Broadford Courier (Broadford, Vic. : 1891 - 1893), Friday 28 April 1893, page 1


A Kelly Gang Relic. MR. W. J. R. Wallace of the Broken River Hotel, Benalla, has been successful in obtain-ing possession of the watch taken from Sergeant Kennedy when he was shot at Stringy Bark Creek, Wombat Ranges, by the Kelly Gang on 26th October, 1878, when Constables Lonaghan and Scanlan were also shot. Mr. Wallace, once a member of the police force, had a good idea of where the watch was, and for years has been trying to secure and restore it to Mrs. Kennedy. There was an erroneous impression abroad that a reward of £50 had been offered for its re-storation, and an individual, whose name Mr. Wallace declines to disclose, offered to get the watch back if there was no fear of prosecution. Mr. Wallace wrote to the Chief Commissioner, who replied there was no reward, and as the persons who stole the watch were clearly dead no prosecution would be instituted. Mr. Wallace also wrote to Mrs. Kennedy, who replied that she would give a reward of £5. This correspondence took place in July last, and nothing more was heard of the matter until Thursday last, when a little girl left in the bar of the hotel a brown paper parcel addressed to Mr. Wallace, who was not told of the matter until Saturday. He then opened the parcel, and found a gold watch, with the initials "M. K. " on it, and on referring to a description published in an old Police Gazette, he saw it was the watch presented to Sergeant Kennedy by the Anti-Cattle Stealing Association. He at once wired to to the Chief Commissioner of Police and to Mrs. Kennedy, who is living at Mansfield, that he had got the murdered sergeant's watch, and that it was in good condition except that the main spring was broken.