Nabbing Ned Kelly: The extraordinary true story of the men who brought Australia's notorious outlaw to justice

by David Dufty

David Dufty goes back to the records to uncover the real story of the police officers who pursued the Kelly Gang. This pacey account of the capture of the Kelly Gang reads like a detective story.

He lurched through the gun smoke, his head encased in an iron helmet, and started shooting. To the weary police in the cordon around the Glenrowan hotel, he appeared like a monster, or a creature from hell.

For over a century, the Ned Kelly legend has grown and grown. He's become Australia's Robin Hood, and leader of a colonial Irish resistance. How much of the legend is true?

This is the real story of the hunt for the Kelly Gang over two long years. As gripping as any police procedural, it is an account of poorly trained officers unfamiliar with the terrain, in pursuit of the most dangerous men in the state.

By recounting the story from the perspective of the law, David Dufty gets to the heart of the story for the first time and finds answers to many unresolved questions. Why was the gang always one step ahead of the police? Did law-abiding citizens really assist the outlaws? Did the barely literate Ned really write the impassioned Jerilderie Letter? Did the police really persecute the Kelly family? Who was Michael Ward and why is he the real hero in the capture of Ned Kelly?

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, History

450 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 1, 2022

Reviews

[Lesley Champion · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like most Australians I have an general knowledge of the Kelly Gang and their exploits- but lacked any detailed knowledge of their activities or the events at Glenrowan. Having heard promising reviews of this book on several radio programs, I was interested in how the story was investigated and interpreted. I welcomed the Introduction which outlined the author’s intent to use only primary and contemporary sources rather than ‘evidence’ that was really only recollections of persons generations removed. Even so, as the author stated in his radio interview that he wanted to investigate the events from a police perspective, I was a little concerned that the book may not have been as purely objective as initially suggested. However I did really enjoy this book and left me with a much broader understanding of the persons and events involved in the Kelly Outbreak.
I did find the early chapters a bit challenging as it moved very quickly and introduced SO many different names ( many of them very similar - or even the same -but denoting different players in the story) meaning I was regularly having to go back pages to confirm who the characters were. I also think it might have been helpful to have a couple of maps included ( particularly of the township of Glenrowan so that readers could visualise distances between various haunts as well as the placement of people during the siege) ie how close was the station to the hotel, for bullets to hit it and the train?). Also I would have liked an Epilogue giving brief follow ups on the lives of the major players post Kelly- particularly Detective Ward. How did their lives play out?
Some of the writers statements reflected a gentle sarcasm and scepticism not normally seen in a purely academic treatment of a subject.
However this has prompted me to read more about Kelly as well as to visit the places mentioned in the book. I really did enjoy it and even though ( like most people) knew the final outcome I was not wanting to put it down.

[Mary Dolan]

https://dl-mail.ymail.com/ws/download... DETECTIVE MICHAEL E WARD WAS MY GREAT GRAND UNCLE. HE ALSO HAD A NEPHEW IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN SYDNEY WHO WAS QUITE A CHARACTER TOO. HIS NAME WAS DETECTIVE EDWARD GEORGE WARD, both left Ireland from a small townland called Kidlawn, not far from the Town of Ballinasloe, Co Galway where I live. My first cousin Michael Ward still farms the land there. Not sure if this link attaches if not I can email to anybody interested. This is a piece on E. G. Ward, Michael's nephew, both pieces put together many years ago by my son Michael.

[BruceSB · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fine read.
This author did some carefully research and investigation and has give us a great read.
He aimed to tell the Ned Kelly story from the police point of view and what a wonderful job he did.
He interacts with the other versions of the Ned Kelly story and I dare say that this one comes closest to the truth.
The facts are all there and Ned was not a nice man and certainly not a hero!
We did get to know the various police and public figures as well as the outlaws themselves.
On top of that the author did an excellent job of portraying what things were like at the time.
Recommended for anyone who enjoys an interesting story about an interesting person.
I would have liked to have had some photographs included, or even some sketches from the time, but that would not have added anything to the story itself.
Given the Ned Kelly we met in this story, it is amazing that anyone would have liked the man let alone made him a hero.
But, in his day as well as today many people liked, maybe even loved the man.
Read the book for yourself.
You won't be disappointed.
Highly recommended.
Bruce

[Bear · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best and most detailed book written about Ned Kelly and co that I have read.

[Mark Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Debunking the Kelly myth. Like Jess James a murderer has had his story remade into a political statement which bears no relation to reality.

[Kevin Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book contained a large amount of research material into the history of the times, and the social and cultural attitudes during that existed. Presents a fundamentally different perspective of the Kelly legend, and highlights the differences between life in rural/regional Victoria and that of Melbourne. In particular the way the "Law" was administered and "interpreted" in those regional and more remote areas. I found the storyline rather disjointed in parts as it moved between the roles of particular characters and events, and the final "siege" of the Glenrowan Hotel was confusing as the author attempted to describe the lead-up, and the final outcome with as much factual content whilst removing the emotional embellishment. Overall a good and interesting account of a violent and somewhat Wild period of Australian history without the glossing over the faults, failings and felonies of the time, from both sides of the law.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this. It came up as a suggestion on BorrowBox and I was intrigued, definitely not the type of book I usually read - typically I read more fiction.
The story was well researched, clear but still exciting. A whole new angle to the very few things I knew about this mystery bushranger learnt from primary school :)
Would definitely recommend

[Rhonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great to read a different perspective of the Kelly story, this one actually based on sources from the time. In fact, it is quite amazing how many original sources were available, and previously overlooked, either deliberately or accidentally. This is plainly and clearly written and easy to read, without the usual embellishments and emotions.

[Nadine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredibly detailed and I would recommend if you're a fan of well researched history. Great use of primary sources and does a very good job of presenting factual history about the Kelly gang and the attempts to stop them. Very enjoyable.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found it hard to put this one down! Ned clearly wasn’t the Robin Hood type many have portrayed him to be…

[Loredana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ned Kelly never said “such is life.”

Pass it on

[David Haden · Rating 5 out of 5]

So ironically he didn't even want the armour in the first place!

Really enjoyed this, particularly the details on 19th century police procedures and the judiciary.