Ned Kelly Fact Sheet

Full name: Edward Kelly

Date of Birth: Unknown (supposed to have been between December 1854 to June 1855)

Date of Death: 11/11/1880

Parents: John Kelly & Ellen Quinn

Siblings: Anne, Margaret, James, Daniel, Catherine, & Grace; Ellen, John & Alice (half-siblings)

Religion: Roman Catholic

Occupation: Labourer

Education: Read & write

Native place: Victoria (Australia)

Recorded features: Height – 5’10”; Weight – 11st 4oz; Complexion – sallow; Hair – dark brown; Eyes – hazel; Nose – medium; Mouth – medium; Chin – medium; Eyebrows – dark brown; Visage – broad; Forehead – low; Particular marks – scar top of head, two scars crown of ditto, scar front of head, eyebrows meeting, two natural marks between shoulder blades, two freckles lower left arm, scar ball of left thumb, scar back of right hand, three scars left thumb.

Convictions: November 1870 – 6 months for assault and lewd conduct; August 1871 – 3 years for receiving a stolen horse; October 1880 – death for murder.

“REWARD. To senior constable Edward Hall (569), Greta, Benalla district, £2 has been awarded in acknowledgment of his services in the arrest and prosecution of Edward Kelly, sentenced to 3 months for violent assault, and 3 months for sending indecent letters, &c., to a female.” (Victoria Police Gazette, November 1870)

“REWARDS. To senior constable Edward Hall (569), Greta, Ovens district, £5 has been awarded in acknowledgment of his services in the arrest and prosecution of Edward Kelly, Alexander Gunn, and Isaiah Wright, for horsestealing; the two former sentenced to
three years each, and the latter to eighteen months’ imprisonment.” (Victoria Police Gazette, August 1871)

Descriptions:

* “[Power the bushranger] was accompanied by a lad who rode a brown horse and carried a swag in front.” (Victoria Police Gazette, 17 March 1870)

* “The second offender was aged 20, 5 feet 9 or 10 inches high, light build, sallow complexion, smooth face, surly appearance; wore dark coat and hat, and dirty moleskin or tweed trousers. […] [Power’s] companion of the 26th April is now stated to have the appearance of a half-caste.” (Victoria Police Gazette, 2 May 1870)

* “Description:— A native of Victoria, 20 years of age, 5 feet 10 inches high, stout build, fresh complexion, dark-brown hair, small dark sandy whiskers, beard and moustache, hazel eyes; wears light trousers and vest, old cabbage-tree hat with red veil round it, and lace-up boots.” (Victoria Police Gazette, 22 February 1876)

* “Edward Kelly camped on the Murray Flats, near Barmah, on the 6th instant; wore light tweed coat, dark trousers and vest, light felt hat, rob-toy tartan shirt, and rode a fine bay horse with roach back, small star and narrow white stripe leading from start towards left eye; he may be making for Ned Boyle’s, Terrace Terrick.” (Victoria Police Gazette, 7 May 1878)

* “1st, Edward Kelly, 23 years of age, looks older, sallow complexion, dark-brown hair, full beard and moustache of a dirty dark red colour, moustache cut square across the mouth, hazel eyes with a greenish tint; wore dark tweed clothes, red silk sash, dark low hat.” (Victoria Police Gazette, 5th November 1878)

* “Ned Kelly was wearing when he left the station on the night of the 10th last, a blue sac coat, brown trousers and vest, striped grey Crimean shirt, lavender tie, brown felt hat and elastic side boots.” (December 1878)

* “Ned Kelly does not in any way resemble the likeness as shown in the illustrated journals. He stands nearly six feet high, and wears a beard about two and a half inches long. He is well built, and appears a very active and powerful man. He has a thorough command of the gang, and allows nothing to be done without his sanction. Without doubt he is the man who concocts all the plans, and makes the others carry out his wishes.” (February 1879)

* “Edward Kelly, about 26 years of age, 5 feet 11 inches or 6 feet high, black hair cut short, whiskers nearly black, moustache and beard dark-reddish, the beard about four inches long, dark complexion, dark eyes, active appearance ; dressed in light tweed strapped trousers, and vest, light-color felt hat, and elastic-side boots, no coat.” (March 1879)