� � � � � � � � � � � � � ��������������� In the words of Ned Kelly JERILDERIE, November 2000 A mystery woman has donated the Ned Kelly Jerilderie Letter to the State Library. Written by Joe Byrne in 14 stages, the Jerilderie Letter outlines Ned Kelly’sKelly’s perspective on the events that led to him becoming the most feared, famous and hunted outlaw of the 1870s. Kelly handed the letter to a bank clerk when his gang held up the NSW town of Jerilderie. Ned had intended to publish the letter but it disappeared for 90 years. In one extract from the letter, Ned comments on the deaths of three police troopers: “Certainly their wives and children are to be pitied, but they must remember those men came into the bush with the intention of scattering pieces of me and my brother all over the bush, and yet they know and acknowledge I have been wronged and my mother and four or fi ve men lagged innocent. And is my brothers and sisters and my mother not to be pitied also, who has no alternative, only to put up with the brutal and cowardly conduct of a parcel of big, ugly, fat-necked, wombat-headed, big-bellied, magpie-legged, narrow-hipped, splay-footed sons of Irish bailiffs or English landlords which is better known as offi cers of Justice or Victorian Police, who some calls honest gentlemen. But I would like to know what business an honest man would have in the Police, as it is an old saying, it takes a rogue to catch a rogue. And a man that knows nothing about roguery would never enter the Force and take an oath to arrest brother, sister, father or mother if required, and to have a case and conviction if possible.” Use the information above and any reference listed below to answer the following questions: 1. How does Ned describe the offi cers of the Victorian Police in the letter? ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 2. Why did Ned Kelly feel this way towards the police? ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 3. Who was Joe Byrne?.................................................................................................................................................................. 4. The three policemen referred to in this bulletin were all killed at Stringy Bark Creek. Who were they and what happened? ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. References: Jacaranda SOSE 3 2E, pp 52–55 • Jacaranda SOSE: Australian History, pp 52–55 www.nedkellysworld.com.au/ John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd 2004 ned-kelly.pdf.