NOTORIOUS NED KELLY.

Grey River Argus, 14 January 1928, Page 2 (Supplement)

NOTORIOUS NED KELLY.

MEMORIES OF EXEXCUTION. “DIED LIKE A MAN.” THE ONLY LIVING WITNESS First-class Constable “Smith”—that is the name by which he is known in the George Street’ Home, Parramatta—claims to be the only man living who took part in the execution of the torious bushranger, Ned Kelly, says the Sydney Daily Telegraph. He states that he was within reaching distance of Kelly when the latter was hanged. “Kelly,” “Smith” said, “died like a man. While he was in prison in Melbourne he was visited twice by his mother, who was also serving 12 months in the same gaol. He received several visits from a Roman Catholic priest, ami died saying bis prayers.”

“Smith” also claims that he discovered the almost unrecognisable remains of Dan Kelly in the Glenrowan Hotel, and that he removed the iron helmet from Ned Kelly’s head when he was shot down by tike police and captured. He says:-—“We heard that the Kelly gang was going to make a night of it at Mother Jones’ Glenrowan Inn. About 20 police, in addition to black trackers, were sent down by train ro capture them. The gang must have heard of our plans, and tore up the rail lines some way out of Glenrowan, and Dan waited close by to shoot down any of ns who did not perish in the smash. ’ ’ “We were saved, however, by the bravery of Mr Kurrow, a. schoolmaster, who saw the gang at work. He crawled along the line with a caudle and a piece of red undergarment belonging to his wife When he saw the train approaching he lighted the candle and held the red cloth close to the light. The driver yaw the cloth and pulled up immediately. Setiug Fire to the Hotel. “We left the train, and walked the rest of the distance. When it was seen how well the gang was protected in the inn our chief sent down to Melbourne for a small cannon. The joke of the whole th ng was that it was dispatched from headquarters. It was afterwards decided that, after the hotel had been surrounded, we should set tire to it. This we did, and as it was blazing fiercely the large number of people who were inside bolted out through the doors. “The hero of the night was a West Australian priest, who repeatedly dashed into the Hames, rescuing those w.io were trapped. In performing his heroic work he received many burns about the hands, head, and legs.

“When we examined the debris after the fire had practically burned out we came upon a charred body, which was identified as that of Joe Byrne. There were several bullet marks on the remains. In another part of the burnt timber we found two further bodies, which I am certain wore those of Dan Kelly ami Steve Hart. Close by each were the remnants of two guns. En no part of the debris could we find a trace of Ned Kelly. How he escaped I cannot toll to this day. That he had escaped we soon found out. A phan-tom-like horseman came dashing down the hill and opened fire on the police. It was Ned Kelly, returning to averse single-handed, the deaths of his brother and mates. Ned Kelly’s Coat of Mail. “We opened fire on the fleeing horseman, who was covered from head to foot in a steel armour. The bullets fell off him as though they were pebbles. We doubled whether it was a human being and many thought that it was a bunyip of some strange order. “After he had done considerable dam age with his bullets, First-class Sergenat Steele, of Wangaratta ordered us to fire low. It was then that Ned was thrown from his horse. W 4 ’, captured him shortly afterwards. “I took his helmet off ami found that it, together with the rest of his armour, was mail? from ploughshares. We could have been shooting until now. and we would not have put a bullet through that armour. I was one of the guard to accompany Ned to Melbourne, where he was hanged. Besides myself, there were two other members of the police force, a sheriff’s officer, and the hangman who helped in the execution. All these are dead now.” “Smith” is about- 70 years of age, and still can show marks of wounds that he received in the epic capture of Ned Kelly.