THE MANSFIELD TRAGEDY.

Evening Star, Issue 4893, 6 November 1878, Page 1

THE MANSFIELD TRAGEDY.

The intelligence from Mansfield that two mounted constables had been shot dead by bushrangers, whilst the fate of a third, who was missing, was unknown, caused extraordinary excitement in Melbourne. The telegrams which were received by Captain Standish gave but a disjointed narrative of the terrible tragedy, but it was made apparent that there wtre four desperadoes engaged in it, two of them being brothers named Edward and David Kelly. The whole family to which these two ruffians belong rendered themselves notorious in the month of April last in consequence of their brutal conduct towards Constable Fitzpatrick when he attempted to arrest Daniel Kelly, who is a youth only seventeen years of age, at the house of his mother at Greta, on a charge of horsestealing. The officer wae then attacked by the other members of the family and was shot in the wrist. They beat Fitzpatrick unmercifully, and .then permitted him to depart, but pursued him afterwards, and he had to gallop for his life. The mother, Mrs Kelly, and two men were subsequently convicted of the assault at the Beechworth sessions, but the two Kellys absconded, and have since been at large, although a reward of LIOO has been offered by the Government for their apprehension. Edward Kelly is twenty-two years of age, and has more than once been convicted of horse-stealing. Last week intelligence was received at Mansfield that the Kellys were at work with a party of men in Stringy Bark Creek, in the Wombat ranges. The country at this place, which is twenty miles distantf rom Mansfield, is covered by a thick scrub, and is not settled upon. During the week Sub-luspector Pewtress, who is in oharge of the Mansfield district, despatched four constables to Stringy Bark Creek to search for and arrest Edward Kelly. The party consisted of Sergeant Kennedy and Constables Lanigan, Scanlan/ and M 'lntyre. They started on Thursday night, and nothing was known of their movements on Friday ; but on the following morning they were attacked by four armed men, of whom two were recognised as the brothers Kelly. The intention of the police to effect the capture of these twe ruffians must have been known by the murderers, who were thus enabled to attack the constables at a disadvantage. The police had camped at the spot on the preceding night, and Constables Lanigan and M'lntyre were left in charge of the camp in the morning, the other two officers being engaged in searching for Stringy Bark Creek. The four men suddenly made their appearance and ordered LanK gan and M'lntyre to deliver up their arms. What followed was thus described at the inquest by M'lntyre *-2 On Friday, 25th inst., Sergeant Kennedyf* the two constables, Scanlan and. Lanigan, and himself, went in'search of the Kelly brothers, who were charged with an attempt to murder Constable Fitzpatrick. They camped that night at Stringy Bark Creel^r

about twenty miles from Mansfield. The following morning, at six o'clock, Kennedy and Seaman patrolled down the Creek, and witness was ordered to do the cooking for the party in their absence. About five o'clock p.m. he was making tea, and was unarmed, his revolver being in the tent. Constable Lanigan was standing by his side. Heard voices crying out " Bail up ; hold your hands up." Turned round and saw four men with guns pointed at him and Lanigan, two of whom he identified as fid ward and Daniel Kelly from the description that had been fjiven. Immediately held up his hand, but Lanigan endeavored to get behind a tree three or four yards off, at the same time plaoing his hand upon his revolver. Before he ooold get his revolver ont ho was shot and fell. The four men then rushed towards witness, and he heard Lanigan exclaim " Oh, Christ, I'm shot." The four men ordered witness to keep his hands up, and asked if he had his firearms. Replied that he hid not. They then asked where his revolver was, and he said at the tent. Edward Kelly then searched him for firearms. He was then about fiften paces from the tent. When Kelly found he had no arms he told witness he might put his hands down. They then searched Lanigan, and took the revolver from him, and next searched the tent, and took all the arms and ammunition. When Kelly looked towards the body of Lanigan he said " Dear, dear, what a pity that man tried to get away." Then he said to witness "But you're all right." One of the other men wanted to have some tea and a smoke, and witness gave them tobacco. The shot that killed Lanigan was fired by Edward Kelly ; that was the only one he saw fired at Lanigan. Daniel Kelly produced a pair of police handcuffs that witness should be handcuffed, but Edward Kelly said "No, there is something better than handcuffs here," tapping his rifle, which he had reloaded. He also said "Don't attempt to get away, for if you do I will track you to Maasfield and shoot you at the police station." He asked when he expected his two mate* to return, who he knew were out. Told him he did not know. They should have been homo long ago; he expeoted they were bushed. He asked several other questions about their names aid horses, arms, &c. He also asked where the rifle was that the party had. Told him the party on patrol had it. He also asked their names. Told him; when he said he had never heard about Kennedy, but he believed Scanlan was a flash b > Asked him what he intended to do, and said " Surely you don't intend to shoot them down in cold blood, because I would rather be shot a thousand times than give information of them, one being the father of a large family." He said "I'll not shoot no man if he will hold his hands up and surrender." Asked what he intended doing with witness, and if he was going to shoot him. He replied, "No ; what should I shoot you for ? I could have shot you half an hour ago." He said " At first I thought you were Constable Flood, and, if you had been, I would have roasted you on that fire." They then concealed themselves, awaiting the arrival of witness's mates. Kelly being near the fire, he ordered witness to stand close to him. He said "That b Fitzpatrick is the cause of all this. Those people lagged at Beechworth the other day were lagged innocently; they no more had revolvers in their hands that night than you have at present." He then asked witness what became of the Sydney man, referring to the murder of Sergeant Wallinga. Replied that ho was shot by the police. He said "And I suppose you b have come out here to shoot me." Answered " No, we have come to apprehend you." He asked "What brought yoH, then!" and said "It is a shame to see big strapping men like you in a lazy-looking billet like the police force." Replied that we were ordered to go out. He said if he let witness go he would have to leave the police, and witness told him he would. Asked him if he got the other two men to surrender what he would do with them. He said " You had better get them to surrender, for if they escape I will shoot you ; or if you let them know in any way that we are here you will be shot at now, but if you get them to surrender I will allow you to depart in the morning, but you'll have to go on foot, as we want your horses. We will handcuff you all night, as we intend sleeping hero ouwelves to-night." Asked him if he would promise faithfully to allow the police to depart, to which he consented. Asked if he would prevent the other men from shooting them, and he said they could please themselves, he would not shoot them. During the conversation one of the bushrangers was concealed in the tent, and the others in the scrub, awaiting the arrival of Kennedy and Scanlan. Told Edward Kelly that I would try to get the other two constables to surrender if he promised not to shoot. Upon that, before the other bushrangers could be informed of the agreement, Sergeant Kennedy and Constable Scanlan came in sight. Kelly Baid " Hush, lids, here they come. You" (to witness) " sit down upon that log, or I'll put a hole through you." Said "Oh, Kelly, fer God's sake Uon't shoot the men, and I will get them to surrender." Kennedy then came up in advance of Scanlan. Witness went near toKeunedy, and as he did so Kelly and his mates cried " Bail up; throw your hands u-»." Kennedy grasped the case of his revolver, and immediately shots were fired. Advised Kennedy to dismount and surrender. Scanlan dismounted and endeavored to get behind a tree, at the same time trying to get his repeating rifle, which he had on his shoulder, but before he could do bo, or secrete himself, he fell from a gunshot wound under his arm. Saw blood spurt from his side as he fell. At that time there were a great many shots being fired by the Kelly party, neither of the police being allowed time to draw their firearms. Kennedy then surrendered, after endeavoring fruitlessly to draw his revolver, but as the firiDg continued and thinking that Edward Kelly did not intend to keep his.word and spare their lives, and Kennedy's horse being near, witness mounted and rode off. As he did so he heard one of the bushrangers, Daniel Kelly cry out «' Shoot that b .» A great many more shots were afterwards fired, but none struck witness. Kennedy was close to him when he mounted, and he said to Kelly's party "All right, boys, don't shoot, don't shoot.' Rode towards the telegraph poles through very thick scrub, and got a very severe fall from the horse. Remounted and rode about two miles further, and finding the horse giving in thought he was shot, and taking bridle and saddle off abandoned him. Ran a short distance and concealed himself in a wombat hole, when he made a short entry in his memo, book of what had occurred, which he read. Lay concealed until it was dark. Left his hiding-place taking oft his boots to avoid noise, and walked about an hour by the aid of a compass and lucifers, and made his way towards Mansfield. Travelled on foot all that night and till about three o'clock on Sunday afternoon, when he reached Mansfield and reported the matter to Sub-Inspector Pewtress. The same afternoon he returned with him and party to search for the bodies. Found Scanlaa'a body where he saw him fall, and the body of Lanigan about six yards from where he fell. The pockets were rifled, and all the provisions (eight or ten days' supply), with ammunition and horse gone, and the tent and clothing destroyed by fire. Could find no trace of Sergeant Kennedy. After a search of about half a mile around the apot one of the party cooeyed, but there was no response. Arrived at the spot about two o'clock on Monday morning and remained about four hours. Slung the bodies on horses and brought them on to Wombat, and from thence by conveyance to the Mansfield morgue. Cross-examined by Mr Kitchen : Believed the gang were informed of the police movements and knew they were there before they came upon them, and had heard them shooting the same day. —Samuel Reynolds, M.D., described the nature of the wounds en the bodies, and said that death must have rapidly followed thtm. —The inquiry then closed.

A Melbourne telegram, dated October 31, says that " the body of Sergeant Kennedy was discovered that morning near the scene of the former tragedy. He was evidently shot in trying to escape. The Government haye increased the reward for the capture of each bushranger to LSOO, and have also outlawed them. In Mansfield the stores are all closed and basiness is at a standstill. There lsgreatexcitementtooin Benalla. Scaulauwas cousin of Father Scauhn, and Kennedy was

bother of Fathw Keamedy, bet* of Benalla." Kennedy kfcTos u vWow and large family; the others were üßnaarried. The bushrangers will not hesitate te murder any one whom they may fear would be instrumental in compassing their arrest. Although young—the eldest of them being but twenty-three years of age—they are expert bushmen, and, at any rate as far as the Kellya are coik oerned, are thoroughly acquainted with the country in the vicinity of the spot where the 7 fl«* enooonted the police. Around the district are known to existanumber ofpow shanties, the proprietors of which, in many instances, would need bat little persuasion to afford them assistance by concealing them, or by supplying them with provisions, and in this way they are very probably at the present moment evading pursuit. Should, however, this means of escape not recommend itself to them, it is not improbable that they would have recourse to bolder measures, and deliberately stick np some of the minor townships which they are well aware are not m a position to resist the attack of an armed force. These various contingencies have not escaped the attention of the police authorities, and a comprehensive plan of hunting down the fugutives has now been organised. Superintendent Nieholson has been entrusted with the'direction of the search, and three large parties are already scouring the country, while others will be despatched as quickly as they can be brought together und equipped. These parties, starting from various points radiating from the central position, and encoinpasaingacircleaboutfifty miles across from east to west, and forty miles from north to south, will gradually work to a common centre, with a view of drawing a cordon round the murderers through which it would appear to be almost lmpowible for them to penetrate undetected. Should they attempt to cross into New South Wales from almost any point en the River Murray, they will soon be eaptured, as Mr Forsberry, in charge of the New South Wales police, there has taken steps to patrol the whole neighborhood, and has telegraphed the satisfactory intelligence that these arrangements have been completed. In order to afford protection to the inhabitants of the isolated townships on the Victorian side, a detachment of twelve men of the Melbourne foot police has been despatched to the scene of the outrage. They are each armed with revolvers and repeating rifles, and will be allotted to the various localities by Superintendent Nicholson. In view of the danger attaching to these appointments none but unmarried men have been sent.