The Bullet Proof Armour
When the first attack subsided, the outlaws were heard calling, “Come on, you
-- ; the -- police can't do us any harm." The armour in which each member
of the gang was clad was of a most substantial character. It was made of iron a
quarter of an inch thick, and consisted of a long breast-plate, shoulder-plates,
back-guard, and helmet. The helmet resembled a nail can without a crown, and
with a long slit at the elevation of the eyes to look through. All these
articles are believed to have been made by two men, one living near Greta, and
the other near Oxley. The iron was procured by the larceny of ploughshares, and
larcenies of this kind having been rather frequent of late in the Kelly district
the police had begun to suspect that the gang were preparing for action. Ned
Kelly's armour alone weighed 97lb., a considerable weight to carry on horseback.
There are five bullet marks on the helmet, three on the breast-plate, nine on
the back-plate, and one on the shoulder-plate. His wounds, so far an at present
known, are two on the right arm, several on the right leg, one on left foot, one
on right hand, and two near the groin.
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