THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE WAS SUPPLIED BY SHEILA HUTCHISON.

A Kelly Story  The Postmasters Horse   

1871   First mention of Mansfield was when Edward ‘Ned’ Kelly was caught riding a fine

chestnut mare that belonged to Mr George Newland, Mansfield’s Postmaster.  Prior to

this incident, Isaiah ‘Wild’ Wright, one of Ned’s larrikin mates had ‘borrowed’ the horse

from Mansfield and rode it to the Kelly’s home at Greta.  
 

Sixteen year old Ned Kelly was in Beechworth Gaol at the time the horse was reported missing from a paddock at Maindample Park. 
When Isaiah rode the chestnut mare to Greta Ned was home, Ned had been granted a few weeks remission and put on a good
behaviour bond.   While Isaiah was at the Kelly’s ‘his’ horse strayed so he rode one of Ned’s horses home, telling Ned before he
left that he could ride his horse if he found it.   When Edward Kelly was caught riding this horse he was found guilty of
feloniously receiving a horse and sentenced to three years hard labour.

For his involvement in this incident Isaiah ‘Wild’ Wright was sentenced to eighteen months gaol.  Isaiah lived on his father’s
farm at the Broken River near Brown’s hotel at Nillahcootie.         

Police report 3^rd  May 1871   Isaiah Wright arrested near Greta at Mrs Kelly’s.   Isaiah Wright was known to be a notorious
young blackguard – a reputed cattle duffer and an intimate friend of Quinn’s of the King River and their connections. 
 

Mansfield Independent  May 5^th 1871

It would seem that although Kelly, the mate of Power, was the man in whose custody the chestnut mare of Mr Newland, our
postmaster, was found, that it is believed that the animal was first taken off the run of the Hon Mr. Highett by one Isaiah
Wright better known in the district as “Wild Wright”.   It seems that a warrant has been issued for his apprehension. 
This lead to Wright taking to the bush, and on Tuesday last he was met with by Constable Hall at Greta, with whom he
exchanged shots.   Isaiah Wright was arrested at Greta on Wednesday. 
 

Maindample connection with the Kelly story

McPhail’s had a farm on the Maindample-Benalla road (Midland Link Highway near McGill’s Lane). Young Archibald McPhail saw
Issiah Wright riding the chestnut mare past their farm.

The Mansfield Independent   Friday  August  25^th  I871

Mr McPhail, a farmer at the Black Swamp, has sustained a loss by the death of his only son, a boy 14 years of age, under
peculiarly distressing circumstances.  It would seem that the boy was a witness against Issiah Wright for illegally using a
horse belonging to Mr Newland, the postmaster at Mansfield.  He went to Beechworth to give evidence.  Just as he was
about to return home he was taken ill with diphtheria, and was compelled to go into the hospital, where he died on the 18^th inst. 
 

This horse was advertised in the Government Gazette as being lost, stolen or strayed from Mansfield. 

It has been reported that Ned Kelly wasn’t aware of the fact that the horse had been stolen and on one occasion rode
it to Wangaratta, where he stayed at the Star Hotel for a few days.  The publican of this hotel at the time was Peter
Martin.  Peter’s had a connection with Mansfield as his brother Ephraim ran a saddlery business there.

While Ned Kelly was staying at the Star Hotel he allowed Peter Martin’s daughters to ride “his horse” 
 

Sheila Hutchinson 

Link: Police memorial.