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
An incident occurred during the steeplechase that I must state,
although it is against the discipline of my men. Just before the
steeplechase started, Johnstone saw three men riding outside the
course; he took it for granted they were the outlaws. Without a
moment's consideration, he galloped off alone towards them. I saw him
do this, as I was wondering who the men were, and at a glance saw they
could not be the Kellys. Faulkner was at the time on his horse close
beside me, in the middle of a crush. He looked at me. I shook my head,
and he remained where he was. I walked quietly out of the crowd, and
Faulkner followed me, and we saw Johnstone returning terribly ashamed
of himself. He could give me no explanation of his conduct beyond
saying he could not help himself. He thought the three men were the
outlaws, and he made straight for them.
Aaron Sherritt was noticed by every one riding a magnificent horse
which I had purchased a few days before. He was pointed out to me by
several people as Kelly and Byrne's greatest friend. I was asked why
I did not have him arrested for stealing the horse he was riding, as
he never could afford to come honestly by such an animal. I pleaded
ignorance about either man or horse.
At night a ball was to take place at a public-house near the
racecourse. We thought probably some of the gang might put in an
appearance there; but there was no sign of them again, and we had to
return disappointed.
In writing this narrative I have not kept exactly to the order in
which the things occurred. As I have no paper to refer to, I am simply
trusting to memory. After a time all the men, both in my camp and the
upper, came to believe most thoroughly in Aaron's honesty of purpose,
as I had done from the beginning. He often told me that I had a kind of
influence over him that no other man had ever had before, and he could
not tell me a lie. We kept watching as from the first. Old Mrs. Byrne
began to be very doubtful of Aaron, and treated him very coolly; still
the daughter believed in him, and he continued his visits to the house.
The old woman was constantly abusing him, and telling him that she
thought he had thrown his old friend overboard and was working for the
police. Yet, notwithstanding this, the whole of Kelly's friends used
to confide in him, and tell him all the movements of the police in the
district, which he would repeat to me.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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