Burra Record (SA : 1878 - 1954), Friday 21 February 1879, page 3


Kelly Gang.

The statement made by Ned Kelly contains an account of his life since he was fourteen years of age. He appeared to have been passionately fond of horses, his first crime

being the taking a temporary loan of a neigh-bor's horse without his permission when he was fourteen years old, and for which he was sentenced to three months' imprisonment. The statement then traces his career to the time of the alleged shooting of Fitzpatrick, and all charges and complaints are made against the police, whom he charges with dog-ging himself and family continually on the most trumpery pretexts. Kelly admits that he stole horses, which he regards as a trivial offence. He states that he has stolen and disposed of over 200 horses. He reiterates the assertion that he was away from home when Fitzpatrick was shot, and had no hand in that affair. He says — "Constable Fitz-patrick came to apprehend my innocent brother Dan. Mother asked had he a warrant, and replied he had a telegram. Dan was having something to eat at the time. Mother said, "If my son Ned were at home he would throw you out of the house." Dan looking out of the window, said "Here he comes." Fitz- patrick turned suddenly round to look, when Dan, throwing down his fork, jumped up and seized him, and in the scuffle Fitzpatrick was shot. The writer gives a version of the attack on the Mansfield Police, which does not differ materially from that which has already appeared. He says he shot Lonigan first, then Scanlon and Kennedy. Further that Scanlon, who carried a repeating rifle, came up to the camp after Lonigan was shot and fired off his rifle as soon as he got off his horse without unslinging it. Kennedy fired several shots before he fell mortally wounded. Kelly indignantly denies the mutilating of Kennedy, and says that after the police showed fight, were they his own brothers he would have been compelled to shoot them, or they would have shot him without giving him a chance to surrender. He declares the outlaws will never be taken alive, and that they are sworn to die side by side. In the synopsis to hand nothing is said about Fitzpatrick having attempted to take liberties with his sister, but the girl herself has admitted that such was the case. It is probable that the circumstances will be found in the full statement whenever it sees the light.

The following is further news respecting Kelly's letter: — The special reporter of the Age, who was dispatched to Jerilderie, inter-viewed Mr. Lyving and got Kelly's letter. The document, which is lengthy, is written in an illiterate style. The synopsis previously published is pretty correct. Full particulars are given of the circumstances of the murder of the police. They are interesting as corroborat-ing McIntyre's account in the main. Ned Kelly shot the constables while the others were away from the scene except Dan Kelly, who appeared before Kennedy was shot. Ned Kelly stole upon McIntyre's and Lonigan and ordered them to bail up. The former obeyed but the latter ran behind a log and presented his revolver, and was about to fire when Kelly's deadly aim killed him almost instantaneously. He then had a long conversation with McIntyre when Kennedy and Scanlon approached. He directed McIntyre to go forward and bail up and he did so. Kennedy jumped off his horse and ran behind a tree ; Scanlon slewed round his horse to gallop off, but the animal became restive and Scanlon without unslinging his rifle dis-charged it and never shot Ned, who then fired killing him. McIntyre jumped on the horse and rode off. Ned Kelly did not like to shoot him as he had surrendered in the first instance. Kennedy fired several shots at Dan Kelly, who came forward. Kennedy then ran away and Ned Kelly fired at him, the ball

striking him in the armpit. He fell and was turning round to surrender when Ned fired again, mistaking the action, and the ball took effect in his right breast. Ned saw the case was hopeless, and covered Kennedy with his cloak. He says he shot him in self-protection and swears that he did not mutilate him. There is a boastful intemperate tone throughout the letter. It is stated on reliable authority that a man named Bobby Gribble an accomplic of the Kellys at Jerilderie, has cleared out. There is much in Kelly's letter unsuitable for publication, and it will consequently be with-held. It covers fifty-seven closely-written pages of foolscap. Most of the facts in refer-ence to his life have already been published.