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Bracken's statement. (missing final
page)
Police Constable Hugh Bracken, states
on the 27th June last I was stationed
at Glenrowan, about 10 o'clock on that
night I was called out of bed by Mr. Reynolds
I opened the back door - the moment I did so
a man covered me with a revolver and called
out I'm Ned Kelly - "bail up or you're a dead man".
I saw a number of people I knew standing
About the station watched by Joe Byrne - Kelly
went through the station & took my revolver, I then
dressed myself during the time I was ???? so
I asked Kelly what ????? you here - there is
No money to be had about this place -
he replied " I have an object in it - I
have blown the head off the bloody traitor
at Sheepstation Creek and afterwards rode ???
the ??? of Beechworth, I have done
enough to make the bloody police
in the Country be here before now. ( I did
not know then that he allured to the murder of Sherritt)
he continues 'what does the people think
of us chaps "I said you are looked on as a hero
but it's a pity you shot Kennedy as
he was a bit of a favourite with the public
he replied "I had to shoot him or he would
have shot me the bugger was a rich man
who had no business to come after me
for a lousey hundred pounds - I was a poor
man without money they had two arms and
four horses we wanted the police horses & money
to make a rise. "We started up for Jone's hotel
on getting there I found about 20 men
and about 10 women & children- prisoners
after that Kelly & his mates started
a dance with some of the prisoners
Prisoner said to Dan Kelly, "you look
after Bracken "During the dance
they thought they heard a whistle
Dan went outside - he came in again
And said "it's all right, there is nothing
I wonder what is up with this bloody
special, the police must be all asleep"
Ned Kelly then called the prisoners together
and threatened to shoot them if he heard
of their giving information to the police.
After some time I heard a train whistle
about a mile on the Benalla side of
Glenrowan. At this time Ned Kelly said
To the prisoners 'here is the bloody special
now we'll show the bloody police what
we can do." He called Dan into
(end of archive documents)
North Eastern Police District
Glenrowan Station
6th July 1880
REPORT of Const. Bracken 2228
Relative to the Death of Martin Sherry (sic)
I beg to report for the information of
the officer in charge Benalla that I have this
morning visited the prisoners
named in the margin who were stuck up at Jones
Hotel Glenrowan on Sunday the
27th ult by the Kelly gang. And they all state that
Sherry (sic) as far as they
know was shot by the Police but none of them seen the
occurrence. I may add that
Sandy Cook is from home but informed his employers
that Sherry (sic) was shot by
the Police
Hugh Bracken
Mounted Const. 2228
A6399
I forward these reports to the Chief Commissioner which I think proves beyond a
doubt
Cherry was not shot by Ned Kelly. Dr. Nicholson who examined the wound
externally
told me he had no doubt Cherry must have been lying down when shot.
W. B. Montford
Insp
& Supt
8.7.80
The Chief Commr
of Police
Melbourne
Source: Public Records
Office Victoria.
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