VPRS 4966 Consignment P0 Unit 3 Item 1 Record 1 Document: Pages from the petition for the repireve of the death sentence for Edward Kelly

08/11/1880

Overview

Once the Executive Council had set the date for Ned Kelly’s execution, brothers David and William Gaunson (the latter Kelly’s defence attorney) set about organising a petition to the Governor for a reprieve from the sentence. The words below were printed at the head of folded broadsheet papers, which were then distributed at watering holes, race meetings and other congregations of people about town. One such fold has been reproduced here. It has been estimated that over 30, 000 signatures were collected for the petition, although if this is the case, not all the sheets collected have made it into PROV’s holdings. It was not, however, entirely unusual for a signature campaign to succeed so well. A petition organised in 1891 by Victorian women in support of women’s suffrage collected 31,000 signatures.

The petition was formally tabled before the Governor-in-Council on the 8th of November, but the request was not granted.

Transcribed text			Image
	PETITION FOR REPRIEVE TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR-IN COUNCIL, Your humble PETITIONERS (having carefully considered the circumstances of the case) respectfully pray that the Life of the CONDEMNED man, EDWARD KELLY, may be spared.N.B – This list to be sent to Mr. David Gaunson, M.L.A, Solicitor for the Prisoner, so as to reach Melbourne on Monday morning next. 8th November 1880. NAMES RESIDENCE Richard Morgan 27 William Street Melbourne George Holden Spring Street Melbourne Edward brusack Flinders Street Melbourne Mary Anne Stuart Elizabeth Street Melbourne John McDonald Tumat N.S.W Ruth Denelly Albeny N.S.W Thomas Fitzgerald Albury N.S.W John Shaw from Meilton America William Fletcher from Boston U.S Samuel Adams from New York U.S William Hoffman from New Zealand Gustaf Rosengrew 21 Lonsdale St West Mrs Johnston Lygon St Carlton Mrs Monica McNabe Lonsdale St 42 Margret reid Lonsdale St 41 Mr James Corbett Beechworth John Wright Gippsland [not readable-] 21 Lonsdale St West W.A Lasslett John River E. Preston Esq. John J Monovan Lonsdale St East M Monovan Lonsdale St East [End of page 1]		VPRS 4966 Consignment P0 Unit 3 Item 1 Record 1 Document: Pages from the petition for the repireve of the death sentence for Edward Kelly
	Robert Moyle Lonsdale St East Thomas MacMaon Colby St Mrs Stafford Griffins St Kilda From E. Davntd? Sth Coast New Zealand [not readable] St Kilda E.A Hiley [not readable] Andrew Dyson Lonsdale St Patrick F[not readable] Thomas Francis bates Melbourne D.J Molan Koroit ? Ths McGrath Belfast Mrs Hill off Lonsdale St [not readable] Melbourne [not readable] John Nhaime? [not readable} Miss Aamie ? Melbourne Daniel E? St Amaud? John Quinn from New Zealand Robert Finivan from New Zealand Michael Guerin St Arnaud Patt Hasset farmer St Arnaud Robert Guerin from N. Zealand William Ginivan from Queensland [End of page 1 reverse]		VPRS 4966 Consignment P0 Unit 3 Item 1 Record 1 Document: Pages from the petition for the repireve of the death sentence for Edward Kelly
	C James Moleworth Street Hotham George McNeil eaglenest Thomas Warren hanna st Richmond Maurice Moloney Southan Melbourne James Shaw melbourne William Wissan londale John Sheehan Seymour Thomas Sheehan Seymour Mary Sheehan Seymour Walter Johnston Bouke St Melbourne Mrs Freeman 28 Pelaham St Carlton John Kenny -Emerald Hill William Tallert West Melbourne Patrick McMullen Lonsdale St West John ? - South ? Harry Woodhead Peel St Hotham Mr ? Victoria Street J. Stewart Queen Street Mark Murray 22 Lygon Street Mary Anne Johnson Williamstown Elizabeth Johnson - Williamstown [End of page 2]		VPRS 4966 Consignment P0 Unit 3 Item 1 Record 1 Document: Pages from the petition for the repireve of the death sentence for Edward Kelly
	W. Jenkinson Little La Trobe Street Charles Murphy Little La Trobe St Thomas Jones Elizabeth Charles Mather Little Collins St W Melb. ? William ? Melbourne J. Omalley Cardigan St Carlton Newton E. Melbourne Mary Gaynor Hotham Thomas Powttler 9 Latrobe St Peter Rasmeessen Lonsdale St Mr. J Muphy Bouke St Mary Johnston Essendon Martin brady Elizabeth St James O Connor Elizabeth William Johnston Essendon Samuel Johnston Essendon James Grae – Hotham P Keating Hotham Hill James ? Hilliers St Hotham Edmond Keating Hotham Patrick Mahony Woodstock [End of page 2 reverse]		VPRS 4966 Consignment P0 Unit 3 Item 1 Record 1 Document: Pages from the petition for the repireve of the death sentence for Edward Kelly