The Assassination of the Victorian Policemen.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IX, Issue 471, 19 November 1878, Page 7

The Assassination of the Victorian Policemen.

The Argus gives the following account of the ruffians who murdered the three policemen under circumstances detailed in our issue of last week: — The offenders referred to by our correspondent are two brothers named Fdward and Daniel Kelly, for the arrest of whom warrants were issued some months ago for. various offences, the most serious being a murderous attack made on Constable Fitzpatrick. The Kellys, are well known as notorious criminals. Their father died a long time ago, and the family remaining consisted of the two brothers their mother, arid four young sisters, Edward is 22 years of age, oft lOin high, medium build, has a fresh complexion, dark brown hair, and hazel eyes ; whilst Daniel is only 17 years of age, ,sft Gim high medium build, having a fair com pi exion and blue eyes. The former was arrested, in 1870 on suspicion of being the mate of Power, the; bushranger,, but was discharged owing to tbe.evidence of identification being insufficient. InFebruary, 1874, he was discharged from Pentridge, after serving a term of three years’ imprisonment for receiving a stolen horse. The younger brother was discharged for the Beechworth gaol in January last, where he had been imprisoned for three months for wilful damage' to property. They lived between Winton and Greta on the Elevemnile Creek, and their house formed a convenient rendezvous, for criminals of all classes. Soon after the younger brother’s discharge in January last a warrant was issued for his arrest on a charge of horse-stealing, and on April 15 mounted-constable Fitzpatrick, of Benalla, proceeded to the house to apprehend him. Finding him there, he at once placed him under arrest, but unfortunately for himself consented to allow his prisoner to take supper before leaving. Whilst standing guard over him, the eldest brother, Edward, rushed in and shot him in the arm, two inches above the wrist with a revolver. A struggle followed, and the brothers, assisted by their mother, and two men named Williamson and Skillian, soon overpowered the constable, and he was beaten to the ground insensible. On regaining consciousness he was compelled by Edward Kelly to extract the bullet from his arm with a knife, so that it might not be used as evidence ; and on promising to make no report against his assailants, he was allowed to depart. He had ridden away about a mile when he found that two horsemen were pursuing, but by spurring his horse into a gallop, he escaped. Of course, on regaining safety he no longer considered the promise which he had made to the criminals as binding, but reported the affair to his superior officer. The result was that a number of policemen from the surrounding districts set out for the scene of the outrage, and arrested Mrs Kelly, Williamson, and Skillian, who were recently convicted at the Beechworth Sessions. The brothers Kelly escaped, and have ever since been at large. Vague reports as to their being seen in different parts of the north-eastern part of the colony were received, but the police for a long time could obtain no tangible trace of them. For some months back the Government have been offering a reward of £IOO for the capture of Edward Kelly, on the charge of shooting Constable Fitzpatrick. If the Kellys are concerned in this last affair, as there seems little reason to doubt, the) must now be in league with at least two other ruffians as desperate as