AN EXTRAORDINARY OUTRAGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8662, 3 September 1891, Page 6

AN EXTRAORDINARY OUTRAGE.

Thk Albury correspondent of a Si'dney paper writesAn extraordinary occurrence is reported from across the border, in the locality of the Moyhu, known as the " Kelly country," through being the birthplace and haunt of the gang of desperadoes of that name. It seems from an investigation made by the police that a party of young men well known about Moyhu met at the hotel there and had several drinks. They became rather noisy, and when the hotel closed the entire party went out on to the road opposite the building and sat about, having what the}' thought good fun. In the morning it was found that two vehicles had been taken out of the yard, and run down into the creek. A dray had been turned upside down, and the bottom knocked out. Ploughs had been dragged out of the shed, a pump sent for repairs overturned, and other articles removed from the place. The new Church of England, on an allotment adjoining, which was built four years ago, shortly after the carousal was found to be in flames, and before anything could be done to save the building it was in ruins. It is stated that the falling in of the roof first awoke the inhabitants. Sergeant Steele was assisted in his investigations by Detective Sainsbtiry, of Benalla, who brought up a black tracker, the latter being engaged in following up the various footprints and other trails left by the perpetrators of the outrage. The police found amongst the footprints of those who had been overturning the carts, etc., one of boots with iron tips. When the investigations reached this stage, a young man named Keating made a full confession. Near the church fence a wooden pipe was found which had a hole burnt through it at the bottom, but which had been stuffed with putty by a carpenter named Ellis for its owner, a man named John JBartley. Bartley at first strongly denied that the pipe was his, but at length admitted it was, and made a clean breast of the whole affair. The evidence in possession of the police was so strong that the two suspected men on being arrested made statements detailing the whole proceedings. Bartley is about 23 years of age and a native of the district. He has the reputation of being very quarrelsome when under the influence of drink. Keating is a rabbit trapper. Ho is about HO years of age, and was at one time an arti.lerymm in Melbourne, but was dismissed for drunkenness. It is reported that there were five persons altogether engaged in the work of wrecking the blacksmith's shop and the burning of the church, but the police are of opinion that sufficient evidence cannot be procured to prosecute any others.