THE EXECUTION OF NED KELLY. Ned Kelly was born in the town of Beveridge, Victoria, in 1854. His father, John "Red" Kelly, was an Irishman who had been transported to Australia for seven years for stealing two pigs. Ned's mother, Ellen Quinn, was also Irish. The family lived in a small hut on a plot of land that they rented from a man named James McAnulty. Life was hard for the Kellys and they often went without food. As a result, Ned grew up strong and tough. Ned had spent some time with a bushranger known as Harry Power, who taught him how to survive in the bush and how to use a gun. In 1869, when Ned was just fifteen years old, allegedly attacking a Chinese man, but he was released. Then, in 1871 Ned received a three-year prison sentence for receiving a stolen horse. This left Ned, his sister, and two brothers to fend for themselves. After leaving prison, Ned started working as a fence-mender and later as a bullocky. The death of Ned Kelly, the bushranger, took place at 10am on November 11 in Melbourne, accompanied by the members of the Melbourne Gaol, in the presence of the judges, and representatives of the press. Ned
Kelly had an almost sleepless night, he stayed awake to a late hour having conversations with a fellow-prisoner. He awoke, rose, knelt down, and prayed and remained there till the warders arrived to lead him to the pressroom. The governor of the gaol, informed Ned Kelly that the hour of his execution was for 10 o'clock. Kelly simply replied, " Such is life." Later on that day his leg irons were then struck off, then accompanied from the condemned cell in the old wing of the prison to the central building. When reaching the pressroom, where he remained until the arrival of the chaplain of the gaol. Prior to his arrival Kelly was heard to sing snatches of songs in a low voice, as if to while away the time. On the arrival of the chaplain, prayers were then said, and the last rites of the church administered. Kelly partook in breakfast on account of having to take the sacrament. About 9 o'clock crowds began to assemble in the gaol, and at 10 o'clock there was about 5, 000 present, composed of a Diverse mob of men, women, and children, mainly of the lowest class. When the final arrangements had been made, at five minutes to 10 the sheriff and the governor appeared in the courtyard, and, followed by those privileged to be spectators, proceeded in the direction of the main building, where the gallows was situated. None but the sheriff, sub- sheriff and the officials were allowed up on the upper platform near the drop. Precisely as the clock struck 10Mr. Sheriff Rede marched to the door of the press- room, and demanded from the governor to collect Edward Kelly, at the same time producing his warrant of execution. This formality