Cherry

Martin Cherry heard that the Kelly's were in Glenrowan so he came along for a bit of adventure. Unfortunately this desire to see the action close up would cost this man his life.
Wounded by a police bullet during the siege Mr. Cherry died very soon after being removed from the burning Inn. In fact the police set fire to the Inn knowing full well that a wounded Mr. Cherry was still alive inside!

To cover up for their actions the police reported that Ned had shot Cherry for not holding up the blind of a window. This was reported in the newspapers, however fortunately it was eventually refuted by one of the policemen on the ground that day as pure rubbish.

He was born in Limerick, in Ireland and was sixty years old.
He was an unmarried old resident of the area and was employed as a plate-layer and lived about a mile from Glenrowan.

Herald July 2 1880.

POLICE REPORT ON THE DEATH OF CHERRY.

Martin Cherry.

Report of Senior Constable Kelly

relative  to the shooting of the deceased

Martin Cherry on the morning of the

28/6/80 at Glenrowan,

                        I beg to report I have

made careful enquiries with reference

to the above and the only person

I found that came through any light

on the matter is John Larkins

One of the prisoners who the outlaws

had locked up in Jones Hotel at

Glenrowan, Larkins stated that

the old Cherry got into the kitchen

at the rear of the hotel that there

were two little bed rooms

attached to the kitchen on the

west side The deceased ?? ^ lying

by a bed that was on the

floor . About 6am Cherry

called Larkins and said I am

shot come here and cover me. He

went into Cherrys room and

was in the act of wrapping the wound

when a bullet passed close to his

head. He returned to the place he came

from and remained there until

all the ^ prisoners were called upon to come

out by the police, Larkins has

no doubt but the deceased

was shot from the west end of

the kitchen by the police, he never

saw Ned Kelly after the first

volley that was between the outlaws

and police about 3am that

morning. William Sandycook

also states that he was a short

time in the kitchen referred

to and the only persons

he saw were the deceased

Cherry and Larkins he also

states he never saw Ned

Kelly after the first volley

that was between the outlaws

and police:

            I beg to state that

between 3 ½ and 4am I in company

with Const Arthur 2971 we found

the revolving rifle covered with

blood about 100 yards northeast

side of Jones hotel, about

day break the outlaw Ned

Kelly appeared in the bush

about 50 yards from where

the rifle was found.

                                    If Larkins

statement is correct that

the deceased Cherry got shot

about 6am that morning there

is no doubt it could not

be done by Ned Kelly. I also

requested Const Bracken make

inquiry in this matter & report result.

John Kelly1925

Senior Constable.

The kitchen or 'skillion' behind the Inn, was the original home prior to the Inn being built.

Death of Sherry. (Cherry)

    The unfortunate man Sherry died soon after being rescued from the
burning building. Ned Kelly was brought on to Benalla by the evening
train and lodged in the lockup. At (sic) inquest will be held on the bodies of
the dead in the morning.

Albury Banner & Wodonga Express
July 3 1880.