The morning call., 1893-06-18
THE KELLY GANG.
Bandits Who Committed
Many Crimes.
HOW THEY EVADED PURSUIT.
Shielded by Bullet-Proof Armor They
Captured Towns, Robbed Banks
and Killed Policemen.

The career Of the bandits Evans and
Sontag in measure resembles the history
of the celebrated Kelly gang of Australian
bushrangers. Like Evans and Sontag, the
Kelly gang were treacherous. cowardly
and bloodthirsty. They waged war against
every one with the exception of their ac-
completes, and because these murderous
pests of society and cold-blooded slayers
of fathers aud breadwinners of families.
when brought to bay, fought for their
lives like any other wild beasts,
certain class of the community
were found who were disposed to look
at their bloodthirsty deeds through pair
Oh romantic spectacles, and whose morbid
sentiment led them to regard these enc
mics of all mankind with sympathy rather
than repugnance-in short to look at them
as heroes insteod of murderers. The
Kelly gang were four in Dumber-the
leader, Ned Kelly. his brother, Dan, Joe
Byrne and Steve Hart.
They were originally horse and cattle
thieves. They were pretty successful at
first, and for long time managed to evade
the police, but at last the pursuit got too
hot for them. and they developed into
Uuoul auEcIo VI lue WOrSL byp6s
Although q large Government reward
was put on their heads they managed to
escape capture, and kept large tract of
country in Victoria in complete state Of
terrorism.
This part of the country lies between
Mansfield and Glenrowan and includes
the Wombat and Strathbogie ranges and
the Ovens district 1t still goes Dy the
name of the Kelly country, ard one can
not journey by rail between Atburg and
Melbourne without having the bank at
"Eurya" and the depot at Violet" pointed
out to him as time-honored places of inter-
est in connection with the Kelly BUSH
rangers. in 1878 the Kellys killed the
three mounted troopers, Seaman, LoDer-
gan and Fitzpatrick, near Mansfield.
Ned Kelly murdered Sergeant Kennedy
at the WonDat Ranges.
The poor sergeant was badly wounded and
begged Ned Kelly not to shoot him down
In cold blood, but the cowardly wretch
walked right up to the poor fellow, and,
placing his gun close TO his head, deliber-
ately blew his brains out.
After that the gang committed a num-
Der of other outrages in Victoria and then
crossing over the border seized the town Of
Terilderie in New South Wales.
First cutting the telegraph wires, they
then imprisoned the inhabitants in the
principal hotel and other houses, three of
them keeping guard while the leader, Ned
Kelly, pillaged the houses and ransacked
the bank, stealing between two and three
thousand pounds. Terilderie at that time
was a flnurishing little town with a popu-
lation of 800 people. 1t was also postal
town with police barracks and telegraphic
communication. They held possession of
it for a considerable time.
After this the Government increased the
reward for their capture to R5OOO or
S25, 600, and at one time no less than 300
mounted troopers we're securing the couu-
try trying 10 find their wherea bouts but
as they had many friends and reIatiouA in
the district who sympathiZsd with them,
and as they were amply prOvid ed with
money and provisions they remained hid
del securely among the mountain ranges
for long time. Such was the dread in
which they and their friends were held
that no one dared to give any information
about them.
A man named "Skarrat," who had
supplied them with provisions, was sus-
pected of having given information to the
! police. Skarrat was surprised in bed one
night by Ned Kelly, who, in spite of the
mans suppIcstions and protestations of
not having betrayed them, deliberately
murderet him.
A special act of Parliament was put into
| force authorizing the detention of persons
! supposed to be In communication with
the bushrangers, but very little was heard
of them until June, 1880, when they sud-
denly appeared at Glenrowan, small
town with a population of about 100
people.
| The Kellys thought themselves safe, as
they had torn the rails up, and ineffectu-
ally attempted to precipitate a special
! train full of troopers and "black trackers"
| into a deep gully; but the attempt failed,
and on the arrival of the police the out
laws took refuge in Jones Hotel, wooden
! building, where they held the inhabitants
prisoners.
The police surrounded the house and
| laid regular siege to it. A heavy fire was
| exchanged between beSieged and beSiegerS
| for some time Eventually the hotel was
| set on fire. and WREN the flames and smoke
| first burst out Ned Kelly suddenly ap-
peared from among the trees in the rear of
the troopers, and fired upon them from
behind. wounding several; the gang wore
bulet-proof armor which they had manu-
featured from plow shares.
1t was made in four pieces aud weighed
about nnety-seyen pounds. 1t completely
covered them down to the knees. the head
piece resembling an iron pot with slit
invulnerable until he was shot in the leg
by Superintendent bare and made
prisoner.
OF the other three of the gang one was
shot and two were burned TO death in the
house. Several people were wounded, two
accidentally. during the encounter.
Ned Kelly was brought TO trial at Mel
bourne, found guilty and condemned to
death. During the time that elapsed be-
tween the sentence aud his execution nu-
merouS applications we're made for his
respite. and many petitions were signed
and sent to the Governor for COM
mutation of the death sentence.
women being especially active in his be-
half. but all this maudlin sentiment and
il-judged sympathy with crime was Of no
avail. The death penalty was enacted, and
Ned Kelly was hanged at Melbourne ON
November IL, 1880. II. c. E.