Category: First Hand Accounts

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First Hand Accounts History Sergeant Steele

Sgt. Steele’s Statement (03/07/1880)

Sergeant Steele

I am a sergeant of police at Wangaratta. I arrived here with five men about 5 a.m. We were at once challenged by police, and answered “Wangaratta police.” My men were then distributed around the hut, and I got to the tree near the back door of the hut. There was no firing then. A woman and child came to the back door screaming, and I told the woman if she ran in quick she would not be molested. A man then came to the back door, and I asked him to throw up his arms or I would fire on him. He was only about twenty five yards distant. The man stooped and ran towards the stables, and I fired. He then turned and ran back to the house, and I fired again. I am certain I hit him with the second shot, as he screamed and fell against the door.

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First Hand Accounts Glenrowan History

Jane Jones’ Statement (18/06/1881)

During this time we were dressing, and he was in the bedroom. He asked who was in the kitchen; and on mother saying only her four little boys, he said he must see them, and did see them asleep. He then said, ” Lock the door and come quick, as I have no time to loose.” Mother, again crying, asked him where he was going to take her to, and he said he had a lot of men bailed up on the road, and that she must come, too; as he was going to take up the line, to wreck a special train that was coming up with police and black trackers.

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First Hand Accounts History Sub-Inspector O'Connor and the Queensland native police The Police

O’Connor’s Letters (19/03/1881)

A private quarrel occurred between Mr. Hare and myself altogether unconnected with official business, in which Captain Standish, who was not in any way concerned, took part against me, and carried it into official matters. He made a series of communications to the Queensland Government, tending to depreciate me, and to remove the men from my control and supervision. This was done without my knowledge, and, consequently, I had no opportunity of explanation to my commissioner. My Government ultimately acceded to the request of Captain Standish, and informed him that he was at liberty to have one of my men for permanent service in Victoria. Upon this Captain Standish had the man taken out of my party and attached to his police, although he (Captain Standish) still required our services.

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Edward (Ned) Kelly First Hand Accounts History Superintendent Hare The Police

Dr. Nicholson’s Account (19 July 1880)

An account of the events at Glenrowan told by the medic who attended Superintendent Hare and Ned Kelly.

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First Hand Accounts Glenrowan History

Statement of Mr. Curnow (28 July 1880)

Thomas Curnow recounts his experience at Glenrowan as a prisoner of the Kelly Gang.

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Aaron Sherritt First Hand Accounts History The Sherritts

Inquest on Sherritt (29 June 1880)

A report on Aaron Sherritt’s inquest including witness statements.

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First Hand Accounts History The Glenrowan Archives The Railway

Guard Bell’s Statement (05/07/1880)

A brief report on the witness account of the guard from the police special train.

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Aaron Sherritt Daniel (Dan) Kelly Edward (Ned) Kelly First Hand Accounts Glenrowan History Joseph (Joe) Byrne Stephen (Steve) Hart The Glenrowan Archives The Inner Circle The Kelly Gang The Kellys

The Destruction of the Kelly Gang (24/07/1880)

A collection of illustrations and associated text from an issue of the Australasian Sketcher.

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First Hand Accounts Glenrowan History The Glenrowan Archives The Railway

Statement of Guard Dowsett (05/07/1880)

A first-hand account of Jesse Dowsett’s rescue of Margaret Reardon and his involvement in Ned Kelly’s capture.

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Captain Standish First Hand Accounts History The Glenrowan Archives The Police

Captain Standish’s Royal Commission Testimony

The following is extracted from the 1881 Royal Commission into the police force, where the newly retired Captain Standish gave an account of his involvement in the Kelly pursuit. The extracts contain information directly relevant to the Glenrowan siege and the police that were placed to protect Aaron Sherritt.