Ned Kelly Information Report
Ned Kelly was a fierce bushranger from the 1800’s. He was known for the strong armour that he
created using metal. Ned’s family were very poorly treated by the police and were often getting in
trouble, for crimes that they didn’t commit.
Early Life
Ned Kelly was born in June, his birth year was not confirmed but it was either 1854 or 1855.
He had seven siblings, five sisters and two brothers. His dad
died so Ned was made the man of the house when he was
only 12 years old.
Family
Ned was the eldest child in his family. His siblings Margaret,
Kate, Mary-Jane, Annie, Grace, Dan and Jimmy were all
very active around their house. Climbing trees and riding
horses.
Ned Dad John Kelly who was commonly known as Red Kelly
was an Irish convict. He went to Gaol for stealing a horse
and when he came out he was sick and died a couple of
weeks later. His Mother Ellen Quinn was born in Australia
and married Red Kelly.
The Kelly Gang
There were four members of the Kelly Gang. Joe Byrne was Ned Kelly’s best friend and he
got killed by being shot down. Then there was Steve Hart who was Dan Kelly’s best friend.
Dan Kelly was the third member of the Kelly Gang and was the smartest in the gang. If Ned
had of listened to Dan the siege might have not even happened, because Dan did suggest
not letting Thomas Curnow out of the Inn. And of cause there was Ned Kelly.
Crimes
The Kelly Gang committed many crimes but by far the worst were the Jerilderie and Euroa
bank robberies and the Murder of three policemen at Stringy Bark Creek.
At the Euroa Bank robbery Joe Byrne was left at the Faithful Creek train station to watch
over the hostages the Kelly Gang were keeping. The gang also cut the towns telephone
wires so the hostages couldn’t ring for backup. From the robbery they stole over two
thousand pounds. The hostages were free to go back to their families as soon as the gang
got back to the train station.
At the Jerilderie bank robbery the gang forced Constable Devine and Constable Richards to
surrender at the police station so that the alarm could not be given. They stole their police
uniforms and the next morning Constable Richards was forced by Ned Kelly and Joe Byrne to
introduce them to the Owner of the Royal Mail hotel. At the same time Steve Hart and Dan
Kelly were rounding up the staff of the hotel from around the back. The two kept the staff
members in the hotels bar room while Ned and Joe went to the bank next door and again
stole over two thousand pounds.
The Stringy Bark Creek incident occurred on the 25th of October 1878. Four policemen,
Sergeant Kennedy, Constable Scanlon, Constable McIntyre and Constable Lonigan, set up
their camp within two kilometres of the Kelly’s camp. The Kelly gang knew this because they
heard gunfire, when Constable McIntyre shot at a kangaroo. Dan Kelly was sent to
investigate the source of the shots. He returned with news that there were four armed
policemen.
The gang set of that evening to attempt to disarm the police. At the time Sergeant Kennedy
and Constable Scanlon were out on a search for the Gang. The Gang arrived at the camp and
yelled out, “Bail up.” Constable McIntyre threw his hands up to surrender but Constable
Lonigan reached for his gun so Ned Kelly shot him dead. Ned warned Constable McIntyre
that he would give them a chance to surrender but if they didn’t he would have to shoot
them.
On the return of the other two police McIntyre told them what Ned had told him. Sergeant
Kennedy thought that McIntyre was joking and grabbed his revolver. Ned jumped out from
behind a tree and told them to surrender him but they disobeyed and the gunfight began.
Constable Scanlon grabbed his revolver and Ned shot him. He dropped of his horse and
dropped his revolver surrendering, but Joe Byrne didn’t notice and finished him off.
Kennedy slid of his horse and fired from behind his horse. His horse bolted so he backed up
and took cover behind a tree. One of his shots hit Dan Kelly on the shoulder but with four
men the Kelly Gang outnumbered him. He retreated from tree to tree with Ned pursuing
him. Ned shot the Sergeant twice and was in great pain so he begged Ned to finish him off.
Ned did. During the shoot off McIntyre escaped and Ned allowed it because McIntyre had
surrendered. Kennedy’s body was finally discovered after a five day long search.
Death
After a long trail Ned Kelly was charged with murder and sentenced to death. Despite the
petition that was signed by 30,000 people all over Victoria Ned Kelly was still hanged on the
11th of November 1880.
By Angus B