Robert  McHugh was a policeman present at the siege. (#2551)

Robert  was lucky enough to find a pistol, and silly enough to tell the brass he had.

The following is the text of the official documents regarding this 'find'.

VICTORIA POLICE-(47)

N. Eastern Police District
Beechworth Station
5th July 1880

Report of Const  McHugh 2551
Relative to Kelly property
 

    I beg to report that the only article
in my possession from the Glenrowan
affray is a Webly revolver branded with
kit No 730 which I picked up in the
bush about a hundred yards from Jones
Hotel. It was covered with blood and had 
no case. The case I afterward got from Jack 
Sherritt.

        While the hotel was burning one of the 
men who had been bailed up in it told me
where I would get a pack horse of the Kelly's
I found it tied up to a fence some distance

beyond McDonnells hotel. In the pack was
a coil of fuse, a broken gun, an old pistol ?
and an oil drum banged up so tight that I
could not learn what it contained. I got a 
couple of boys to carry it, but it was so heavy
that they had to drop it halfway. It was
about 50 lbs. I told the Benalla police
about it (Const Phillips, I think) but he
could not find it. The mare, pack and
contents I handed over to the Benalla police
the mare having been identified by Const Reilly
as one stolen from a man in Benalla.

        As the revolver is scarcely
fit for re-issue as part of a kit and is the
only memento I have of the affray I would
respectfully ask to be allowed to keep it,
and I will pay the amount of whatever value
it may be to the Department

Sixth of July 1880.

And so what was the outcome? Did they let him keep it?
Of course not. Here is what F.C. Standish (Chief Commissioner of Police)
had to say:

"....all the materials mentioned
are government property and
must be dealt with as such.
When they are sold as
unserviceable the Constable will
have the opportunity of securing
what he desires"

Note: Constable McHugh was listed as 'John McHugh number 2459'
joining the force in Apr 1872 by Corfield Ned Kelly Encyclopaedia.

As Robert McHugh, joining the force 8/9/1873 Sadleir.