The Author Speaks: Regarding items the police recovered from the gang

In my poking around through various documents related to the story of the gang I found a bundle through the Public Records Office of Victoria that included a list of items that had been recovered from the gang, mostly at Glenrowan.

VPRS 4965/P0000, 296 is part of the file labelled “Kelly Historical Collection – Part 1 Police Branch (VPRS4965)”. The portion I am referring to is titled, “List of property now and previously in possession of Sen Const Smyth at Benalla, in connection with outlaws.” It comprises a table with columns for articles, date of receipt, from whom received, how came into possession of police, and remarks. The final column is useful in trying to ascertain what happened to the items and any other details about them.

The first items listed are what were taken from the body of Joe Byrne at Glenrowan. A gold ring with a white stone that belonged to Constable Lonigan and a gold ring with a “crystal stone” (presumably the gold and topaz ring taken from Scanlan) were “taken off [Joe’s] fingers” by Detective Ward and kept by Superintendent Sadleir who forwarded them to Smyth on 4 November 1880. Lonigan’s ring was claimed by his widow in November of 1880, but the second ring remained in Smyth’s possession at the the time of recording — I have yet to find out where it ended up as Scanlan had no relatives, spouse or dependants in Australia to claim it. Also noted was a Roman Catholic prayer book, which had been taken from Joe’s body by Constable Wallace (3059) and also remained unclaimed. No mention was made of any other articles found on his body, such as the bottles or paper packages of poison so it is likely they were discarded or destroyed. A police issue Webley revolver (“size 2 No. 50997”) was also on Joe’s person when he died. According to the record, an unnamed person found the revolver when it fell out of Byrne’s pocket as his corpse was being dragged out of the burning inn. It was then handed in to Constable Glenny (2612) on Sadleir’s orders, it was then forwarded to the Victoria Barracks on 26 May 1881.

A collection of items listed below these contains 2 saddles, 2 leather girths, 1 webb girth, 2 stirrup leathers, 2 stirrup irons and 1 crupper received on 30 September 1880 from Sergeant Whelan (1305). All items are listed as recovered at Glenrowan and under the remarks column it states that they were all claimed by none other than Ned Kelly while in Melbourne Gaol, and by order of the A. C. C. (Assistant Chief Commissioner) of police, that being Superintendent Nicolson, the items were forwarded on to Maggie Skillion.

On 21 October 1881, Sergeant Whelan handed in 1 troop saddle No. 960, 1 Webley revolver and case No. 7992 (kit 730), and 1 pair of handcuffs. The saddle, which was Constable Scanlan’s, was found and recovered by Constable Skillard (3110) at Glenrowan the day after the siege on a mare believed to have been ridden by Dan Kelly. The revolver kit, which was Lonigan’s, was recovered by Constable McHugh (2551). All items were put back into use by the police as they were still serviceable.

On 6 January 1882 a troop paddle that was part of Lonigan’s kit (730) was handed in by Sergeant Whelan along with two broken girths. Also on the same date Smyth received from Whelan a saddle, bridle, leather girth, breastplate, cruppet, and from Superintendent Sadleir was received Ned’s skull cap. All items were recovered at Glenrowan, and the skull cap had been taken from Senior-Constable Kelly, who had found it. Other items received from Whelan on 6 January included a saddle, cruppet and leather girth, an old pack saddle, and a revolver case. Of note is the final batch of items from that date which comprised a leather valise, 2 bullet mould and 2 leather saddle straps that were handed in by Stanistreet, the stationmaster at Glenrowan. These items were left in the gatehouse by Steve Hart when he was forced to join the rest of the gang because of the arrival of the train.

A note scrawled in pencil by Smyth at the end of the document states, “These were also taken possession of by police,” below which he lists the armour, 1 grey pony, 1 brown pony mare, 1 chestnut horse, 1 bay horse, and one bay or brown horse (M?). The grey pony was listed as being Ned Kelly’s and was impounded in Benalla by the police and sold. The brown pony mare was identified by Mr. Fitzsimons of Benalla and returned to him. The chestnut horse and bay horse were claimed by Ryan of Cashel and returned to him. The bay or brown horse was said to be Dan Kelly’s horse and is the same one found by Constable Skillard in the bush with Scanlan’s saddle on.

Smyth also noted that police had in their possession Ned’s colt revolving rifle, which was in the possession of Captain Standish. Additionally, a drum ½ full of blasting powder was found and destroyed on the orders of Sergeant Montford. The last item listed is a saddle which was in Beechworth, which Smyth suggests had been claimed by the police but he had not actually seen.

This gives us an insight into the items that the gang still had in their possession at the time of the siege, as well as the way the police handled the things they recovered. What it doesn’t explain is what happened to the items that were in police possession but never reclaimed.