Reward

The above image is a scan of a message I found on an original petition document.
It seems not everyone wanted Ned saved. (sorry about the language used)

I found after many fruitless searches on the internet that no one had provided the list of
who received what from the distribution of the Kelly 'Blood Money'. Therefore I am doing so here.

The Glenrowan siege occurred just in the nick of time, the reward being offered
(8,000 pounds) was a limited offer and due to end in July 1880.

In 1881 adverts were placed in the newspapers for potential claimants involved in
the capture of the Kelly Gang to come forward and lodge a claim.

The Kelly Reward Board took in ninety one applications from those who thought they
deserved a slice of the reward pie. Twenty four applications were rejected with the remainder
successful. It was an amazing affair, brave men such as Bracken were reluctant to apply at first.
Anton Wicks, the man who was forced to entice Aaron to his death was unsuccessful in his
application. It is difficult to understand at times how the rewards were worked out at all, it seems
the main criteria was that you had to have been at the siege.
One notable exception being Detective Ward, who, whilst instrumental in getting Aaron
into his fatal predicament was not at the siege on June 28.

The police who hid in Aaron’s hut managed to receive 42-15-9, with the lion's share going
to Messrs. Hare, who was not there more than a few minutes, and Curnow for his bravery in stopping
the train.

The blacktrackers from Queensland were promised a reward as part of the deal in securing
their services to track the Kellys in Victoria. Unfortunately, the racism (and in-fighting between
those in charge of the pursuit) shown by the Victoria police was such that they were not utilised
fully and when the reward was issued they were at the very bottom of the list! They were promised
fifty pounds and to date it has never been received. It seems that an amount of fifty pounds was set aside
for each tracker as listed. However, the feeling of the day was that the aboriginal could not be trusted
with such a sum and the Government deemed that the police should control the money on their behalf
for the purchase of uniforms etc. We do not even know if this occurred.

[THE KELLY REWARD BOARD DISTRIBUTION.

1 Superintendent Francis A Hare 800- 0 - 0

2 Thomas Curnow (School teacher who stopped the train) 550- 0 - 0

3 Senior Constable John Kelly 377-11- 8

4 Sergeant Arthur Loftus Maule Steele 290-13- 9

5 Constable Hugh Bracken 275-13- 9

6 Superintendent John Sadleir 240-17- 3

7 Sub-Insp Stanhope O’Connor (Qld police in charge of trackers) 237-15- 0

8 Jesse Dowsett (Victorian Railways guard) 175-13- 9

9 Sergeant James Whelan 165-13- 9

10 Mounted Constable William Canny 137-11 - 8

11 Mounted Constable Patrick Charles Gascoigne 137-11 - 8

12 Mounted Constable William Phillips 137-11 - 8

13 Mounted Constable Daniel Barry 137-11 - 8

14 Mounted Constable James Murdock Arthur 137-11 - 8

15 Charles Rawlings (Volunteer) 137-11 - 8

16 Mounted Constable Thomas Kirkham 137-11 - 8

17 Senior Constable Robert Austin Smyth 137-11 - 8

18 Foot Constable Patrick Kelly 137-11 - 8

19 Mounted Constable James F Dixon 115-13 -9

20 Foot Constable James Dwyer 115-13 -9

21 Mounted Constable P.P. Wilson 115-13 -9

22 Foot Constable John Milne 115-13 -9

23 Mounted Constable John Lord Stillard 115-13 -9

24 Mounted Constable Cornelius Ryan 115-13 -9

25 F Constable Thomas Reilly 115-13 -9

26 Mounted Constable Robert Graham 115-13 -9

27 Foot Constable John Morrison Hewitt 115-13 -9

28 Moun Mounted Constable William John Richard Wallace 115-13 -9

Foot Constable Patrick Walsh 115-13 -9

17 Mounted Constable John Montiford 115-13 -9

Constable Cawsey 115-13 -9

19 Mounted Constable Patrick Healey 115-13 -9

20 Mounted Constable William Moore 115-13 -9

21 Archibald Andrew McPhee (pilot engine guard) 104- 4 -6

22 Henry William Alder (pilot engine driver) 104- 4 - 6

23 Hugh McClement Burch (pilot engine fireman) 104- 4 - 6

24 Detective Constable Michael Edward Ward 100- 0 -0

25 Senior Constable Charles Johnston 97- 15 -9

26 Robert or John Bowman (engine driver) 84- 4 -6

Mr. Hallows 84- 4 -6

28 Mr. Bell (railway guard) 84- 4 -6

29 Richard Coleman (engine driver) 68- 3- 4

30 John Charles Stewart (fireman) 68- 3- 4

31 Senior Constable Patrick Mullane 47- 15- 9

32 Foot Constable Richard Glenny 42- 15- 9

33 Mounted Constable Robert McColl 42- 15- 9

34 Mounted Constable C. F. Meagor 42- 15- 9

35 Foot Constable Henry Armstrong (was at Sherritt’s hut) 42- 15- 9

36 Foot Constable Thomas P. Dowling (was at Sherritt’s hut) 42- 15- 9

37 Foot Constable William Duross (was at Sherritt’s hut) 42- 15- 9

38 Mounted Constable Robert Alexander (was at Sherritt’s hut) 42- 15- 9

39 Foot Constable R. McHugh 42- 15- 9

4 0 Foot Constable Richard Wickham 42- 15- 9

41 Jack Sherritt (Aaron’s brother) 42- 15- 9

42 Mounted Constable Thomas Edward Dwyer 42- 15- 9

43 Foot Constable John H. Stone 42- 15- 9

44 Foot Constable Peter McDonald 42- 15- 9

45 Hero (blacktracker Qld) 50- 0- 0

46 Johnny (blacktracker Qld) 50- 0- 0

47 Jimmy (blacktracker Qld) 50- 0 -0

48 Jacky (blacktracker Qld) 50- 0 -0

49 Barney (blacktracker Qld) 50- 0 -0

50 Moses (blacktracker Qld) 50- 0 -0

51 Spider (blacktracker Qld) 50- 0 -0

Mr. Cheshire (operator) 25- 0 -0

53 Mr. W. Osborne 25- 0 -0

Additional payments noted:

Thomas Curnow an additional reward share of 450-0-0

Constable Alfred John Falkiner 25-0-0

Mr. Clement Stevens (Benalla stationmaster) 50-0-0

Mr. Henry Laing (Wangaratta stationmaster) 25-0-0

Ex Constable Thomas Meehan (reward for services) 42-15-0

1 Super