INTERVIEW

Australasian Sketcher.

INTERVIEW WITH NED KELLY.

After the house had been burned Ned Kelly's three sisters and Tom Wright (sic) were allowed an interview with him. Tom Wright (sic) as well as the sisters kissed the wounded man, and a brief conversation ensued, Ned Kelly having to a certain extent recovered from the exhaustion consequent on his wounds. At times his eyes were quite bright, and, although he was of course excessively weak, his remarkably powerful physique enabled him to talk rather freely. During the interview he stated :" I was at last surrounded by the police, and only had a revolver, with which I fired four shots. But it was no good. I had half a mind to shoot myself. I loaded my rifle, but could not hold it after I was wounded. I had plenty of ammunition, but it was no good to me. I got shot in the arm, and told Byrne and Dan so. I could have got off, but when I saw them all pounding away, I told Dan I would see it over, and wait until morning."

" What on earth induced you to go to the hotel?" inquired a spectator.

" We could not do it anywhere else," replied Kelly, eyeing the spectators who were strangers to him suspiciously. " I wouId, he continued, " have fought them in the train, or else upset it if I had the chance. I didn't care a -- who was in it; but I knew on Sunday morning there would be no usual passengers.

We first tackled the line, and could not pull it up, and then came to Glenrowan station."

"Since the Jerilderie affair," remarked a spectator, "we thought you had gone to Queensland."

" It would not do for everyone to think the same way," was Kelly's reply. " If I were once right again," he continued, 'I I would go to the barracks, and shoot every one of the traps, and not give one a chance."

Mrs. Skillian (sic) (to her brother)." It's a wonder you did not keep behind a tree."

Ned Kelly--" I had a chance at several policemen during the night, but declined to fire. My arm was broke the first fire. I got away into the bush, and found my mare, and could have rushed away, but wanted to ace the thing out, and remained in the bush."

A sad scene ensued when Wild Wright led Mrs. Skillian (sic) to the horrible object which was all that remained of her brother Dan. She bent over it, raised a dirge like cry, and wept bitterly. Dick Hart applied for the body of his brother, but was told he could not have it until after the post-mortem examination. The inquest on the bodies will be held at Benalla.

Michael Reardon, aged 18 years, was shot through the shoulder; but it is apparently only a flesh wound. The boy Jones was dangerously shot in the thigh. Both have been sent to the Wangaratta Hospital.

A cannon was brought up as far as Seymour, but as the burning of Jones's Hotel had proved successful, it was countermanded.

NEXT: Attempt on the train