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Senior Constable John Kelly was heavily involved in
the siege at Glenrowan.
He was there for most of the day and present at Ned's actual capture.
John Kelly was like Ned Kelly
physically, it must have been an odd situation
to have two
similar Kelly's!
In
fact there was also a Constable Patrick Kelly as well as Senior Constable
John
Kelly on the ground at Glenrowan.
The following was said by Frank Clune in
his book, 'The Kelly Hunters'. 'Seeing the train arrive, Senior Constable
Kelly ran on a wide circuit from the north end, to report the state of affairs
to the superintendent on the railway platform.
He was lucky that some of the newly-arrived police did not
shoot him as, in the half-light, with his big black beard and powerful frame, he
looked like Ned Kelly. He had lost his wideawake hat in the bush and, to keep
his head warm, was now wearing Ned Kelly's bloodstained skull-cap. He was also
carrying Ned Kelly's six-barrelled (sic) Spencer rifle. As most of the police
were not wearing uniforms, it was surprising that they did not shoot one another
in the general confusion that ensued when the reinforcements arrived.'
In
the book 'In the Performance of Duty', the following was said of Snr.
Const. Kelly..
John Kelly was an experienced policeman........in March 1880 he was transferred
to Benalla
to assist in the Kelly hunt. Supt Sadleir asked him to take charge of Greta but
he refused.
He was fearful for his family, therefore Sadleir made an adverse entry in his
record sheet.
Two years later the Royal Commission had it struck out. He retired in 1898.
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