The Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1806.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 196, 20 October 1866, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1806.

ESCAPE OF KELLY'S BROTHER FROM MOUNT EDEN STOCKADE. The D. S. Cross of the 18th, has an account of the escape of Isaac Robinson, who was Kelly's brother. He was formerly in the 40th Regiment, from which he deserted twice. On his second desertion, he was employed by Mr. Abraham Chisholm, and one day, knocked him down with a stick, left him insensible, and robbed the house. For this offence he was sentenced to 3 year 3 imprisonment, with hard labor. He again made his escape, knocked down a settler named Griffith, stripped him and put on the settlers clothes, leaviug him the prisou dress. Some weeks after when Griffith appeared inCourt with his head bandaged, Robinson laughed at him. For this offence he was sentenced to 6 years imprisonment. Since that time till withiu a few weeks ago Robinson has been heavily ironed. Upon making promises of good behaviour, he was relieved from the irons, we believe by direction of the Visiting Justice. About half-past 8 o'clock yesterday morning, while Robinson was at work in the masons' department, he suddenly slipped away, taking with him a stonebreaker's hammer handle, and running to the right of the entrance gate he contrived to hide himself from the view of the warders by the newly-erected officers' quarters and a shed. Getting to the wall, he dropped a height of about ten feet at an angle which concealed him, and then starting out while the nearest sentry's back was turned, he ran across the paddock towards the Kyber Pass Road. He was of course seen by the gaard while crossing the paddock ; but as there were several women and children near, and the fugitive ran close by the house, only one shot was fired. Several warders were immediately sent in pursuit. Robinson crossed the paddocks and got into the Domain, near the hospital, where he was seen running into the bush by a daughter of Mr. Lynch, Domain gardener. Here he threw off his hat and shirt (which were picked up a short time afterwards, and turned his flannel shirt so as to conceal the prison mark. He then got over into the Parnell road, and crossed the fence to the north of the Royal George Hotel. He was seen running towards Orakei Bay with the hammer haudle in hand, and having about 20 minutes' start of his pursuers. At the Harp of Erin he obtaiued a glass of water, and at about half-pasfc 1 1 o'clock he was seen on the Tamaki road. Robinson is about 26 years of age; height, 5 feet 8 inches; complexion fresh; hair, fair; eyes, blue. Mr. Maughton and Mr. Tuckwell, the Governor of the gaol, immediately started in pursuit with a large body of police, mounted and on foot. They surrounded Robinson in the tea-tree scrub, near St John's College, Tamaki. He was met by a Mr. Russell, who did not know ha was a convict. He knocked down Mr. Hall, who tried to arrest him, with a blow from a hammer handle. As the ruffian is surrounded by armed police, it is supposed he will soon be taken dead or alive. The D. S. Cross publishes a long letter written by Kelly a short time before his execution. It was sent to Robinson, but it was not given to him. It is one of Kelly's characteristic rigmaroles, full of allusions to Tommy and Dick, and concludes with the miserable doggrel verses, in the composition of which Tommy excelled. We do not intend to inflict the poetry or the letters on our readers. It would be consoling to be able to .think that the Kelly breed is extinct.