THE VICTORIAN BUSHRANGERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3350, 3 January 1879, Page 3

THE VICTORIAN BUSHRANGERS.

The Melbourne Telegraph of Dec. 12 has the following : — " Mr Scott, the manager of the Euroa branch of the National Bank, arrived in towh by train from Euroa yesterday, and. was present at a special meeting of the directors of the Bank yesterday afternoon. At the request of the directors Mr Scott gave a de- ■

tailed account of the circumstances connected with the robbery from the Bank on Tuesday. After sticking up the Faithful Creek Station, ifc appears fchat tho Kelly gang gathered about 22 persons together to prevent the alarm being spread, and after placing one of the gang, a ruffian named Byrne, in chargo, wifch loaded firearms in his possession fche other three men, namely, Edward and Daniel Kelly, and Stephen Hart, started for the bank afc Euroa with a hawker's carfc and a spring cart, which fche gang had previously obtained. The hawker's boy was taken with them in his father's carfc, which was driven by Dan Kelly, while the elder Kelly drove the spring cart, accompanied by Hart on horseback. Harfc entered Euroa first, and having had liis dinner at the North-Eastern Hotel without, apparently, being known, he joined the brothers Kelly in the afternoon, and the tlu-ee then wenfc at once to the bank. Ned Kelly drove to fche fronfc door of tlie bank, Dan Kelly drove infco the back yard, while Hart rode to the fronfc of the pub-lic-house and fastened his horse thore. Mr Scott and his family were about to leave the house for a short time, when Edward Kelly knocked afc the fronfc door of the Bank ( whicli adjoins Mr Scott's private residence), and the door was shortly afterwards opened by Mr . Bradley, the accountant. Ned Kelly presented a cheque, bearing the signature of Mr Macaulay, the overseer of the Faithful Creek Station. Mr Bradley told him that it was past banking hours (being then past four o'clock) and Kelly then asked to see Mr Scotfc. Mr Bradley showed Kelly into the oflice, where Mr Scott was engaged writing, and Kelly then announced who he was, and ordered Mr Scott to " bail up " and throw his hands up. The same intimation was given fco Mr Bradley, and fche fcwo clerks. Kelly had jusfc before been joined by Harfc, who entered by the back door, and they both covered Mr Scotfc and the others by presenting loaded revolvers, wifch a threat to shoot them if they attempted any resistance. Mr Bradley was also ordered fco give up all fche money they had ; but after consulting Mr Scotfc, Kelly was told fchafc nothing would be given them, although they could not, perhaps, be prevented from taking all they could get hold of. Kelly afc once instituted a search, and succeeded in getting £300 in notes, gold, and silver, after wliich be intimated liia intention of searcliing the rest of the premises. Mr Scotfc threatened to strike Kelly if he did so, as ifc might give a greafc fright to the ladies, and Mr Scott was then allowed to go fco the door of fche room where tbe family were, and caution them nofc to be alarmed, afc fche same time telling them who fche visitors were. The ladies took Mr Scott's advice, and did not betray any serious alarm, although they folt anything but comfortable. Kelly and Harfc, liaving had some spirits and water, then separated, Ned Kelly going into the private residence, while Harfc remained guard over the prisoners in the oflice, while Dan Kolly stood near the door. Ned Kelly, after being refused any more money, said fchat he felt sure there was more to be got, and having obtained the keys of the strong room, he succeeded in getting 31oz. of gold, besides fche following reserve cash:— £6Bo in £10 notes, £336 in £5 notes, £418 in £1 notes, £100 in m_ed notes, £311 in gold, and £9 8s 6d in silver; total, £1943 8s 6d. The numbers of the notes are not known. The hawker's boy continued running backwards and forwards during tlie whole of these proceedings, and seemed to take a tolerably active interest in what was going on. Kelly bundled the whole of fche booty into a sack, bufc lie did nofc touch any of the bills or securities tbat were in tlie bank. Mr Scotfc wus then called upon to bring oufc his horse, and harness it to his private buggy, bufc he declined, and Kelly said he would do ifc himself. He did so, and after a shorfc delay a start was made with fche clerks, a female servant, and Dan Kelly in the hawker's carfc ; Mrs Scotfc and seven children, and Mrs Scotfc s mother, in the buggy ; and Mr Scott, Ned Kelly, and a female servant in the spring carfc, where fche sack of money was, and Harfc on horseback in the rear. Before leaving the bank, Mr Scotfc endeavoured to delay the deparfciu-e by inducing the Kellys to have something to drink, but in this he was only partially successful. Ned Kelly accepted a glass of whisky, bufc before drinking it be insisted upon Mr Scott taking some, in order to prevent any attempt at poisoning. The whole party had been cautioned against giving any alarm under a threat of being instantly shot down, but strange enough, although ifc was only 5 o'clock, this motleylooking party of fifteen persons did nofc appear fco attract any attention while passing out of the township. This was all the more strange as tlie bank is only a few yards from the railway station, and is only separated from the other houses in the vicinity by a small vacant allotment. The three bushrangers were armed to the teeth, Kelly having taken the precaution to secure the only two revolvers there were on the premises, besides five boxes of cartridges, containing 125 rounds. The party were driven straight towards fche Faithful Creek station, the only incident on the road being the temporary breakdown of Kelly's carfc, in consequence of fcbe horse falling. Faithful Creek station having been reached fche whole party were placed in the hut along with the other twenty-two persons, thus making 37 persons altogether in fche custody of the bushrangers. Byrne then took Scott's watch from him, and fche preparations for departure having been completed, Ned Kelly informed the whole party fchafc their movements were closely watched, and thafc if any of them attempted to leave the hut wifchin three hours of the departure of fche gang, they would be shot down. Ifc was then half -past 8 o'clock, and Mr Scotfc endeavoured fco get permission to leavo afc 11, but Kelly insisted fchafc fchey should stay till half-past 11. Ned Kelly then mounted a fine fresh horse, and took the money with him, and was immediately followed by fche other three bushrangers. The party remained in the hut till aboufc 11 o'clock, when Mr Scotfc and others started for Euroa, which was reached aboufc 12 o'clock, when the matter was reported immediately to tho police. Mr Scotfc is of opinion that the gang were fully prepared to take life if the necessity had arisen, bufc otherwise they were averse to shedding blood. Edward Kelly assured Mr Scotfc fchafc had he acted upon his threat to strike Kelly, he would liave been sbot down afc once, and thafc would probably have led to others being shot. Kelly also asserted thafc ho had eight men outside the bank ready to lend assistance if necessary, but whether fchis was true or nofc Mr Scott had nofc an opportunity of knowing. On the road between fche bank and tho station Mr Scotfc had a long conversation with Kelly, during which the latter said that he had shot London, and also displayed a. splendid gold watch, which Mr Scotfc believes to be the one taken from Sergeant; Kennedy. He said that h-3 knew all the movements of fche troopers, many of whom ho had opportunities of seeing when they little knew ifc, and that he had no fear of fcheir taking liim. Mr Scott describes Ned Kelly as a fine tall man, of lather prepossessing appearance, with reddish beard and hah* ; but Dan Kelly he describes as being exactly tho reverse, and quito as villainous-looking as he appears to be in his portraits.