After killing Constable Lonigan, Constable Scanlan and Sergeant Kennedy at Stingybark Creek in late October 1878, Ned Kelly and his 'gang' disappeared into the Victorian bush, where for many months they evaded the police and the Indigenous trackers they employed, surfacing occasionally to commit crimes such as the bank robberies at Euroa in late 1878 and Jerilderie in early 1879. On the Eldorado Road, about six miles from Beechworth, lived their old friend Aaron Sherrit (1855-1880), who had been convicted, in the past, of stealing cattle with Joe Byrne. Not far away lived Joe Byrne's mother. Sherritt turned informer, accommodating police who suspected Kelly was hiding in caves nearby and were also watching Mrs Byrne's house. Having betrayed Kelly and Byrne, Sherritt knew he was doomed. Sure enough, on 26 June 1880, Joe Byrne lured Sherritt to the doorstep of his hut and shot him. Police were inside the illuminated dwelling, but could not fire at the outlaws outside in darkness. Kelly tried to burn Skerritt's down before riding on to Glenrowan, where he intended to ambush a police train. The doorstep from Sherritt's hut is now in the Bourke Museum.
Purchased 2017
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