The Last of the Bushrangers: An Account of the Capture of the Kelly GangHare, Francis Augustus
History
The Last of the Bushrangers: An Account of the Capture of the Kelly Gang
Hare, Francis Augustus
Brigands and robbers -- Australia; Kelly, Ned, 1855-1880
Kelly next went over the private apartments where Mr. Scott's family
and servants were, and Scott cautioned him concerning his behaviour
towards them, thereupon Hart at once pointed his revolver at his head,
and told him to be careful how he addressed Kelly. Mrs. Scott was not
the least alarmed when she found out who her visitors were, and began
chaffing Kelly, and telling him he was a much better-looking man than
she fancied he would be; but he was most polite towards her, and told
her he wanted her with all the family to get ready to take a drive to
Mr. Younghusband's station, three miles off. Mrs. Scott at once obeyed
his commands, and told all the children and servants to put on their
hats, as they were all obliged to go for a drive. Kelly went back into
the bank, and told Scott he knew there was more money in the bank, and
he insisted upon having it. The accountant opened the safe, and Kelly
took £1500 in notes, 300 sovereigns, £90 in silver, and thirty ounces
of gold-dust. He then went into the strong-room, but left the bills and
securities undisturbed. Kelly often said whilst in the bank, that it
was no use resisting them, as he had eight armed men outside the bank,
and he could call them to his assistance; but this was only "blow."
Mrs. Scott afterwards told me that when Kelly spoke to her, she could
hardly believe he could be the person he represented himself to be; he
was a tall, handsome man, well dressed (with the hawker's clothes on),
and spoke so kindly to her. She once or twice said, "Oh, nonsense, you
are not that blood-thirsty villain you have been represented to be." I
might here state, that after the murders at the Wombat, the description
of the outlaws was circulated all over the colony, and special measures
were taken to protect the banks, and all kinds of weapons were supplied
to their officers. It was feared that they would stick up one of these
institutions, and Euroa was one of the most likely to be attacked; and
yet the ease with which the whole affair was conducted appears to an
outsider almost ridiculous.
The gang, having secured all the cash and arms in the bank,
commenced to make preparations for their departure, and return to Mr.
Younghusband's station. Provision had to be made for the carting away
of the whole household, which consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Scott, two bank
clerks, Mrs. Scott's mother, and seven children and two servants. Kelly
went to Scott, and said, "You have such a large household, I must have
your buggy; go and put your horse in it." Scott refused to do this,
saying his groom was out, and told Kelly he had better do it himself.
Kelly replied, "Well, I will do it myself." He accordingly harnessed
the horse, and put Mrs. Scott and family into the buggy, she driving
it; and before starting away Ned Kelly, seeing that Mrs. Scott was so
little scared at their presence, said to her, "Now, none of your larks."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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