Melbourne, Detective Office, 19/8/80

Sir,
I have the honor to report for the, information of the Officer, in charge of Detectives, that I searched and made inquiry for the person, or persons who made the armour for the above mentioned gang of bushrangers, and, up to the present, have been unable to find out the same. I called and remained for a time at the folowing places: viz;- Kilfeeras Station (Herricks’), Mason and Wests’ Station, Greta township, Oxley, Millawah, Wangaratta, Glenrowan, Winton, Benalla, Beechworth, and farms where sympathisers and other friends of the gang were located.
I learned that a suspicion rested on Pat Delaney, blacksmtih, of Greta, and Chas Culph, blacksmith of Oxley, the former because he was an intimate friend and could be relied upon by the head of the gang (Ned Kelly), and the latter

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To
F.Secretan, Esq
Dectective Office
Melbourne

because he was away from his place of business a short time before the gang were exterminated and captured,
I made myself acquainted with relatives, sympathisers and friends of the outlaws, and found that they either “did not know” or would not disclose who was the guilty person or persons who manufactured the coats of iron for outlaws.
I watched the trial of Edward Kelly, at Beechworth, but could not gain anything of any importance referring to the matter in question

Alex. D Wilson
det.3102

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