Ann Jones was not friends with Sgt Kennedy, nor was she invited to stay with his family! [Sharon Hollingsworth]

 Isn't it funny how everyone just accepts what has been written in books without a second thought? Even when primary sources are given, how many actually follow up to be sure things are correct or that the proper reading comprehension was in play? That is one thing I learned from being friends with Stuart Dawson - turn over every rock and fully examine everything. I was looking for something else in the PROV archives online and stumbled over some things that made me search further.

 In "Ned Kelly : A Short Life" Ian Jones stated this --  "He [Ned Kelly] probably didn't know that Mrs. Jones had known Sergeant Kennedy "very well." Only a month before his death the sergeant had invited her to stay with his family and she kept a photo of him in her album, Her maiden name was Kennedy."  

Jones cites these sources in his notes -- "Ann Jones a friend of Sgt Kennedy, Herald, 25.11.1880..has photograph of him, Jones Inquiry.."

Ok, let's look at this from a purely logical point of view. Why in the bloody hell would a man with a wife and five children invite some married woman with a passel of kids to stay with his family? Not like she was homeless or in need. She had a business to run. Surely there was no room there at the Kennedy home for that many extra folks, either. Think about it, it makes ZERO sense. Why it makes zero sense is that it was not true at all. It never happened! She did not know him very well and she was not invited. Hello!!! Go to the Herald in the date above at Trove and read what it says.

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/244692145

 What was said there about knowing Kennedy well and being invited to his home was SAID by Detective Ward about himself, it was NOT, I repeat NOT said by Ann Jones. It seems that reading comprehension was lacking in this case.  

So, there you have part of it debunked! Now, we turn to the photograph of Kennedy in her album part. I am really actually wondering if what she showed to Hugh Bracken (per the compensation inquiry) was just a postcard (were there postcards of him being sold?) or an illustration cut from the newspaper and put in her scrapbook/album. Why would she have a photograph of Kennedy? She was not friends with him nor was she related as far as we know despite having her maiden name being Kennedy. Note that it said a "likeness" of Kennedy, it did not say a photograph. It may have been, but how? I lean towards likeness meaning an illustration from the paper. That part is iffy and could go either way, but I fully own him with the knew him very well and invited to stay part.

Let this be a lesson, always question everything and do your own legwork! 

My Ned Kelly Gang themed silk scarf [Sharon Hollingsworth]

 Recently on ebay US I found this Ned Kelly Gang themed silk scarf. I had not searched ebay for Kelly stuff for a while and was surprised to see this item that was first listed in April still available in July. Total price with shipping and tax only came to $37.72.  I figure that there were not as many buyers of Kelly stuff here in the United States versus down in Australia. I have taken photos of the scenes in the border part to better show off the details of the Kelly exploits. 

Book Review: My thoughts on Lachlan Strahan's "Justice in Kelly Country" [Sharon Hollingsworth]

Little JoJo checking out Justice in Kelly Country.
Our verdict is two thumbs/paws up!

                                             

 Ok, I have finally gotten a copy of "Justice in Kelly Country: The story of the cop who hunted Australia's most notorious bushrangers" by Lachlan Strahan. The cop being Constable Anthony Strahan, the great-great-grandfather of the author.

 First off, I have to say that I really enjoyed it. But, those who know me, know that I am going to point out a few niggling things. I am still a bit baffled why the kindle price (today at $31.34 US) is nearly neck and neck with the print copy price (today at $32.99 US). I got a bargain at $30.99 it seems! 

The intro with the alleged oral history of Strahan and the Kellys meeting up really sort of threw me (never mind that it was said Ellen was imprisoned in Pentridge!!) but it was along the lines of how in "Ned Kelly: a Short Life" Ian Jones had written the SBC event as Ned thinking he was seeing Flood and Strahan rather than it being Lonigan and McIntyre. Then we had a lengthy Old Testament type section of so-and-so beget so-and-so who beget so-and-so. I can't tell you how happy I was to get to page 17 when Anthony Strahan finally got on the ship to Australia.

 The book's strength is the telling of the story of Constable Strahan's life and career and everything he went through along with some annoyingly persistent adversaries he had to deal with.  I came away from the story with a new appreciation of Constable Strahan. He actually seems like a linchpin in the Kelly saga, though, sadly, he was not able to be at the siege to see it through to the end.

Strahan spent a lot of time in the saddle covering vast distances and was very diligent in his police work, patiently waiting on his quarry and quickly springing into action when required. He was well suited to the job. It was interesting to read about his exploits as well as reading about other aspects of his life.  For instance, the dilapidated housing he and his wife and family had to endure at various police stations (some quite isolated) he was posted at was quite eye-opening. It was all so well written that you felt like you were there slogging in the mud and shivering in the cold, feeling the rising damp and fearing to start a fire in the fireplace as it might burn the whole shanty down due to the state of the chimney. Add in the constant fear of wildfires in some places, flooding in others, (both in some!) and let's not forget the snakes and other wildlife! (They needed cats - like Little JoJo - and lots of them!) 

  I do think that the section on the Woolagee Outrage was rather a bit over-long (p 93-149). It felt like a disruption of the flow, it was almost like a whole other book on its own...once that episode was done it started rolling along nicely again. It was fun to "meet" some of the Kelly saga players early on along the way, especially the police, as it showed how they were out of the context of the Kellys. 

 A few things to mention, when there was talk of the aboriginals or the Chinese or women or whatever it was compared/contrasted to today's norms and delicacies. Back then, things were different (for better or worse), but it was what it was and it is what it is. 

 I did find a (very) few errors. It had Kennedy and Scanlan as both being married men and had Lonigan as unmarried, when it was Scanlan who was the unmarried one.  Also, it was made mention that the Jerilderie Letter was actually dictated to Joe by Ned IN Jerilderie, when it was already previously written and taken there to have newspaper editor Samuel Gill publish it. 

The author mentions his father, Frank Strahan, and his many writings on Ned and how he was a staunch Kelly sympathiser and of interest was his opinions of his ancestor, Constable Anthony Strahan, which was filtered through the sympathiser lens. I was aware of Frank Strahan and had read some of his articles and writings many years ago. It was very interesting to have the author show that some of his father's beliefs about the Kellys and his own family history were not quite correct.  I enjoyed the little touches where the author weighs in as a "rellie." He is not overbearing or insufferable. He strikes a good balance.  The Lord kept impressing upon me the term "diplomatic."  Then, at the very back of the book I see that he literally is a Diplomat!

Also, the author makes mention of a certificate of appreciation which Anthony Strahan was given and that it was reproduced on the inside back cover of the book. But, it was not, at least in the paperback copy I have.

Oh, and as Columbo would say - one more thing - I nearly forgot to mention that I have mixed feelings about Constable Anthony Strahan causing a near hazmat situation during a fancy dress ball. Part of me says "good-on-ya" and the other part says "how could you?" Trust me, you need to read it to even believe it!

 

The Special Police Train and Pilot Engine - Good Ol' Number 107 [Sharon Hollingsworth]

 Recently on a Ned Kelly facebook page  we have been discussing what type of engine (coal or wood?) might have been used for the Police Special and for the engine that ultimately carried the carriage cars of the Police Special into Glenrowan as their engine had been damaged on the way. When the train from Melbourne arrived in Benalla with O'Connor and the others to meet up with Hare and his troopers for the expected journey to Beechworth it was decided that the engine of the Police Special should be used as the Pilot Engine to go ahead of the Police Special and that an engine at Benalla having been warming up for a while should carry the Police Special cars.

John Bowman who was expected to be pilot engine driver to proceed the Special Train said this -  "I received instructions from Mr. Hodgkins to get No. 107 engine ready as the Kelly Gang had broke out again..."

 Doing more research shows that #107 was a U Class train built in 1874. It was an 0-6-0 goods train made in Ballarat at the Phoenix Foundry. See end of article for more details and link to a photo of a U Class train engine.

 Then later he said "Mr. Hodgkins informed me the Melbourne engine had run through a pair of gates and carried away his tender brake and Mr. Alder would have to take a brake van and run as pilot to Wangaratta as he had no brake power. I would have to take the special train [using #107 engine] from Benalla to Beechworth [with stop along the way at Wangaratta]. 

To confirm all this regarding switching of engines, Hugh Burch (fireman on the police special from Melbourne) wrote this in a letter -

"On passingt through a station 17 miles from Melbourne, the train going at a high

speed, I went to steady the Engine by applying the tender brake until
until she would be clear of all points and crossings. Knowing the
road perfectly, as I felt her going over the last pair, I had just
taken it off and was going over to the other side of the Engine when I
felt a crash and found myself knocked up into a corner. I found on
gathering myself together that I had gone through a heavy pair of iron
gates which had been left across the rails from the carelessness of
the person in charge. This accident carried away my tender hand brake,
also the gear of the automatic brake, leaving leaving me almost
helpless as too stopping power with the exception of reversing the
Engine and using the steam against her. However I accomplished the
journey to Benalla, a distance of 122 miles, in 2 hours and a 1/4. On
getting there they put [some men] on the train with horses for the
troopers. I then objected to go any further with the train as
considering the condition of my engine and being unable to stop in a
proper manner that it would be highly dangerous life. There was another
Engine ready on the Station for the purpose of going ahead it being
night if possible to prevent the police from falling into an ambush.
Considering the importance of the case, I got this Engine to take
charge of the train as she would have the brake power to stop it quick
if required and that I would go ahead about a mile with my Engine as
pilot and give the warning, if possible, of danger. I accordingly,
proceeding with the utmost care and caution..." 

As further confirmation Superintendent Hare said in his book - "It was decided by the railway authorities at Benalla that the engine that came from Melbourne should act as pilot."

There are more reports, but it seems it happened as all have said.

This link is for a photo of a U Class train, it is the second one on the page with the caption - (I did not want to use the photo without permission)    

http://victorianrailways.net/motive%20power/pre_1900_gallery/pre_1900_gallery.html

The caption for the photo reads ---

"ABOVE: An unidentified U class, alongside the original Bendigo Locomotive shed.

During 1874, the Phoenix Foundry Company of Ballarat constructed nine 0-6-0 Locomotives for the Victorian Railways, numbered from 107 to 123, (odd numbers only). These were a modified version of the 2 Meikle designed engines, built by the VR the previous year at the Williamstown workshops and subsequently numbered 103 & 105. The Phoenix built locomotives were subsequently designated as U class, and were all scrapped by 1908. Their reputation for rough riding led to them being given the nickname "Buzzwinkers"."