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THE KELLY GANG.      

EDWARD KELLY BEFORE THE POLICE

COURT.

[BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.]

(FROM OUR OWN REPORTER.)

BEECHWORTH, TUESDAY.

The hearing of evidence in support of the   charge against Edward Kelly of murdering Constable Lonigan was resumed this morn- ing in the Beechworth Police Court, Mr. W. H. Foster, P.M., presiding. Mr. C. A. Smyth     and Mr. Chomley appeared for the Crown, and Mr. D. Gaunson for the accused.

Robert Scott deposed,—In December, 1878, I was manager of the National Bank at Euroa. On the 10th December the pri- soner visited the bank. There was a knock at the door, and immediately after- wards he walked into my room, followed by Hart. They were armed with revolvers. Prisoner asked me to bail up. I said, "No hurry, I suppose, " whereupon he pointed his revolver at me, and said, " Throw up your hands," and I did so. He robbed the bank, ordered me into a spring-cart, with himself   and my servant. He took us to Young- husband's Faithful Creek Station. On the   way he spoke about the murders of the police, and I asked who shot Lonigan, to which he   replied, " Oh, I shot Lonigan."

To Mr. Gaunson.—Miss Shaw was in the   spring-cart all the time.  

Robert MacDougal deposed,—I am a ware- houseman, living in Melbourne. In Decem-

er, 1878, I was a bookbinder in the Govern- ment Printing-office. On the 10th of that   month I was in the neighbourhood of Euroa. There were four of us, Mr. Dudley, Mr. Case- ment, and Mr. Tennant. We were returning from a shooting excursion in the Strathbogie Ranges. Three of us were in a spring-cart,   and the fourth was on horseback. We were passing through Younghusband's station.  

A man came riding up behind us, armed with a revolver, and cried out, " Turn your horse   round, the station is stuck up." That man was the prisoner. Mr. Dudley said, " What authority have you got for sticking us up."  

We all jumped up. Prisoner, addressing Mr.   Casement, the owner of the cart, said " You     are Ned Kelly, where did you steal this cart?"  

Mr. Dudley said, " We did not steal this springcart ; we are honest men." The pri- soner produced a pair of handcuffs, and said, " Look here, I'll put these on you if you're not quiet," and Mr Dudley re- plied, "Look here, I'll report you to your superior officer," thinking he was a police- man. (Laughter.) Mr. Tennant, the one of   our party who rode the horse, then came up, and asked what was the matter. Dudley said, "the station is stuck up." "Come then," he said, " let us get into the spring- cart and load the guns." The prisoner said,

"Don't you get into that spring cart." We still continued to think that the prisoner was a policeman. He took us over to the sta- tion. There was another person with the prisoner by the name of Byrne. This person was also armed with a revolver. On arriving at the station a party by the name of Stephens, one of the station hands, intro-   duced us to the prisoner, saying, " This is Mr. Edward Kelly." Another young fellow, short, and about my size, named Dan Kelly, I think, came forward and searched me. We were then put into the storeroom. During the time we were there the prisoner was present keeping guard over us. He was visiting us every now and then. During one of his visits Dudley and I were standing near the open door apart from the other prisoners. Prisoner said to the old man Dudley, " Look here, isn't it bad enough to be called pro-   scribed outlaws, and not taking cheek from the likes of you?" Dudley, when first taken   was giving the prisoner tremendous cheek.

The prisoner then produced a watch—a big gold watch—and said to Mr. Dudley, "This   is a nice watch, ain't it?" Dudley said

"Yes." Prisoner then said, " That was poor Kennedy's watch. Wasn't it better for me   that I shot the police than have them carry-

ing my body into Mansfield as a mangled   corpse." He had a policeman's rifle—a   Spencer—strapped round his shoulder.

To Mr. Gaunson.—Cannot swear that it was a policeman's rifle. On our shooting ex-   cursion in the Strathbogies, we had a double- barrelled fowlingpiece and a rifle. We had a lot of ammunition and 80 or 90 bullets. We were kangarooing, and had no idea of hunt- ing the Kellys. Tennant offered to load the guns to help the police. "We'll help you,"

was all he said. We had no idea at all that   the Kellys were about until we reached the   station. The gold hunting watch you (Mr. Gaunson) now produce is like the one shown by the prisoner. I can't swear that that is   not the watch. Mr. Tennant, who has rather a hasty temper, wanted to fight the prisoner, but he did not do so. Prisoner treated us very well, and offered us no violence. I did not see my rifle afterwards ; neither did I ever see again a bottle of whisky we left in the spring-cart. (Laughter.) It was only a   lemonade bottle we had got filled with whisky at a hotel on our way.

Henry Dudley, ledgermaker, employed at   the Government Printing office, stated.—On the 10th December, 1878, Mr. MacDougal,

Mr. Casement, and myself were driving over Younghusband's station and Mr. Tennant,   who was on horseback, went ahead to open the     railway gates. The prisoner at this moment rode up to us, presented a revolver, and said the station was bailed up. I took him to be a policeman in plain clothes. I felt irritated when he said to us, " Where did you shake   that cart from ?" and said to him, " How dare

you accuse gentlemen of stealing a horse and trap ?" and I told him I would report him to his superior officers, whereupon he told me   to hold my tongue or he would blow my

brains out. He took us all to the station, and locked us up in the storeroom. When we arrived at the station he made a person named Stephens introduce   him to us " because," he said, " these gentle-   men don't seem to understand or comprehend   who I am." We were then informed that he was Kelly. He paid us several visits in the storeroom. On one occasion MacDougal and I were standing near the door. Macdougal remarked, " This is a bad joke," and the pri- soner opening the door came in. The prisoner showed us a gold watch. I took it to be a double-cased one, and   he said, " Isn't that a fine watch?"  

I replied that it was, and he said, " That is Kennedy's watch, and added, " Wasn't it better for me to shoot the police than have my mangled corpse carried into Mansfield?" He did not name the police.

To Mr. Gaunson.—When I returned to  

Melbourne I was interviewed by reporters and gave them statements. The gentleman who subpœnaed me did not ask me about this case. He simply gave me the subpœna,   and departed in peace. (Laughter.) We had three tails and the hind part of a kangaroo, and at the time we were balled up we were just joking about having a feed. There was also a bottle of whisky in the cart. It was intended for me, but I never saw it again. (Laughter.) When we arrived at the station Mr. Stephens introduced me to the accused, saying, " This is Mr. Edward Kelly, the bushranger."

Then, as it is vulgarly termed, I tumbled to it. (Laughter.) When stuck up     by Kelly I asked the accused, not knowing who he was, " Are the Kellys about?" He     said they were. Tennant then came up, and addressing me said, "Harry, what's the   matter?" and I said "Why the Kellys are about ;" and he, being a Scotchman, said, " Eh, mon, let's get up and load our guns."

(Laughter.) Edward Kelly took great care   that we should not get into the cart, and wise, too, on his part. When I was irritated and giving Kelly—well, call it impudence if you like, he pulled out a pair of handcuffs, and the sight of them settled me at once. (Laughter.) We were all locked comfortably   in the storeroom all night, with nothing but a bucket of water and a dipper to drink with. (Laughter.)

Edward Richard Living deposed.—In Feb-   ruary, 1879, I was teller of the Bank of New   South Wales at Jerilderie. On the 10th of that month the accused and his mates stuck up and robbed the bank. I heard them   afterwards talking to a number of people in the hotel. The accused showed a revolver,   which he said had been taken from the police who were shot. I could not swear that I heard him mention any particular constable. Other people were asking him as to the shooting of the police, and he said that the gun he shot them with was an old gun but a very good one. He said it was bound about the lock with string or wire, and that he could shoot round a corner with it. The accused said to me, "You come along ; I want to see about the bank's books. Hs also asked where the

newspaper man could be found, and we went to look for Mr. Gill. We went to his house, and found Mrs. Gill in the yard. He asked her where her husband was, and she told him she didn't know. He then told her   that he wanted her husband to print something for him, and he produced a roll of manuscript. Handing it to me he said, " Get it printed ; it is a bit of my life. I have not had time to finish it, I will finish it some other time." Part of it has been published —   not the whole. It referred to the murders of the police.

Mr. Smyth said this was the document

that he thought might not be received as evidence, so at present he would not push it

any further.

Senior-constable Kelly deposed.—I was   present at the capture of the prisoner at Glenrowan. The prisoner appeared in the bush about 7 o'clock in the morning. He   looked a strange sight. He wore an oilskin coat and some head gear. Some of the police challenged him, and ordered him to go back.

He took no notice of them, so they fired at him, and he fired back with a revolver either at Constable Phillips or Constable Arthur, who were nearest to him. I came round from the east corner of the hotel. Several other con- stables came forward and fired at him. He fired on them several times, and then went behind a tree. We fired more shots at him   there, but they had no effect on him except when it shot his hand, which was round the tree. He then walked to a dead log 10 yards distant. Sergeant Steele then came from the hotel side, and got within 15 or 20 yards and fired two shots at him in succession. I was about 20 yards away from the prisoner, and I   saw him stagger under Steele's shot. I said   to Constable Bracken and others, "Come on

and we will rush him." With that Sergeant Steele rushed forward, fired, and Kelly staggered. Steele fired again, and he fell, saying, "That will do." Steele. I, and others ran up. Steele seized him first, and I second. We disarmed him, and found   him clad in armour. We took it off, and Sergeant Steele at once recognised him as Ned Kelly. When the men ran up, Kelly said to Bracken—" Bracken, save me ; I saved you." I said—" You showed very little mercy to poor Kennedy and Scanlan, and he replied—" I had to shoot them, or they would have shot me." I searched him on the spot, and asked—" Have you Sergeant Kennedy's   watch, or tell me where it is, as I promised Mrs. Kennedy to get it for her. He replied —" I can't tell you ; I would not like to tell you. The armour was made of steel mouldboards, I believe. The helmet was open   at the top, with a slit for the eyes. The breast and back plates came right down to his thighs, and there was a flap hanging in front. Some of the pieces were marked with the name of Hugh Lennon, the ploughmaker. The prisoner when fighting with the police, struck his helmet several times with his re- volver, and it rang like a bell. I had charge of the lock-up from 2 to 7 o'clock on Tuesday     morning. About 7 o'clock Constable M'Intyre     said he would like to see Kelly, and I took him over to the lock-up. I said to the pri-   soner, "Ned, do you know this man?" He replied, "No, is it Flood ?" M'Intyre said, 'The last time we met you took me to be Flood." The prisoner then   says, "I know you now it is M'Intyre."  

M'Intyre said, "I have suffered a great deal   over this affair ; was my statement correct?" Prisoner replied, " Yes." M'Intyre said,   " Did I not tell you I would sooner be shot myself than tell you anything about the     other two if you intended to shoot them?"  

The prisoner answered, "You did ; and you asked me why we went near the police when we knew where you were, and I replied that     you would have soon found us out and shot us down." The prisoner went on to say that they had no money or horses, and wanted to make a rise. M'Intyre remarked that   the prisoner had him covered with his gun, and turned round suddenly upon Lonigan. " No," said the prisoner, "Lonigan was behind a log and had his revolver pointed at me when I shot him." M'Intyre   said, "That is all nonsense." Before M'Intyre came I visited the prisoner at 3 o'clock in the   morning in the presence of Constable Ryan. I gave him a drink of milk and water. I then said to him, "Ned, what about Fitz- patrick ; was his statement correct. He said, " Yes, it was I who shot him."  

Cross-examined by Mr. Gaunson.—Have   been 19 years constable in the police. Kelly was lying on a mattress in the cell at Benalla when I spoke with him, and his hands had been dressed by a doctor. It is the duty of police to carry their revolvers always in their

belts. Don't think I would have left mine in   the tent as M'Intyre did. I did not hear   Bracken say to Mr. Hare at the Glenrowan platform that the Kellys had a large number of prisoners in Jones's Hotel. All I heard   him say was, " The Kellys are in Jones's   Hotel ; surround them." Every time a shot was fired from the inside of the house the police replied. When screams were heard inside the house, Mr. Hare, who had been wounded, sang out, "Stop firing, and for God's sake, Kelly, surround the house." I   sang out to my men to stop firing. The black trackers were more active in firing than the police. They were told to stop several times, and they would not. I told them myself, and     so did Constable Gascoigne and others. I had not had time to surround the house before Mr. Hare left. Reinforcements did not arrive until about 5 o'clock, when Sergeant   Steele and his men arrived from Wanga- ratta. Mr. Sadleir, from Benalla, arrived at about the same time. By 6 o'clock the   hotel was properly surrounded. Between 6 and 8 o'clock shots frequently came from the   front and back windows, and the police fired  

back in reply.

Mr. Smyth pointed out that this line of cross-examination was irrelevant.  

Mr. Foster concurred with the Crown pro- secutor, and remarked that however desira- ble it was to investigate the Glenrowan affair, it had no relevancy to the murder of Loni-

gan.

Cross-examination continued. — No one   pulled out a portion of the prisoner's beard   when he was captured. Constable Dwyer gave him a kick, and Constable Bracken threatened to shoot any one who injured the prisoner. When the hotel was fired it was   known that three of the outlaws were inside, and it was believed that at least two of them were alive. It was also known that Martin

Cherry was in the back kitchen, and not

in the hotel.

Mr. Smyth intimated that this was the case     for the Crown, and submitted that a primâ facie case had been made out, and asked that the prisoner should be committed for trial at the Beechworth Assizes in October next.

Mr. Foster said that he considered that a   primâ facie case had been made out, and as there was only one course he could pursue viz., to commit the prisoner, he presumed     the defence would be reserved.

Mr. Gaunson replied in the affirmative.

Mr. Foster asked the prisoner, in the usual   way, if he had anything to say against his being committed for trial. The prisoner said,

" No."

Mr. Gaunson said the prisoner wished to say nothing, except through his counsel in the Supreme Court. The prisoner was then formally committed for trial at Beechworth, on the 14th of October next.

The second charge against the prisoner viz., that he murdered Constable Michael Scanlan in October, 1878, at Stringybark Creek, was then proceeded with. Constable M'Intyre was called upon to repeat his evidence, and had not concluded his state- ment when the Court was adjourned until next morning.

After Kelly was remanded yesterday after- noon, Mr. Gaunson made an application to Mr. Foster, P.M., that the prisoner should       be supplied with the newspapers of the day. Mr. Foster replied that he could not grant the   application, as the matter did not come within his jurisdiction. Mr. Gaunson said that he would then have to waste time read- ing over the newspaper reports to the pri- soner in gaol, as he indeed had been doing

hitherto.

A rumour is very current in Beechworth at present that some difiiculty has arisen in connexion with the plant of the gang. That there is a large amount of their loot planted somewhere is undoubted, but where it is remains a mystery. If it is concealed in the bush, no one but the members of the gang knows of it. Ned Kelly is of course the only person alive who can tell where it is, and even had he an opportunity of giving his friends the desired information it might be, after all, as difficult to discover as the pot of sovereigns which were hid- den by Weiberg at the Tarwin River. On the other hand, it may have been concealed in a place he could easily explain to his friends. The rumour is that a certain friend has managed to learn where the loot is, that he has " sprung the plant, " and that he has disappeared. By whom this statement was originally made is not known to the authorities. So far as can be ascertained, it must either have come from a sympathiser, or have arisen from peculiarities that have been observed in the conduct of certain rela- tives of the gang.

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