*NED KELLY EXECUTED BY HANGING 11 NOV 1880

The eleventh of November, to Australians a special time, Armistice day, the anniversary 
of the end of the war to end all wars, World War One (1918), the end of Gough Whitlam & 
my last day of school:). This day however has another special meaning for many of us, 
(1880) Ned was executed for the murder of Constable Lonigan at Stringybark Creek.

Ned's family and friends had been kept at a distance for fear that he would be assisted to 
cheat the hangman. One expert in such matters even taught the Governor a thing or two on
just how easy it was to take ones own life in such a way.
Ned was unable to gain their assistance and comfort during his trial and was now saying his 
sad goodbyes.

The night before his execution Ned had his favourite meal, a roast dinner served to him in 
his condemned cell.
In the morning he was awakened at about five am and was led out into the fresh air on his 
way to the hangman. We can only imagine what was on his mind as he walked along the 
large bluestone floor and passed the cart that was to take his body away after execution. 
He arrived at that section of the prison that housed the execution scaffold, the same section 
of the prison that stands today.

 
The sheriff, Colonel Robert Rede who was associated with the Eureka Stockade presented 
the warrant to the Governor Mr. Castieau for the body of Edward Kelly. Ned's arms were tied 
behind his back and a hood placed on top of his head. History has quoted Ned's demeanor 
as both cool calm and collected or shivering with fear. Once again the apposing parties had 
to distort the truth. No one heading for the hangman's noose would be cool and calm, however 
Ned would have understood his fate and it seems he did his best to hide his understandable 
fear of what was to come.

Elijah Upjohn the hangman performed his task with the utmost speed, perhaps to put Ned out 
of his misery, or maybe because he (the hangman) was nervous. It was Upjohn's first hanging. 
From newspaper reports it seems Mr. Upjohn was very ugly, with a large carbuncle on the end 
of his nose, spiky gray hair and looked every bit as bad as a hangman would be expected to 
look in a story book. Reporters below who recorded the event gave conflicting reports of what 
Ned said in the brief moment he was allowed. Some recorded him saying, "ah well I suppose 
it has come to this" and others, "such is life" Still others recorded that he said nothing from the 
platform to his doom. If only he had been allowed to make a speech to the media below, what 
would he have said?, that we will never know.

Maybe Ned did speak and it was only audible to parts of the audience at each end as he moved 
along to the rope.  It would seem odd for him to have said nothing at all, maybe he was preparing 
to talk when he was cut short, so to speak.

The hangman almost leaped on the lever and sent Ned into eternity. The reporters and officials below 
had a close view indeed of the man who only seconds before was as alive as they were still. They 
would sit and watch as Ned's body did what all humans do when they are hung. What a waste of a 
life, what a relief to see the end of him, it just depended upon your point of view.
Robert Rede the Sherriff had previously asked for the body of Edward Kelly, the Kelly family also 
asked for Ned's body, similar requests for very different reasons. The Kelly's had hoped to be able 
to bury Ned, after all they had managed to bury his younger brother Dan. They would never get to 
see his body again.

Mrs. Kelly was in the same prison that had just executed her son Ned, she was still incarcerated for 
her role in the Fitzpatrick affair. Poor Mrs. Kelly, as if she had not endured enough heartache and 
hardship, now she had to listen as the clock struck ten, knowing her son was at that time passing on 
into eternity.

Now that Ned was hung, the real ghouls would emerge. The people outside waiting for Ned's execution 
to occur and now crying at his departure would be called 'low life types' by the press, what then do you 
call the people who attacked Ned's lifeless body with such gusto that only bone and skin was left to be 
buried after they were done! Scientists, doctors, surgeons and other so called learned men would take 
a piece of this man who was so dangerous to Australia. He would be mutilated in a fashion outstripping 
even the likes of Morgan of whom a tobacco pouch was fashioned from his scrotum.

The phrenologist would want to study his head to understand why Ned was such a terrible criminal. 
Melbourne Universities and medical practices would all want a piece of the corpse. Organs to be placed 
in jars, I wonder what they learnt from these specimens, and how long before they deteriorated?

A plaster cast would be made of his head by Mr. Kreitmayer for his wax works in Melbourne's Bourke 
street. His trademark beard and his thick head of hair were removed before making the 'death mask', 
the creation of such a mask was not unusual. A visit today to the Old Melbourne Gaol will reveal display 
upon display of prisoner's death masks. It is an eerie feeling to stand and look at Ned's death mask, 
you are confronted by a calm looking face. We are so used to seeing Ned the man with the very thick 
hair and beard, the death mask shows a Ned devoid of hair.

Eventually there would be nothing left but skin and bone, this headless mess would be buried in an 
unmarked grave within the prison grounds on unconsecrated ground. Quick lime would be thrown over 
the remains and there would be no ceremony. No markings whatsoever would indicate the location of 
the coffin. This was to both deter souvenir hunters and to make it impossible for both mourners and family 
to know exactly where he lay.

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