The Jerilderie Letter Read Online Free Page A

local farmers or other police, and fired upon accordingly.

    A page from the original manuscript of Ned Kelly’s Jerilderie Letter, as transcribed by Joe Byrne.

    Aaron Sherritt, Joe Byrne’s childhood friend, worked with the Kelly gang, while also in collusion with the police. Although his ultimate allegiance remains unclear, most of his actions seem to have been intended to ensure that the gang avoided capture as he siphoned money out of the police purse. He was shot by Joe Byrne in June 1880.

    Captain Frederick Charles Standish, addicted gambler and frequenter of clubs, was singularly unsuited to the task of capturing outlaws. Although in charge of the hunt for the Kelly gang, he left superintendents Hare and Nicolson to lead in the field.

    This photo of Joe Byrne was taken after his death at Glenrowan, his body propped up against a wall in Benalla. He was the most educated of the gang, reaching at least 5th grade, and consistently being placed first or second in his class. Described as having ‘a quiet manner and an at times nervous diposition’, he copied out the manuscripts of both the Cameron and the Jerilderie letters.

    Dear Sir
    I wish to acquaint you with some of the occurrences of the present past and future, In or about the spring of 1870 the ground was very soft a hawker named Mr Gould got his waggon bogged between Greta and my mother’s house on the eleven mile creek, the ground was that rotten it would bog a duck in places so Mr Gould had abandon his waggon for fear of loosing his horses in the spewy ground. hewas stopping at my Mother’s awaiting finer or dryer weather Mr McCormack and his wife. hawkers also, were camped in Greta the mosquitoes were very bad which they generally are in a wet spring and to help them Mr John had a horse called Ruita Cruta, although a gelding was as clever as old Wombat or any other Stallion at running horses away and taking them on his beat which was from Greta swamp to the seven mile creek consequently he enticed McCormacks horse away from Greta. Mr Gould was up early feeding his horses heard a bell and seen McCormack horse for he knew the horse well he sent his boy to take him back to Greta. WhenMcCormack’s got the horse they came straight out to Goold and accused him of working the horse; this was false and Goold was amazed at the idea I could not help laughing to hear Mrs McCormack accusing him of using the horse after him being so kind as to send his boy to take him from the Ruta Cruta and take him back to them. 1 I pleaded Goulds innocence and Mrs McCormack turned on me and accused me of bringing the horse from Greta to Goolds waggon to pull him out of the bog I did not say much to the woman as my mother was present but that same dayme and my uncle was cutting calves Gould wrapped up a note and a pair of the calves testicles and gave them to me to give them to Mrs McCormack. I did not see her and gave the parcel to a boy to give to her when she would come instead of giving it to her he gave it to her husband consequently McCormack said he would summons me I told him neither me or Gould used their horse. he said I was a liar & he could welt me or any of my breed I was about 14 years of age but accepted the challenge and dismounting when Mrs McCormack struck my horse in the flank with a bullock’s skin it jumped forward and my fist came in collision with McCormack’s nose andcaused him to loose his equillibrium and fall postrate I tied up my horse to finish the battle but McCormack got up and ran to the Police camp, Constable Hall asked me what the row was about, I told him they accused me and Gould of using their horse and I hit him and I would do the same to him if he challenged me McCormack pulled me and swore their lies against me. I was sentenced to three months for hitting him and three months for the parcel and bound to keep the peace for 12 months. 2 Mrs McCormack gave good substantialevidence as she is well acquainted with that place called Tasmania