which would be circulated by the people themselves. This way, he thought, he could reach as many people as possible.
Like someone today who wants their grievances aired on a TV current affairs show, Ned believed that if the facts were known, people would under-stand that he had been forced to break the law.
Ned had hoped that the town’s newspaper editor would print his 56-page letter. He was annoyed when he discovered that the editor had found out that they were in town and had escaped. Instead Ned gave the letter to Mr Living, the bank’s accountant, who promised to give it to the editor. But Living didn’t keep his promise. Instead, he handed it over to the police. This second letter is known as the Jerilderie Letter.
“The Queen must surely be proud of such heroic men as the Police and Irish soldiers as It takes eight or eleven of the biggest mud crushers in Melbourne to take one poor little half starved larrikin to a watch house.”
Ned’s view of police as cowardly, Jerilderie Letter
“I give fair warning to all those who has reason to fear me to sell out and give £10 out of every hundred towards the widow and orphan fund and do not attempt to reside in Victoria… I am a widow’s son outlawed and my orders must be obeyed.”
Closing words of the Jerilderie Letter
Unhurried Getaway
Even though they knew at least two people had ridden out of town to raise the alarm, the gang still didn’t seem to be in a hurry to leave. They collected the money and went back to the hotel, where they bought drinks for their prisoners. Leaving the two policemen locked in their cell, Ned let the other prisoners leave. He stole a horse and a saddle, while Steve took the parson’s watch. When the owners complained about these thefts, Ned promptly gave them back again. Then they finally left town.
Reign of Terror
The bank robberies at Euroa and Jerilderie make interesting and, at times, amusing tales. But for people at the time, living in small remote towns with only one or two policemen to protect them, it wasn’t so amusing. They were afraid of the Kellys.
The police seemed powerless to capture them. The gang had killed three men. Though they had never killed any civilians, Ned had made a number of dire threats to do so. People thought that they would be safe as long as they surrendered quickly and willingly. They practised putting up their hands until they could do it as quickly as possible. Travellers along country roads made sure that they had their hands ready to raise if they were held up.
If newspaper readers around the country were eagerly waiting for the next daring and entertaining Kelly Gang exploit, they were disappointed. After Ned and his boys disappeared into the bush after the Jerilderie hold-up, it was almost a year-and-a-half before they were seen again.
9. Disappearing Outlaws
What if you were there...
We’ve been camped in these freezing hills for nearly two weeks. I’m sick of it. Two weeks of sleeping during the day and then creeping out like thieves in the night to watch over the homes of the Kellys’ sympathisers. The Superintendent seems to think that sooner or later the Kellys won’t be able to resist the lure of home and we’ll be able to nab them. The trouble is the Kellys are cleverer than the senior police.
We are watching Maggie Skilling’s house. That’s Ned’s eldest sister. She’s just about the head of the family now, what with her brothers on the run and her husband and mother in jail for the Fitzpatrick business. She looks after her land, her children and her younger brothers and sisters. We’re pretty sure she feeds her outlaw brothers and their mates as well.
I don’t sleep well in the daylight. Yesterday was as bad as ever. Every time I woke with a rock in my side or the sun on my head, I’d smell bread baking. She’s got a lot of mouths to feed, has Maggie, but by the smell of it, this batch of loaves was for an even bigger crowd.
Last night, I was wet through
Like someone today who wants their grievances aired on a TV current affairs show, Ned believed that if the facts were known, people would under-stand that he had been forced to break the law.
Ned had hoped that the town’s newspaper editor would print his 56-page letter. He was annoyed when he discovered that the editor had found out that they were in town and had escaped. Instead Ned gave the letter to Mr Living, the bank’s accountant, who promised to give it to the editor. But Living didn’t keep his promise. Instead, he handed it over to the police. This second letter is known as the Jerilderie Letter.
“The Queen must surely be proud of such heroic men as the Police and Irish soldiers as It takes eight or eleven of the biggest mud crushers in Melbourne to take one poor little half starved larrikin to a watch house.”
Ned’s view of police as cowardly, Jerilderie Letter
“I give fair warning to all those who has reason to fear me to sell out and give £10 out of every hundred towards the widow and orphan fund and do not attempt to reside in Victoria… I am a widow’s son outlawed and my orders must be obeyed.”
Closing words of the Jerilderie Letter
Unhurried Getaway
Even though they knew at least two people had ridden out of town to raise the alarm, the gang still didn’t seem to be in a hurry to leave. They collected the money and went back to the hotel, where they bought drinks for their prisoners. Leaving the two policemen locked in their cell, Ned let the other prisoners leave. He stole a horse and a saddle, while Steve took the parson’s watch. When the owners complained about these thefts, Ned promptly gave them back again. Then they finally left town.
Reign of Terror
The bank robberies at Euroa and Jerilderie make interesting and, at times, amusing tales. But for people at the time, living in small remote towns with only one or two policemen to protect them, it wasn’t so amusing. They were afraid of the Kellys.
The police seemed powerless to capture them. The gang had killed three men. Though they had never killed any civilians, Ned had made a number of dire threats to do so. People thought that they would be safe as long as they surrendered quickly and willingly. They practised putting up their hands until they could do it as quickly as possible. Travellers along country roads made sure that they had their hands ready to raise if they were held up.
If newspaper readers around the country were eagerly waiting for the next daring and entertaining Kelly Gang exploit, they were disappointed. After Ned and his boys disappeared into the bush after the Jerilderie hold-up, it was almost a year-and-a-half before they were seen again.
9. Disappearing Outlaws
What if you were there...
We’ve been camped in these freezing hills for nearly two weeks. I’m sick of it. Two weeks of sleeping during the day and then creeping out like thieves in the night to watch over the homes of the Kellys’ sympathisers. The Superintendent seems to think that sooner or later the Kellys won’t be able to resist the lure of home and we’ll be able to nab them. The trouble is the Kellys are cleverer than the senior police.
We are watching Maggie Skilling’s house. That’s Ned’s eldest sister. She’s just about the head of the family now, what with her brothers on the run and her husband and mother in jail for the Fitzpatrick business. She looks after her land, her children and her younger brothers and sisters. We’re pretty sure she feeds her outlaw brothers and their mates as well.
I don’t sleep well in the daylight. Yesterday was as bad as ever. Every time I woke with a rock in my side or the sun on my head, I’d smell bread baking. She’s got a lot of mouths to feed, has Maggie, but by the smell of it, this batch of loaves was for an even bigger crowd.
Last night, I was wet through
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