The Mansfield Murders.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1258, 22 July 1880, Page 3

The Mansfield Murders.

After a while news came that the Kellys were in the ranges at the head of the King- River, aud two parties set out to take them — one of five men going from Greta under Sergeant Steele, and the other starting from Mansfield. Sergeant Kennedy was in command, and under him were constables Lonergan, Scanlan, and M 'ln tyre, all these men having been stationed at Mansfield under sub-inspector Pewtress. The movements of the Mansfield expedition were supposed to be secret ; but the ranges are infested with a tribe of Quinns, Harts, Byrnes, Kellys, aud Lloyds, all related, and the news was doubtless communicated at once to Ned Kelly by bush, telegraph. Kennedy's party started from Mansfield on the 25th October, 1878, and only one member of it ever returned alive. The men were equipped with a Spencer revolving rifle, a double-barrelled gun, and revolvers; they had a tent and a fortnight's provisions, and they were determined to make a capture. That evening they reached an open space on the Stringybark Creek, 20 Miles from Mansfield and 13 from the head of the King River, and pitched their tent on the site of some old digginga, Kennedy and Scanlan both

Knew the placo, but they supposed themselves to be a long way from the lair of the Kellys, and their intention was to camp for a few days, patrol backwards and forwards, and gradually shift the camp back into the langes, until they traced the two Kellys. Now it is certain enough that the two Kellys markad the camp that night, and next day occnred a tragedy, all of whose horrors are not known and only two of the octors in which survive. About 6 a.m. on the 26th October, Kennedy and Scanlan went down the creek to explore, and the other two men stayed in camp, it being constable M,Intyre's duty that day to cook. Thenceforward the story is his. During the forenoon he heard a noise and went out to look for its* cause, but found nothing. He, however, fired two shots at a pair of parrots, and these must have been heard by 'the gang. Then at 5 p.m., as M'lntyre and Lonergan were sitting at tea, they were surprised with the sudden cry, '' Bail up ; throw up your arms." Four armed men (Ned Kelly, Dan Kelly, Hart, and Byrne) had surrounded them, three carrying guns, and Ned Kelly the leader, bearing a couple of rifles. M'lntyre, who had left his revolver at the tent door and was totally unarmed; at once held up his hands and faced around ; but Lonergan ran for cover, placing his hand to his revolver as he went. He had not gone many paces when Edward Kelly shot him through the temple, and, with the cry, "0 Christ, lam shot !" he fell, and in a few seconds died. Then came the approach of Kennedy aiid .Scanlan, and the four desperadoes concealed themselves, making M'lntyre sit on a log, where he was covered by Ned Kellys riflle. Kennedy and Scanlan rode in, and while M'lntyre cried, Vi Sergeant, I think you had better dismount and surrender, as you are surrounded," Ned Kelly shouted, "Put up your hands." Kennedy seemed to think it was a jest, and with a smile he put his hand to his revolver. A bullet whistled past him, and he then, as if realizing that resistance was hopeless dismounted and said, "It's all right; stop it, stop it!" But Scanlan leaped down and ran for a tree, trying to unsling • the Spencer rifle as he went. Before he could reach cover he was shot down, the blood pouring from his tnroat and side as he fell. He never spoke and probably died at once. Then a number of shots were fired, x\u\ M'lntyre seeing that the murder of all was intended jumped on Kennedy's horse and spurred him down the creek. After a two-mils gallop his horse knocked up, and dismounting he concealed himself in a wombat hole until dark. As soon as night fell he started to walk across country, and at 3 p.m., on Sunday, 27th October, reached M'Coll's place near Mansfield, and reported the murders. Two hours later, sub-inspector Pewtress. with constable M'lntyre and seA*en or eight volunteers, left for the scene of the outrage, armed with only one revolver and one gun, all the weapons left in the police camp. They reached their destinstion to find the tent burut and the bodies of Lonergan and Scanlan lying where they had fallen each pierced with four or five bullets wounds as though every one of the gang had been actually implicated in the murder. Kernedy could not be traced ; and, as Mclntyre was sure he was un wounded when he (M 'La tyre) escaped, hopes were felt that the sergeant had also got away. But on Thursday Kennedy's dead body was found not far from the camp, and near the track taken by M'lntyre. It was pierced with three balls, one going through the lungs, and in each case the jacket was singed, as if the shots had been fired at close quarters. Subsequently a dreadful story was told, to the effect that Kennedy was taken unwounded, and allowed to live until, next morning, he showed Kelly how to use the Spencer rifle. Then the gang emptied their guns into him, and rode away from the scene of the carnage. Riding towards Chiltern, they robbed Neil Christian at Bungowannah of a quantity of provisions, and then for a time they disappeared as completely as if the earth had swallowed them. A reward of £200 each was offered for information leading to their apprehension and conviction, and the Mansfield district was flooded by police. Of those who were shot, Scanlan was unmarried, but Kennedy and Lonergou left widows and children.