Sydney Daily Telegraph (NSW : 1879 -1883), Monday 28 June 1880, page 2
ANOTHER MURDER
BY THE
KELLY GANG.
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STICKING-UP OF A WATCH PARTY.
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After a disappearance of upwards of 12 months, the Kelly gang have turned up in a most extraordinary and daring manner, and have committed another murder rivalling in atrocity those with which they started their career as bushrangers. As our readers are aware, search parties have been out for upwards of 18 months without obtaining any information of the outlaws, and they have never been seen or heard of except when they stuck-up the banks at Euroa and Jerilderie. Between these events they have disappeared as completely from sight as if the earth had opened and swallowed them. About 6 o’clock on Saturday evening, however, they came upon a watch party of police at a place called Sebastopol, in the Strathbogie district, and stuck them up in a hut keeping them prisoners for 12 hours. They induced Aaron Skerritt, the owner of the hut, to open the door, and, immediately on his doing so, Byrne shot the poor fellow through the eye, and another bullet was lodged in his chest, killing him instantly. The ruffians then tried to set the hut on fire, with the intention of roasting the police alive, but failed to do so. The police appear to have had possession of their arms all night, but were unable to use them owing to the position taken up by the bushrangers.
[By ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.]
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
Melbourne, Sunday.
A telegram was received from Beechworth tonight, stating that Constable Armstrong, one of the search party, rode into Beechworth at half-past 1 o’clock to-day, and informed the police that the Kelly gang were at Sebastopol last night at 6 o’clock. The telegram states that Joe Byrne, one of the gang, shot Aaron Skerritt through the eye and killed him, The gang brought a German to Skerritt’s hut and handcuffed him, there being several police in the hut at the time. They forced him to ask Skerritt the way to Sebastopol, and as soon as Skerritt opened the door a ball was sent through his eye and another through his chest. The gang also fired several shots into the sides of the hut and kept the police prisoners for 12 hours.
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The following telegram was received last night by Mr. Fosbery, Superintendent of Police at Sydney, from Superintendent Singleton, of Albury:—
ALBURY, Sunday
Detective Ward, of the Beechworth police, telegraphs that a watch party was stuck-up by the Kelly gang at 6 o’clock on Saturday night. A man named Aaron Skerritt was shot dead in the hut he occupied by the bushranger Joe Byrne, who fired seven shots into the hut, the bullets passing close to the constables’ heads, but owing to the position taken up by the outlaws the constables could not return a single shot. They handcuffed a German and took him to the door and made him call out “Aaron.” Joe Byrne shot him through the eye and next through the body. He fell dead without speaking. The gang then fired a volley through the house, and next attempted to burn it down by breaking up a barrel and bushes. They called on the police to “Come outside, or Joe will roast you.” The gang remained outside till about 6.30 a.m., and it was only at 11.30 one of the constables managed to get to Beechworth.
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(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
BEECHWORTH, Sunday night.
A party of five police left here at 8 o’clock to-day, in charge of Senior-constable Mullane. There are no further particulars to date yet. Mr. Foster, police magistrate, proceeded to the scene of the affray to hold an inquest. It was decided to postpone it until to-morrow. The police are reticent. It is thought that Skerritt was shot in order to check disaffection amongst the outlaws and their friends.
The house in which the affray took place is situated about seven miles from Beechworth, on the Eldorado-road, within half-a-mile from the residence of Byrnes mother. It is a two-roomed slab house; at the rear is a stable, and in front there are several large trees between the house and the main Eldorado-road. At the time of the outbreak, about half-past 8 o’clock, there were six people in the house — viz., Constables Armstrong, Alexander, Ducross and Dowling, Aaron Skerritt and his wife, and the German, Antoine Weekes who was brought to the house by the gang. Weekes, is a resident of the place, and Skerritt, it is supposed, recognising his voice, immediately opened the door, and was shot down by Byrne, who said, “You’ll not blow what you will do to us any more.” Skerritt died instantaneously without a struggle. About eight shots were fired by the outlaws.
The marks of five balls are visible on the outside wall of the house, three of which passed through. After Byrne shot Skerritt the gang retired behind the trees and called upon the police to “Come out of that you —— dogs and surrender.” The police said they “would sooner die than surrender.” One of the gang threatened to burn down the house and roast them inside. It is reported that the police concealed themselves under the bed, but the rumour is discredited.
Numbers of persons visited the scene of the murder this afternoon and the greatest excitement prevails. Amongst those present at Skerritt’s house this afternoon was one of the sympathisers, who was in Beechworth Gaol some time ago. When he saw he was recognised he slunk away.
Glenrowan 