True History of the Kelly Gang

by Peter Carey

  We was dead men now he answered we might as well accept the fact.

  John King 3 yr. & Ellen King 5 yr. & Gracie Kelly 13 yr. all come shrieking in the hut to hide beneath the bed. All this I know from Mary Hearn she thought it were a game until she saw their pursuers was 2 big moustached officers their heavy pistols drawn.

  Out cried the traps. Bail up!

  Their munitions was .45 Colts but the policemen didnt feel that were sufficient for their safety and the larger of the pair now snatched Mary’s baby from his cart and held him as a human shield.

  Little George begun to scream and wave his fists. His mother wrapped her blanket about her and come to rescue him but the officer jabbed her in the belly with his Colt.

  Drop your guns he cried.

  Sir she cried there aint no guns in here.

  Don’t lie to me shouted Supt Brooke Smith we know Ned Kelly’s here. He ripped off her blanket revealing what she would not wish to show no man.

  Sir cried she the baby is falling. It were true the babe were slipping from the trap’s grasp but fear can make a big man deaf and Inspector Brooke Smith were in Holy terror that I were hiding in the hut he thought his end were near.

  Come out Kelly you’ll be shooting children if you fire.

  O give my baby back Mary cried she darted forward but were knocked away she had no more power than a plover squealing around a raided nest.

  Go on cried Smith get out the brat is in my care. So saying he got a knee up under George’s bottom a firmer grip around his chest.

  Mary thought she were about to have her baby confiscated by the government. O do please return him to me Sir.

  Brooke Smith swatted at your mother in reply it were to Kate he spoke. See all the men I have out there today? I will have as many more tomorrow and when I find your brothers I will blow them to pieces as small as the paper in our guns.

  Sir I beg you he’s just a baby I am taking care of him very nicely as you see. I’ll show you my saving book if you would like.

  Are you Kate Kelly?

  Don’t tell him nothing said Kate.

  My name is Mary Hearn Sir I have broke no law and neither has my son.

  The name of Hearn meant nothing to the Inspector but the other officer were Detective Michael Ward a much more diligent and dangerous creature altogether. This is Kelly’s child he announced.

  Good grief exclaimed Brooke Smith. Look how the little demon curls his lip.

  Mary pushed forward but it were too late the crooked Ward had taken the baby in his own custody.

  He has the gripe Sir thats all it is.

  If you’re a clever girlie smiled Detective Ward you’ll tell me where its daddy’s hiding.

  And suddenly with no warning he tossed the baby into the air.

  Christ said Brooke Smith.

  Ned aint the father Sir don’t hurt him.

  Liar said Ward throwing the baby again it were far too rough George’s head snapped back his mouth flew open.

  O I curse your seed cried Mary.

  Ward’s grin failed him.

  I curse your unborn children said Mary her blood were icy cold her eyes as black as coal. May your children come to the straw with feet like toads and eyes like snakes.

  Silence!

  You will be like a blackfellow with no home to turn to. Your wife will lie with soldiers. You will wander the roads with sores & weeping warts.

  Detective Ward were white and waxy as an altar candle.

  Halt cried his partner or I’ll fire.

  Mary were just a girl of 17 normally v. meek & polite in manner her skin still unspoiled by the colonial sun but now her mouth were thin and straight. Then may you get red and scaly skin upon your private parts.

  I order you cried Superintendent Brooke Smith & discharged his pistol through the roof.

  That were the moment George’s eyes changed colour Kate will attest to that. One moment they was blue the next a yellow brown the colour of a ginger cat. In the heat of the furnace metals change their nature in olden days they could make gold from lead. Wait to see what more there is to hear my daughter for in the end we poor uneducated people will all be made noble in the fire.

  We determined to return home to Greta even if the ground were crawling with policemen we could safely get tucker and dry clothes but when we got back to the Ovens River at Everton it were running 8 ft. higher than when 1st we crossed.

  I’ll lead youse across said Steve this conversation took place at night in the flooded main street there were a dog behind the butcher’s shop throwing himself against his chain the horses was spooky requiring all our attention so we circled and chivvied while discussing what we was to do.

  Ned said Steve we’ll go across at Wangaratta.

  Joe had been very sour and glum since his failed attempt to swim the Murray he spoke sarcastically to him. Did it slip your mind theres a railway line to cross or did you fancy you could jump the effing packhorses across a 4 rail fence?

  Shutup.

  Well said Joe you can forget the railway gate its locked.

  We don’t need no gates said Dan theres a railway bridge at Wangaratta.

  The traps will have it guarded Danny.

  Jesus Christ don’t call me effing Danny.

  Ned said Steve I can get us under the railway bridge Ned.

  Don’t listen to him Ned.

  And what were you proposing Joe?

  Shutup said Joe I’d go upriver to Bright we’d cross there easy as you effing well know.

  Thats 30 adjectival miles.

  You’re such a lazy b– – – – – d Hart you’d rather ride 8 mi. and get lagged at the end of it.

  Shutup about being lagged we won’t be lagged.

  How can he get us under the railway bridge when the effing river is in flood?

  I’m not the one who thought he could swim the Murray.

  Keep your voice down.

  Theres a rock ledge underneath the bridge said Steve flood or no flood I’ve crossed there all my adjectival life.

  I heard a squeaky window rise up in its sash.

  Turning to Steve Hart I reminded him Wangaratta would be full of traps they would show us no mercy if we failed in our attempt.

  You have my word I will get you through.

  Very well said I we’re off to Wangaratta.

  We drove the free horses before us walking them until we cleared the township then set off cantering through the dark up the empty main road from Everton to Tarrawingee thence to Wangaratta arriving around 4 o’clock our mounts all but ruined by their exertions.

  Through grey early light & drizzle we come down through the sodden town 2,000 citizens was sound asleep our horses’ shoes as loud as cannon in my ears. Riding down to where the railway crossed One Mile we saw the mongrel creek were running a banker so Joe Byrne begun immediately to curse at Steve. You silly mutt you effing clift we should have gone to effing Bright etc. etc.

  Shut your gob I ordered Joe he spat but were too busy keeping the driven horses together to argue.

  Steve tipped his hat to Joe and grinned I’ll see you in America he said then persuaded his horse down into the current. He promised an underwater ledge we could only pray there were one. A woman were watching from a house across the street when I saw the way she looked at us I understood we was recognised and even in that grey and watery light it were clear I were reviled a murderer I took the plunge the water were exceeding high and deathly fast my horse begun to blow in fear but the ledge were true & we scrambled beneath the railway line and out the other side.

  Come on you b––––rs we been spotted.

  We was pushing the poor horses very hard making for the Warby Ranges while the witness Mrs Delaney went puffing up the hill to wake up Supt Brooke Smith and his army of police.

  It is only 5 mi. from Wangaratta into the foothills this is hard & gnarly country unloved by squatters and relegated to the poor but Harry Power’s apprentice knew its dried dugs its swollen knuckles he had bee
n taught its every twist and gully. Now the Warbies folded themselves around us like a mother and we slept protected by them whose names I cannot say in places we may yet require again.

  PARCEL TEN

  The History Is Commenced

  Bank of New South Wales letterhead, 64 sheets of medium stock (8‘ × 10‘ approx.). Creasing, foxing, staining.

  Of particular interest for the dual motives for the history’s composition. Mary Hearn’s response to the reports of Stringybark Creek murders. The author’s response to fatherhood. His faith in a parliamentary enquiry. Mary Hearn’s recollections of transvestism among the Irish peasantry. An explanation of Kelly’s refusal to flee when it was possible. His trial by a jury of his peers. This parcel also contains two annotated pages from The Melbourne Argus in which that newspaper’s account of the Euroa Bank robbery is quibbled with.

  2 DAYS LATER DAN & ME WAS on our way to visit our sister Maggie we approached Eleven Mile Creek like blackfellows in the night. There were a 1/4 moon some fast moving cloud permitted sufficient light to show the familiar bosom shape of Bald Hills. Behind them we knew 20 police was now encamped each one sworn by secret oath to avenge their dead companions.

  Everything at home were devastation the dark shadow of my mother’s 1st hut looked damned forsaken. Closer still were the hut I built so she might escape the stinky man’s curse though the arresting traps had dragged her from it anyway. We knew this 2nd hut also abandoned but as we passed there were a ghostly yellow light flickering beneath the door. I reined in my mare.

  Come on said Dan lets go.

  The hair on my own neck were upright when I come beneath the peppercorn tree but through the 8 pane window I seen a female figure walking back and forth a saucepan in her hand. When Dan plucked at my elbow I shrugged him off. From the saucepan rose a cloud of dense yellow smoke though I were more concerned with that crow black hair that white skin and in my confusion imagined it were my mother unexpectedly made free. I felt a bolt of joy the weight of worry lifting off me.

  Ma I shouted.

  Jesus Christ moaned Dan please lets go.

  But the woman heard my cry she turned and to my shock it were Mary Hearn.

  Its Ned I called.

  Shutup shutup Dan begged Jesus Christ do you want the whole effing police force to know you’re here?

  Mary Hearn come out on the veranda. Is it you she whispered.

  It is.

  It aint safe said she.

  I looked to Dan he sighed and drew his Webley. As he turned to keep the watch I entered the hut it were filled with sulphur smoke little George lay in his box upon the floor his face very red & shining his yellow brown eyes staring at the candlelight.

  What ails the little one?

  Mary did not reply.

  Why are you by yourself all alone?

  I don’t bother anyone here I can keep the smoke up to him all the night.

  Did you read about me in the newspapers Mary?

  She moved a little to her left so she were in a direct line between me and her child.

  Mary I would never kill no one unless I had to.

  She shook her head.

  They would of shot me if I didnt shoot them 1st.

  She tried to smile. I prayed for you said she.

  I shot them fair and square Mary.

  She starting fossicking on the high shelf where the demijohns of oils & turpentine was stored she produced a scrap of newspaper and by peering v. close I seen there were a drawing of a demonic kind of man.

  Read it.

  The author of this so called LIKENESS were not content to show my natural imperfections he must join my brows across my nose and twist my lips to render me the Devil the Horror of the Ages these engravings in the newspaper was made by a coward who never had his beasts impounded or his family gaoled on the evidence of perjurers his only useful trade were to persuade the people to hate & fear a man they never met.

  This aint me.

  Read the write up Ned then tell me it aint you.

  Her arms was wrapped like chains around her chest I couldnt leave her in this state I were detained like a locust in a web. The headline said MURDER OF POLICE AT STRINGYBARK CREEK. I don’t know who wrote it but he made us Irish Madmen. I had mutilated Sergeant Kennedy he claimed I had cut off his ear with my knife before murdering him. Moreover I had forced my 3 mates to discharge their pistols into the bodies of the police so all would be guilty of the crime the same as me.

  I heard Dan’s heavy boots upon the veranda the door swung open. I can see their adjectival fires behind the hill he pleaded.

  Advise me if you see them coming.

  O Jesus Ned lets go now.

  But all the love & light in Mary’s eyes were cold as ash in the morning grate I could not leave.

  You go Dan I’ll follow in a while.

  You know I aint leaving without you.

  I won’t be more than 5 minutes said I then returned to Mary. You think I done them things they say?

  O Ned I don’t know what I am to believe.

  Well I will tell you what I done and then you judge you don’t know what them police is like.

  Your mamma dragged my da’s chair up beside George’s box there she sat with shoulders rounded waving the smoke about him. I am a man a man that loved her & my body yearned to comfort her to touch her skin but instead I talked.

  I began with Fitzpatrick and Kate telling how that event had played out much like she predicted then I described all that happened until Kennedy received his mortal wound poor Dan it took much more than 5 minutes it were nearly dawn when I finished & the light were wet & grey as drowning. At that dismal hour I heard the cry Mopoke Mopoke it were no owl it were my brother.

  Snuffing the candle we both come out onto the front veranda and there we seen the undertakers smudged as charcoal in the rain an army of invaders riding round the flank of our familiar hills. As Dan were hurrying towards the creek I turned to follow but Mary Hearn touched my hand what bliss what torture she loves me yet she loves me through the drizzling rain.

  If you will lead men you cannot be away from them no more than from a dairy herd or to put it another way when no rooster is present the cockerels will grow their combs till they’re red and flapping across their beady eyes for once their leader is absent they exercise their own judgment setting plans in course they would never dream of if their Captain were up front.

  I did not forget neither my men nor my mother in her cruel Scientific gaol but I am guilty of neglecting both while setting the fire back blazing in the eyes of Mary Hearn. I returned with Dan to sleep in our hiding place in the Warby Ranges but didnt talk to no one I were so very tired then at noon I were shook awake to be informed a big party of men were riding in formation across the plain below. This was a larger number than were hid behind Bald Hills but as they seemed headed towards the township of Winton I went back to sleep. No need to write the name of the family that harboured us only that they lived a hard life in the rocky foothills of the ranges they were no better than they should be they knew what it were to have the police harassing them the squatters squeezing them enclosing all the common land for private use.

  Waking at dusk I found the friend’s family spreading newspapers around the floor and table. In this little hut it were usually hard to find sufficient paper to wipe yourself but now it were a rat’s nest of ENSIGN and ADVERTISER and ARGUS there were no smell of cooking only of the cold black ink. The baby had torn the front page of THE MELBOURNE HERALD but not so bad I couldnt see my name. Mr Donald Cameron had asked the Premier the question WHETHER HE WOULD CAUSE A SEARCHING ENQUIRY TO BE MADE INTO THE ORIGIN OF THE KELLY OUTBREAK AND ALSO THE ACTION OF THE AUTHORITIES IN TAKING PRELIMINARY STEPS FOR THE ARREST OF THE CRIMINALS. He said he had information that POINTED TO THE CONDUCT OF CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE POLICE FORCE AS HAVING LED UP TO THE MANSFIELD MURDERS. This were the best news in many a long day. I never heard of this cove Cameron previous but he were neither blind nor stupid he understood
we was driven to the deed that the law was scandalous in our pursuit.

  But there were more than this to hearten me Mr Berry the Premier had answered him THAT IF RELIABLE INFORMATION WERE TO REACH HIM THAT DIFFICULTIES WERE INTERPOSED BY WANT OF PROPER ORGANISATION AMONG THE POLICE HE WOULD OF COURSE INSTITUTE AN ENQUIRY.

  Well look at this lads I said heres a go.

  Joe’s eyes was sick & fluey. Politicians he declared.

  So?

  So it don’t mean nothing said he and in exchange for my HERALD he give me the front page of THE MELBOURNE ARGUS where I read we was all declared outlaws who could be shot on sight and was entitled to no more mercy than a rabid dog.

  You can believe this one he said this is most reliable.

  The 2 boys looked from him to me their faces stretched like drums waiting to see what I would say.

  I have a mind to talk to this Cameron cove said I.

  And how asked Joe would you manage that?

  I’ll tell you in the morning lads. I give Joe back his ARGUS and retrieved THE HERALD and from this I tore the write up concerning Cameron.

  You aint going back to Eleven Mile?

  Its my neck said I.

  Its your adjectival pizzle cried Joe Byrne as all 3 turned from me to hunch around the papers. Daughter forgive me when I confess how little thought I give for their agony I were a man in love I left them alone to drink in all that poison ink.

  1/2 an hour later I were Romeo himself riding through the gap above Glenrowan the night sky a deep royal blue and the outline of Bald Hills clear above it. There were no sign of police fires but my Juliet were very tense as she took my hand and squeezed it there were no kissing. When she pulled out a chair I sat down not knowing what she had in mind though the table were unusually clear of dishes and on its clean top a sheaf of paper were stacked alongside a Post Office pen & a bottle of red ink labelled PROPERTY OF KATE KELLY.

  Dear said she I would be very pleased if you would write down what you told me previously.

  Which part of it?

  Why every part.

  O I aint no scholar Mary you know that.