would soon ba by its side. I could not help feeling very much touched at his pitiable condition, and after a little I said, " Well, Kennedy, I am sorry that I shot you; here, take my my gun and shoot me." Kennedy replied, "No, I forgive yon, and may God forgive you too." He then wrote as much on some slips in his note-book as his fast-failing strength would allow him, and after he had written what he could with his pencil, he handed the paper to me, and asked if I would give it to his wife. I took the paper, and promised that, when I lad a safe opportunity, I would do so. The sergeant then appeared to be suffering much, and in great agony. I could- got■, lookj upon him so, and 'did not wish "to leave him alone to linger out in such pain, so I suddenly, without letting him see what I intended, put the muzzle of a my gun to within a few inchel of his breast. When he saw that I was going to shoot him he begged of me me to leave him alive, saying, ' Let me alone to live if I can, for the sake of my poor wife and family.' Surely you have shed blood enough.' I fired, and he died instantly without another groan. We then took his cloak and cpvered it over his body, and left him to be buried by those who might find him. I did not cut off his ear, as reported. It must have been eaten away." v :