Aftermath
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Aftermath
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Ned Kelly and Joe Byrne were now together again, for Joe's body was placed near
a 'just alive' Ned as they were both taken to Benalla, where Joe's stiffened
corpse would go on public display. I have read about
individual police officers posing with Joe's corpse for a photo.
Allegedly Joe's family did not ask for his body, however Joe's mates (including Tom Lloyd) did try to claim him but were unable to as the authorities buried him under cover of darkness in the Benalla cemetery. The police feared a new gang may emerge, and therefore kept Jim Kelly, Ned's brother, under close surveillance. Jim would live his adult life free of crime, looking after his mother and after the death of Kate Kelly, he would also care for her children. Ned would survive and stand trial for just one charge, the murder of Const Lonigan at Stringybark Creek. He was found guilty of willful murder and executed on November 11 1880.
Time recd. 8.20 From Benalla. Dated 28.6.1880 Telegram for Hon Robt. Ramsay 8 Gipps St East Just returned from Glenrowan. Everything was over saw Ned Kelly who was badly wounded but not dangerously & brought him back to Benalla. Please inform if there is any objection to his being taken to Melbourne instead of Beechworth Gaol former preferable for many reasons also saw dead-body of Joe Byrne which was identified by Const. McIntyre as one of the Wombat S6429 Murderers saw charred remains of Steve Hart & Dan Kelly after the fire at Hotel was out remains were formed with red Hot Breast plate on each corpses unrecognisable But no doubt whatever that they were the other two outlaws will not return to town till tomorrow night being much to do Mr Hare in good spirits & in no danger, But his wound is S6429 A severe one the Ball having gone through the Bones of his wrist He goes down tomorrow morning to Melbourne with Dr, Chas Ryan. F. C. Standish C. C. Police >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> After the end of the gang, a report in 1881 said the following....... CRIME IN THIS DISTRICTNOTWITHSTANDING the continuously disturbed state of thatportion of this district now known as the KELLY country for the last few years, and even admitting that horsestealing has again become rather prevalent in the same region, yet, taking the assize district as a whole, we may rather congratulate ourselves on the absence of crimes of a serious character. In fact, outside the nest of horse-thieves and cattle-"duffers" in that tainted part of the country, and a few of their confederates scattered here and there, who are in communication with them, we cannot be said to have a criminal class amongst us. The towns are notably free from such pests of society; and this is due, in a great measure, to the tone of the community generally. This is saying a great deal for the character of that mighty wave of population which overspread the Ovens and Murray districts between the years 1852 and 1856; because a notoriously bad element crept in over the border during the same period which would have leavened a less sturdy and upright mass of people thrown together suddenly in a new country. Indeed, we cannot, without some degree of pride, compare the early days of the golden history of Victoria with those of California; and considering the dangerous element which was then already in existence here and in New South Wales, we cannot regard the comparison without wonder and thankfulness. Crime, like poverty, must always be amongst us; and occasionally we will untill, perhaps, the end of time have offences committed of the most heinous character, and criminals of the worst type. So far, however, with the notorious exception alluded to, we have enjoyed a comparative immunity from both. With regard to murder, for instance, and taking the theory of the author of "The History of Civilization" to be true, that a certain average number of murders may be safely predicted in any one year amongst a certain number of people, Victoria has been as free of that crime as any other colony or country, and very few murderes have escaped detection and punishment. Considering, also, the isolation of families in many localities in this district, and the necessity of men being absent from their homes during the daytime, and often for weeks together, offences against women are of very rare occurrence indeed. This, no doubt, arises from the manly sentiments which were imported with the adventurous immigrants who came here in search of gold, and which, although they may be somewhat weakened in the rising generation, have not by any means died out. Public opinion is still so strong against offenders of this kind, that the few who might be inclined to commit themselves are deterred from doing so by the indignation they would create. This deterrent effect is also markedly observable amongst the youthful population of our country towns, in the almost total absence of larrikinism of the worst type. No doubt some of our youths occasionally show a disposition to indulge in those low and vicious practices, for which we had actually to invent a new name; but public opinion in the country town populations is too powerful for them, and the evil on its very first appearance, so far, has been invariably stamped out. In, however, taking credit to ourselves for our comparative freedom from crime of the graver kind, we cannot shut our eyes to the dangerous character of that which does actually exist. Bad as that is in itself, its chief danger lies in its probable results upon the rising generations. Lads verging upon manhood, with the passions, but without the sense or experience, of men, are easily led away by bad example. Here they have before them, in, at least, one portion of the district, a number of young fellows leading idle and so-called pleasant lives, spending money, riding good horses and indulging in too free language and in "flash" ways, but never by any chance doing an honest day's work -- except, perhaps, in breaking in a horse. This presents a strong temptation to unformed minds, however naturally well disposed, and it is but a step from drinking, swearing and smoking to obtaining the means of indulging in those luxuries by dishonest pursuits. We are, therefore, happy to learn that the police authorities, although like ourselves, not believing in any fresh outbreak amongst the KELLY sympathisers, are about taking vigorous measures to repress the crime which is again growing up in the infected country before it gets to such a head that some great outrage might probably be the consequence. No one who has not visited that part of the district can conceive the terror which exists there. Men in alluding to the sympathisers, if they do so at all, speak with bated breath, as where they are not absolutely afraid of their lives, they are in fear for their properties. But, as we have said, it is the bad example which these loafing horse-thieves show to our growing country lads, many of whom are already too much inclined to lives of idleness and license, that the great hazard lies. A few wholesome examples, to start with, would go a long way in counteracting the effect of this example, and towards rooting out the evil itself. Source: The Ovens
and Murray Advertiser, Thursday, 5 May, 1881, p.2.
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