NED KELLY'S CAPTOR.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14221, 19 February 1914, Page 7

NED KELLY'S CAPTOR.

DEATH OF EX-SERCEANT ETEELE. A PROPHECY FULFILLED. (Sydney Sun.) MELBOURNE, February Id. The a nun mice merit of the death at V angaratta on Monday of Mr A. L. Stoele, formerly a sergeant in the Victorian police, has let loose reminiscences of the pursuit of the Kelly gang, an episode in the history of this State which eiings to the public memory. Steelo was the man who was directly responsible for bringing Ned Kelly’s career to a close.

Inspecting Superintendent Milne, of Russell Street, was one. of the constables engaged in the capture of the gang in the hotel at Glenrowan on June 28, 1880, and to-day he described how Sergeant Steele prevented Kelly from continuing his shooting at, and defiance of, the police. There wore many fine marksmen among the police, said Mr Milne, and, notwithstanding the fact that Kelly was hit by bullets, ho continued to walk. There was a report as if the bullets had struck metal, and Steele came to the conclusion that the bushranger was wearing armour. Steel always carried a shot-gun, and, on forming the opinion that Kelly’s defiance, wars due to the bushranger’s faith in armour, Steelo secured his shot-gun and fired at Kelly’s logs. Kelly staggered and fell, and Steele, who was a bravo man, rushed on him and secured him. Lifting the bushranger’s helmet, which was of the sliano of a it.-id-can, from his head, Steele, shouted, “It’s Ned Kollv. I told yon I would be in at the death, Kollv, ‘if I found vou.”

Kelly, the man who had shown no mercy towards anybody, now that ho was captured, pleaded for inerev, and, lining exhausted for want of rest'and bv tlie pain of the wounds in his heel and lee. immediately went to sleep. Sergeant Steelo long before that had arrested Kelly for horse-stealing, and when Kollv was going away for trial he said “This is the last time I will go to Pentridge. It yon ever meet me again you will have to fight for me.” Steele asked what he meant. Kollv replixl. “I will take to the bush. Steele retorted “If vou do, I will be in at the death.”' Steele’s prophecy had been fulfilled.