Kelly meeting near gaol

VPRS 4965 Consignment P0 Unit 1 Item 36 Record 1 Document: Kelly meeting near gaol

9/11/1880

Overview

This letter to the CCP by John Castieau, Governor of the Gaol, was penned just two days before Ned’s execution date. Governor Castieau expresses his concern that a meeting was planned that evening at the Supreme Court Reserve. The meeting was a gathering of all those in favour of granting Ned a reprieve (see: Governor Castieau brings the CCP’s attention to the Section 25 of the Gaol Act) and asks that the police carry out these provisions. On the bottom of the left hand margin is a small annotation “attended to 11.11.1880″: the day of Ned’s execution.

Transcribed text		Image
[Penal] The Chief Commissioner of Police Attended to (initials unreadable) 11.11.80	[Re Kelly meeting near gaol 9.11.80]H. M. Gaol. Melbourne November 9th 1880 Sir I have the honor to inform you, that I have noticed in the newspapers that there is to be held this evening in the Supreme Court reserve a meeting of persons who are in favor of the reprieve of the condemned prisoner Edward Kelly, who is ordered for Execution on Thursday next Any cheering, groaning, or unwanted noise on the Reserve can be heard inside the Gaol & would certainly attract Kelly’s attention. I beg therefore you will please be good enough to issue instructions to the police to rigorously carry out the provisions [End of page 1]	VPRS 4965 Consignment P0 Unit 1 Item 36 Record 1 Document: Kelly meeting near gaol

	provisions of the 25th Section of the Gaol Act, the Gaol Reserve actually extends to the end of the wall & partly across the road used for the traffic of stone carts I have the honor to be Sir Your most obedient servant J Castieau Govr of Gaol [End of page 1 reverse]	VPRS 4965 Consignment P0 Unit 1 Item 36 Record 1 Document: Kelly meeting near gaol

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