Jerilderie Letter Jerilderie Letter

at the Barracks and I had no idea he wanted to arrest me or I would have quietly rode away instead of going to the Barracks. I was getting off when Hall caught hold of me & thought to throw me but made a mistake and came on the broad of his back himself in the dust the mare galloped away and instead of me putting my foot on Halls neck and taking his revolver and putting him in the lock up. I tried to catch the mare, Hall got up and snapped three or four caps at me & would have shot me but the colts patent refused This is well known in Greta Hall never told me he wanted to arrest me until after he tried to shot me when I heard the caps snapping I stood until Hall came close he had me covered & was shaking with fear & I knew he would pull the trigger before he would be game to put his hand on me so I duped & jumped at him caught the revolver with one hand & Hall by the collar with the other, I dare not strike him or my sureties would loose the bond money I used to trip him & let him take a mouthful of dust now and again as he was as helpless as a big guano after leaving a dead bullock or a horse. I kept throwing him in the dust until I got him across the street the very spot where Mrs O'Briens Hotel stands now the cellar was just dug then there was some brush fencing where the post & rail was taking down and on this I threw big cowardly Hall on his belly. I straddled him & rooted both spurs into his thighs he roared like a big calf attacked by dogs & shifted several yards of the fence I put his hands at the back of his neck & tried to make him let the revolver go but he stuck to it like grim death to a dead volunteer he called for assistance to a man named Cohen and Barnett, Lewis, Thompson, Jewitt two blacksmiths who was looking on I dare not strike any of them. As I was bound to keep the peace or I could have spread those curs like dung in a paddock They got ropes tied my hands and feet & Hall beat me over the head with his six chambered colt revolver nine stitches were put in some of the cuts by Dr Hastings. And when Wild Wright & my mother came they could trace us across the street by the blood in the dust & which spoiled the lustre of the paint on the gate-post of the Barracks Hall sent for more Police and Doctor Hastings. Next morning I was handcuffed a rope tied from them to my legs and to the seat of the cart and taken to Wangaratta Hall was frightened I would throw him out of the cart so he tied me whilst Constable Arthur