From The Age achives in 1879

Were the Kelly Gang helped by their family and friends (they were called Sympathisers)? And did they have much support in the North East of Victoria?

Read the following articles.

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH
[FROM OUR OWN REPORTER]

BENALLA, 11th February
That the Kelly gang were enabled to carry out their latest outrage with such impunity is a matter that will create still greater surprise when it is known that the whereabouts of the outlaws was so strongly suspected by the police authorities here that they took the precaution of telegraphing to the managers of the banks in the districts which the gang were likely to visit, warning them of their proximity, although no telegram was sent to Jerilderie, which is a comparatively insignificant township. The authorities at Albury were communicated with. It appears scarcely credible, but from information now to hand there is no doubt but that the Kellys remained inactive in the town all day on Sunday, and that while their identity was known to many, although they were not suspected by the majority of the inhabitants, no one appears to have taken any steps to give information of the presence of the gang. Had any resident had the pluck to ride away and inform the police in the other townships by telegram the outlaws might have been captured without the slightest difficulty. The Victorian police authorities received their first intimation of what had occurred from Albury about nine o'clock yesterday evening, and steps were immediately taken to despatch armed parties to the localities in which there was any probability of the gang making their next appearance. The police aver that they were not in ignorance of what was likely to occur, and the transport of the parties was therefore effected with little difficulty. At present nothing has been heard of the gang since they left Jerilderie. A rumor was extensively circulated yesterday afternoon to the effect that they had since stuck up the bank at Tocumwal; but not only is there no bank there, but no sign of the outlaws has been observed in the vicinity of the place. It is impossible to tell at the present juncture the direction which the gang may have taken, but there is a general inclination to the belief that they will return to their old haunts; and if there is any truth in the statements that they indulged in drink, there is a strong feeling that they will be intercepted if they have resolved upon following that route. Should they return to their strongholds in Victoria it is probable that they will again remain inactive for some time, but strong bodies of police have been brought up to Violet Town and other localities upon which the gang might descend from the ranges, or in proximity to which they might be found to be. Further intelligence as to the movements of the outlaws is anxiously awaited.

————

A professional gentleman, who has just returned to Melbourne after a visit to Deniliquin, gives us some interesting personal experiences, which clearly show how universal is the sympathy accorded to the Kelly gang, and how the efforts of the police in the Mansfield district are completely neutralised by the watchful organisation existing for the support and assistance of the desperadoes. Our informant, en route for the metropolis, stayed in Wangaratta last Saturday night. Walking through the town after midnight, and desiring some refreshment, he found the principal hotels all closed. Finally he happened to meet a wayfarer, who, in answer to inquiries, offered to show him where he could get a drink if he were willing to shout. Assent to this was followed by the stranger being led to a small publichouse of questionable character, the sole redeeming feature of the place seemingly consisting of good quality beer there sold. Within its classic precincts were collected between twenty and thirty men of the Beechworth Police Court stamp, who loudly expressed their sympathy with the Kellys and their confreres, and spoke of them in the kindly language of associates, without in the least being afraid of the stranger. One of them, becoming confidential under the soothing influence of the seductive square gin bottle, informed the traveller that the Kellys were not in the Strathbogie Ranges then, and had not been there for a week past, and told him, with great exultation, that he would hear of the Kellys doing something great in a day or two, and not in Victoria either. Ned Kelly is looked upon as a hero all over the North-eastern district, and Steve Hart is second only in popular esteem. Our informant was also told that the very money the crowd were spending came from the Kelly gang, who seem to devote the greater part of their spoils to assisting their friends, and consolidating their already large influence. In fact, all the robberies that have been committed, it would appear, were planned, not by the outlaws themselves, but by their confederates, for whose benefit they committed. From all this, and from personal observations during his journey through the district, our informant considers that even the successful prosecution of a few sympathisers under the new Act of Parliament will do little or nothing in checking the supply of food, ammunition and information to the bushrangers. The sympathisers are more numerous than the law-loving people in the district, and their relations, who seem to be innumerable, are scattered all along the borders of New South Wales and Victoria. The women especially are dazzled with the daring deeds of the bushrangers, and even females not related to them think it the greatest honor to assist the outlaws

Source: The Age
Date: 12 Feb 1879