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Edward (Ned) Kelly First Hand Accounts Glenrowan History Sergeant Steele The Police The Railway

The Kelly Bushrangers (3 July 1880)

The following description of what took place at Glenrowan is taken from the Melbourne Age of June 29, and although going over the same ground as the telegrams already published, contains fuller information…

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Research The Author Speaks Writing

The Author Speaks: On Understanding Historical Figures

“It was that moment that I realised how important it is to understand people from history, just as we do with people in the present, based on contextual factors and free of prejudices. That is to say that they deserve to be looked at based upon demonstrable qualities rather than trying to pigeon hole them based on perceptions or preconceived ideas. People are nuanced, multifaceted beings. They have virtues and flaws, regardless of which is more dominant, and these often paradoxical elements coalesce into what we define as a personality. It’s all very Yin/Yang, but this is the reality.”

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First Hand Accounts History Sergeant Steele

The Kelly Gang. New Light on an Old Tragedy (23 September 1911)

A compilation of interviews conducted by Brian Cookson of Ann Jones, Arthur Steele and Paddy Allen.

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The Author Speaks Writing

The Author Speaks: on the hierarchy of needs and characterisation

An exploration of how an understanding of psychology can help turn historical figures into fully fleshed and authentic characters.

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The Author Speaks

The Author Speaks: Regarding the story behind a moment of crude defiance

“Still, better than a wombat hole, hey, McIntyre?”

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The Author Speaks

The Author Speaks: Regarding Ned Kelly’s Warnings

Ned Kelly gave forewarning of the scale of his Glenrowan plot, as well as some of the motivation behind it, in the letters he wrote with Joe Byrne at Euroa and Jerilderie. At the time these seemed to be more or less hollow threats, but following the Glenrowan tragedy they are almost chilling in their forewarning.

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Crime and Punishment History Research

The Hangman: Elijah Upjohn

A brief biography of the man that hanged Ned Kelly.

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Edward (Ned) Kelly History News Reports

Departure of Ned Kelly (6 August 1880)

Some time on Saturday morning, rumors were rife in Melbourne, says the Age, to the effect that Ned Kelly, who was expected to appear before the City Police this Monday morning, was not to undergo examination here, but was to be taken hence to Beechworth. Inquiry proved that this was correct, but as the authorities kept all proposed movements profoundly secret, a difficulty arose as to determining when and how the notorious outlaw would be deported to Beechworth.

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Edward (Ned) Kelly First Hand Accounts History The Kelly Gang

Ned Kelly’s own account of Glenrowan (Transcript of a letter dictated 5 November 1880)

Ned Kelly tells his own version of what happened at Glenrowan in a letter from the condemned cell at Melbourne Gaol.

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First Hand Accounts Glenrowan History News Reports

David Mortimer’s Statement (9 July 1880)

The whole of the members of the gang were very jolly, and Ned told us that they had come there to settle the black trackers, and that he would be on the spot when the train ran over the culvert, and would shoot all who were not killed. We knew we could do nothing, and therefore did not take any steps to warn those in the train of the danger. Every member of the gang was then sober. They showed us their armor, and seemed to think that the police could do them no harm. At half-past two on Monday morning Ned Kelly said something to the effect that he did not think the special train was coming, and I then asked him if we could go home. He said ‘Yes,’ and I thanked him.