Week (Brisbane, Qld. : 1876 – 1934), Saturday 4 December 1880, page 18
INTERCOLONIAL.
THE KELLYS.
THE SPIRITS AND NED KELLY.
The Ballarat Courier says that this is some of the “wash” talked of and certainly discussed in certain Spiritist circles in the city. Shortly before the execution of the murderer Kelly, the Spiritist circles question could not obtain the customary manifestations, and the “circle” sat and wondered at the absence of spirits (of an ethereal character), and wondering, sat and sat. At last, however, a spirit arrived breathless haste at a sitting, and on being asked why the spirits had not come to the watchers before, said that all the good spirits had been busy for days making a net to spread over the precincts of the Melbourne gaol, in which to enmesh the spirit of Ned the atrocious when it should leave his body. The panting visitant could not stay longer than to say this, probably because it feared a stitch or something might be dropped from the net if it did not hurry back. After the execution the same spirit came bustling down to the circle and said that the plan of the good genii had been well arranged and successfully carried out. The net was spread over the gaol before the minute appointed for the execution, and not a second too soon, for just as it was fixed a troop of bad djinns swarmed round the place, and banged up against the net in a vain endeavour to get at what they considered their own. The execution took place, and as Kelly’s soul left his body, the good spirits caught it up and carried it to their domains, leaving the “bad ’uns” feeling considerably euchred. The first spirit Kelly recognised in the land of disembodied creatures was that of Constable Lonigan. Lonigan did not attempt to ambush and make reprisals, but welcomed the soul of the outlaw expressing his pleasure at the good spirits having got him instead of the “bad ’uns.” The visiting spirit did not say how Ned greeted the one he had sent his long account, but in a sort of postscript to its communication added something to the effect. that the good spirits intended to reform Edward Kelly and “make a man of him.” This, in sober truth, is the argument of a spiritualistic manifestation. The language is not strictly that of the spirit, but our reporter did not want to excite any amusement over this sad tale, so he confined himself to commonplace expressions.
THE KATE KELLY EXHIBITION.
Before Messrs. Charlton, Dean, Moses, and Carpenter, at the Water Police Court, on November 25, says the S. M. Herald, James Gregory Tompkins and James Pringle were summoned, at the instance of Sub-inspector Anderson, for that on the 23rd day of November, on the premises at the rear of No.128, Pitt-street, in Sydney, they did permit to be exhibited to the public a woman named Kate Kelly and a man named James Kelly, relatives of the notorious criminal, Edward Kelly, who was recently executed in the neighbouring colony, to the great damage and common nuisance of all persons therein inhabiting and passing, and to the evil example of others in the like case offending, and against the peace of the Queen. Sub inspector Anderson deposed that he laid the information. On Monday night he saw a number of persons coming from the premises referred to and going to them. There were boys from 12 to 20 years of age, and girls of the larrikin and disorderly classes. He had to station some constabulary to keep order on the footpath. He considered the exhibition of the relatives of Edward Kelly a gross outrage, and highly injurious to public morals.
To the Bench: The inhabitants complained to the Inspector-general of the exhibition.
To Pringle: Did not see you there.
To Tompkins: Nor did I see you there. Sub-inspector Camphin went to the premises mentioned on Monday afternoon, and saw Tompkins in a shed which was being fixed up. Saw the exhibition there that evening. Saw James Kelly riding on a horse and leading another into the shed. Heard a man named Donovan standing at the entrance calling out, “The renowned Kate Kelly, mounted on her pony Oliver Twist, and Jim Kelly, mounted on Ned Kelly’s grey mare Kitty, and upon the saddle upon which Ned Kelly rode. Admission, 1s. There’s no fraud about this. These are the genuine persons — no waxworks here,” and remarks of that kind. A man named Lewis was standing in King-street making similar remarks. A number of boys were distributing handbills advertising the show. On Tuesday morning Tompkins went to the Inspector-general’s office, and there saw witness. He said a detective had visited him and cautioned him respecting the show. He knew horses were being exhibited, but did not know whose they were. The Inspector-general said the exhibition was disgraceful, and ought to be stopped. Tompkins said he would keep the people out. Witness went on Tuesday evening to assist Tompkins in keeping people out, but the exhibition continued as usual. A number of persons assembled and obstructed the thoroughfare. The services of several constables were required to keep order. Detective Williams gave corroborative evidence in every important particular. The case was then remanded for one week.
Bail allowed in sureties of £80 and two each of £40. A promise was also given that the exhibition should not take place in the meanwhile.
THE HAUNTS OF THE LATE KELLY GANG.
The following description of the fortified retreat of the Kelly gang is supplied by the trust-worthy correspondent of the Argus:—
Leaving Melbourne one day I took train to Longwood, and from thence coached it to Mansfield. I started early in the morning from Mansfield, and so as to avoid observation made a slight detour before finally getting on the direct track to the Wombat Ranges. Thence we made our way across country to the scene of the police murders, which, I was informed, was near to the fortified hut of the outlaws.
A ride of about half-a-mile from the spot where Kennedy’s body was found brought me and my companion to the stronghold of the Kellys, situated on a small rise in the midst of a basin. I could not but be struck with wonderment that such a perfect settlement should have existed so long within half-a-dozen miles of selections without its existence being discovered.
Immediately surrounding that hut some 20 acres have been cleared, the trees ringed, and the timber — principally swamp gum and peppermint — placed in heaps ready for burning.
The ground has even been raked, so as to give very chance for the grass to grow, and the aspect of the place denotes that the Kelly’s had lived in this secluded retreat many a long day before the Wombat murders took place; and as a proof that some one knew of their existence, I mention that on a large peppermint tree within a short distance from the hut the name of “J. Martin” has been carved in the sapwood of the tree after the sheet of bark had been taken off to put on the roof of the hut. In the creek flowing to the north of the hut a considerable amount of gold-digging has been done, sluicing being the principle means employed, and from appearances gold has been got in payable quantities, and the workings are of such an extent that it would be utterly impossible for any man to carry them on under a period of several months. Perhaps, however, the most startling sight of all is the appearance of the hut and its surroundings. Imagine a house erected of bullet-proof logs, fully two feet in diameter, one on the top of the other, crossed at the ends after the fashion of a chock and log fence, and with a door 6 feet high by 2 feet 6 inches wide, made of stiff slabs, and plated with iron nearly a quarter of an inch in thickness, which was loopholed to fire through. The door is on the north side, opposite the gold workings in the creek, and a well-built log chimney occupies the greater part of the west end of the hut. Such was the home of the Kelly gang for some months before the police murders. Its interior was fitted up just as substantially as its exterior, and in a manner calculated to stand for a long seige, there being every provision made for the storage of flour, beef, tea, sugar, and other necessaries of life; and to show that in fresh meat, at least, they were not wanting, we discovered portions of several carcasses, together with seven or eight heads of cattle, with bullet holes in the centre of the forehead, lying outside the hut, which may have belonged to either “scrubbers” out of the ranges or the fat bullocks of some far distant squatter or farmer, but most probably the latter. Empty jam and sardine tins, old powder flasks, cap boxes, broken shovels, old billy cans, glass bottles, door hinges, and a great variety of other articles were to be seen all round the hut. But the crowning wonder of all was the evident pains taken by the Kellys to improve themselves as marksmen. In every direction — taking the hut as a standing point — we saw trees which were marked with bullets, from five to fifty having been fired into each, at ranges varying from 20 to 400 yards. The bullets, being afterwards chopped out, were melted down, and converted again into their former state. On one small tree a circle of charcoal six inches in diameter had been traced, and into this two or three revolver bullets had been fired, one striking the black dot meant to represent the eye, and the other two being close to it.
I did not attempt to inspect the country in the vicinity of this stronghold of the outlaws. By the time I had taken a hurried sketch and picked up a few interesting relics, it became time to think of turning homewards; so only waiting a few moments to inspect the track which led from the hut across the creek and over the gap towards Greta, my guide and I turned our horses’ heads southwards, and after a rough ride reached Mansfield late at night, from whence I took coach to Longwood next day, reaching Melbourne the same night, none the worse for my trip in the Kelly country.
Glenrowan 