The Flying Scud (27/07/1880)

Ovens and Murray Advertiser (Beechworth, Vic. : 1855 – 1955), Tuesday 27 July 1880, page 2

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“THE FLYING SCUD.”

The following sensational announcement appeared in the metropolitan journals on Saturday :—

Kelly Gang Horses. — No mention having been made in any of the official reports of the horses that took such an active part in fulfilling the frightful tragedy at Sherritt’s, where the murder took place, and Glenrowan, at the destruction of the Kelly gang, it is a matter of public interest to know what became of them, and to see the animals that could carry a heavy man incased in armor, weighing 97lbs.

The following authentic documents will prove that Messrs Patrick and Michael Ryan’s horses were reported to the police as having been stolen previous to the Glenrowan capture, and were therefore returned to their owners — the others remain in the hands of the police until a lapse of time justifies their being “sold as unclaimed property.”

Extracts from a letter to Messrs Coppin, Hennings and Greville :— “Enclosed please find letter from D. Ryan, re Kelly’s horses. The bay mare that Ned Kelly rode is seven years old, 16 ½ hands high — a grand jumper, and has taken three prizes at the local shows. She is a very fine mare, and perfectly sound. The chesnut horse that Joe Byrne rode is five years old, strong and sound. — H. A CRAWFORD,”

Telegram: Please purchase horses and forward them to Melbourne without delay. G. COPPIN and Co.

Receipts: Received from H. A. Crawford, Esq., the sum of sixty-five pounds, for the bay mare stolen from me by Ned Kelly, which was ridden by him and found in his possession when captured at Glenrowan. Brand R off shoulder, star forehead, two white hind legs to fetlock. PATRICK KELLY. Cashel, Major Plains, 17th July, 1880. Note. — It is certain that this bay mare is the last horse that Ned Kelly ever rode, and I can refer you to any of the police — Senior-constable Kelly or to Mr Superintendent Sadleir — to prove it.

The grey mare you alluded to broke away from the police, and is Government property, and cannot therefore be purchased. — DENIS RYAN, Benalla.

Received the sum of £65 for one chesnut horse, with white face and two white hinds legs, branded near shoulder M R, This horse was ridden by Joseph Byrne from Beechworth to Glenrowan, and is one of the best cross-country horses in the North-Eastern district — MICHAEL RYAN. Cashel, Major Plains, 20th July, 1880.

Police Department, Superintendent’s Office, Benalla, 21st July, 1880:— The chesnut horse belonging to Mr Ryan, was that ridden by Joe Byrne, both at Sherritt’s at the time of the murder, and at Glenrowan at the time of the capture of the gang. The bay mare is probably the animal that Ned Kelly endeavored to mount and get away on after he was wounded . — J. Sadleir, Superintendent of Police.

Memorandum from H. A. Crawford, Esq., coach-proprietor and mail-contractor, to Messrs Coppin, Hennings and Greville:— “Beechworth, 21st July, 1880; Dear Sirs, — I saw several of the police at Benalla, on my return, and they inform me that the only grey horse found at Glenrowan was a wild mongrel that they lost taking to Benalla. It was an iron grey. Should it be found the police will claim it at once. At Wangaratta I saw Constable Steele, the trooper that took Kelly. He told me it was Ryan’s bay mare that Kelly spoke to him so much about. Kelly said to Steele; If I had my bay mare (not grey), all the constables in Victoria could not catch me. He referred to the bay mare l bought from Ryan for you, the one that Mr Holt wished to purchase. Steele described the mare to me — star in forehead, &c. There is no mistake about her. — Faithfully yours, H. A. CRAWFORD.”

By the above it will be seen that the last two horses that the outlaws Ned Kelly and Joe Byrne ever rode have been purchased by the managers of the Theatre Royal, Melbourne, for the sum of £130, with an additional £10 expenses, for the purpose of introducing them every night until further notice, in Boucicault’s great sporting drama of “The Flying Scud.”