http://www.kellygang.asn.au/people/peQ_R/reardonJR.html

Mr James and Mrs Reardon

Meet the people of the KellyGang story . Photograph Importance of Mr and Mrs Margaret Reardon Mr Reardon was taken by the KellyGang to break the railway line at Glenrowan. The family imprisoned in the Inn and shot at by police The Reardon family Children Michael (18)?.Catherine 7 William 3. (5 other children?) . . Links to the KellyGang Before the Glenrowan siege . Siege at Glenrowan Our role in the siege We were awoken by Ned Kelly at about 2am on Saturday morning. I was taken off to break the railway line and my family was taken up to the station master My wife gave the Argus and Daily Telegraph an interview and they reported her comments . Our son Michael was shot through the shoulder by the police at the siege. We tried to escape from the Inn but the police kept on firing at our family. My eldest son decided to return to the Inn and he was shot on his way back near the front door. They took him to the Wangaratta Hospital. Sup Sadlier mentioned this in his report to the Commissioner of Police. First meeting with the KellyGang, taking up the tracks It was 2.20am on Sunday 27/6/1880 when the KellyGang took me from my own place to break the line. When I heard the dogs barking, making a row, and I got up and dressed myself and and went outside the door, and heard a horse whinneying down by the railway line, and I went towards where I heard the horse. I thought it was the horse of a friend, and I went down, and Sullivan was coming through the railway fence, and I said, "What is the matter?" and he said, "I am taken prisoner by this man." Ned Kelly came up and put a revolver to my cheek and said, "What is your name?" and I said "Reardon," and he said, "I want you to come up and break the line." he said, "I was in Beechworth last night, and I had a great contract with the police-I have shot a lot of them, and I expect a train from Benalla with a lot of police and black-fellows, and I am going to kill all the." I said, "For God's sake, do not take me-I have got a large family to look after." This conversation continued, see . Ned Kelly took my wife and seven or eight children to the station. When we came to this small tool-house, that chest was broken and the tools lying out on the side of the line. He said, "Pick up what tools you want," and I took two spanners and a hammer, and I said, "I have no more to take," and he said, "Where are your bars?" and I said, "Two or three miles away;" I said, "In front of my place," and he sent Steve Hart for them. They then took me down the track and set me to work. After speding about 2 hours breaking the rails we came back to Stanistreet 's home and stayed there for about 2 hours. (RC7611) Imprisoned in Jones's Inn I was taken to Jones's Inn about 6am on Sunday . Just before the train arrived Dan Kelly < said, "Now you can all go home," and I stood up and picked up one of my children in my arms, Martin Cherry picked up Ryan's child, and Mrs. Jones stood at the door and said, "You are not to go yet; Kelly is to give you a lecture yet," so we all turned back into the house again, and Mrs. Jones came in and said, "Kelly will give you all a lecture before you go." A little later I had a conversation with Ned Kelly. Sup Hare and his police arrive. When the police first came the people were all going about the rooms, from one room to another, and Const Bracken came to the room where we were in and said, "Lie down as flat as you possibly can on the floor, it is the only chance you have got," and we did so. Margaret was in the back room. Tying to leave the Inn Soon after Sadlier's party arrived I tried to leave the Inn with my baby in my arms. Mr Dowsett called out to me. (See also (RC7774.7388 <../../documents/Royal%20Commission/RC810517_7774_7275.html>)(RC10321 <../../documents/Royal%20Commission/RC810606_10009.html>) and the arrival of Sgt Steele <../peS_T/steelePsgt.html>. Const Arthur <../peA/arthurJPC.html> was at north side of the Inn at the time when my wife tried to leave the Inn. He told the Royal Commission in part, 'She screamed out as loud as she could, and had a child in her arms, and when she came out Sgt Steele <../peS_T/steelePsgt.html> sang out, "Throw up your hands, or I will shoot you like a dog" and the woman was coming towards him, and he fired.' I came out of the back passage, near the kitchen. (RC11125 <../../documents/Royal%20Commission/RC810609_10989.html>) See also (RC10335 <../../documents/Royal%20Commission/RC810606_10009.html>) (RC11320 <../../documents/Royal%20Commission/RC810609_10989.html>) Sgt Steele provided clarification of his earlier comments about Mrs Reardon. (RC14062 <../../documents/Royal%20Commission/RC810722_13954.html>) Mrs Reardon was finally put in a tain carriage (RC10042 <../../documents/Royal%20Commission/RC810606_10009.html>)

Arrival of the police from Wangaratta I met the police from Wangaratta and Mr Marsden <../peL_M/marsdenF.html> at about 5.50am with a lantern down near where the track had been taken up on the north side of Glenrowan. (RC13983 <../../documents/Royal%20Commission/RC810722_13954.html>)

Ned Kellys Trial /10/1880 Royal Commission Margaret Reardon gave evidence to the Royal Commission on 8/7/1881 (RC10526 <../../documents/Royal%20Commission/RC810608_10526.html>). Margaret Reardon gave evidence to the Royal Commission on 8/7/1881 (RC10526 <../../documents/Royal%20Commission/RC810608_10526.html>). The Royal Commission reported on the events at Glenrowan and in part stated: "After the first volley some of the female prisoners in the hotel escaped; but at the time Sergeant Steele <../peS_T/steelePsgt.html> took up his position, close to the rear of the hotel, Mrs. Reardon and some members of her family endeavored to make their escape. Mrs. Reardon, who had a child in her arms covered with a shawl, states distinctly that Sergeant Steele deliberately fired at her, and produced, before the Commission, a shawl perforated apparently by a bullet. Steele denies the allegation; but admits having shot young Reardon who, it is asserted, neglected, when ordered, to put up his hands. The ball or pellet fired entered his breast, and lodged beneath the ribs, but did not cause death. Indeed, the firing at this time, by all accounts, seems to have been indiscriminate, the blacks particularly being industrious in potting away at the premises. " (RC 2nd report XV <../../documents/Royal%20Commission/RC_secondReport.html>)