P94
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The usual trains running upon the lines had dropped many of their passengers, attracted by the strange spectacle of a siege in this usually quiet country. Amongst these was a Catholic clergyman, the very reverend Dean Gibney. He decided to remain as upon inquiry he learned there was no Catholic clergyman present. He made his way to where Ned Kelly was and after attending to him in his priestly office, it was his intention to proceed to the hotel, he asked Kelly if it would be safe as he was a clergyman he did not think they would injure him. Kelly replied. "I would not advise you to go, they will certainly shoot you they will not know what you are and they will not take time to think." Father Gibney was thus prevented from going up to the hotel immediately, which was a considerable time before the burning took place. But when the flames burst through the house he saw, that if the outlaws were not already dead death was hovering around the building, and recognising it as his duty he walked boldly up and entered the building. He searched some rooms before he found any of them when he came upon the body of Byrne, it was lying as he had fallen, and the body was quite cold and stiff. In a small room at the back of the house he found the bodies of the other two bushrangers. They were both lying side by side their armour off and alongside each body. They had each of them a bag rolled up and placed under the head and looked composed as if asleep. Father Gibney examined their eyes which satisfied him they were dead for sometime, his opinion being, from their plainly prearranged position, they had committed suicide.

We rushed in after the clergyman, and had time to remove Cherry and the body of Byrne out of the building, but owing to the rapid manner in which the fire spread there was no time to get out the bodies of Hart and Dan Kelly. Martin Cherry, who was shot in the loin, when brought out seemed conscious, but he was unable to speak. He received the attention of the brave clergyman and died whilst still being attended by him. The limbs were burned off the bodies of Hart and Dan Kelly; the trunks and heads remaining and these were delivered over to their relatives.

Ned Kelly and the body of Byrne were removed to Benalla. I had charge of Kelly in the van he was very quiet and made no complaints although he had received several severe wounds in the legs and arms.

I had also charge of him at the watch house in Benalla, where he expressed a wish to see you, and your account of the interview you had with him there was correct. He always spoke creditably of your coolness and courage at the time you escaped from him in the Wombat ranges. Except Mr. Hare I got the largest reward of any of the police and I was also promoted upon the recommendation of the Police Commissioner. I may state that Kelly never seemed to forget the little kindness I had shown to his sisters, and at the Beechworth police court when all the witnesses were ordered out of court, he requested his solicitor, Mr. Gaunson, to permit me to remain, but Mr. Sadleir instructed me to retire which I accordingly did". As Mr. Kelly personally repeated to me the above narrative I have placed it in the first person.