Behind the myth of Ned Kelly's last days

PRIESTS murmured prayers. A doctor checked the position of the noose. A white hood was lowered over the prisoner's face.

As the lever was pulled, Ned Kelly remarked: "Such is life". Such was the launching of the myths of Ned Kelly, Australian folk hero; or terrorist; or victim?

A new book by Adelaide law professor, the late Alex Castles, questions some of the myths. Eight years of his research casts doubt on those famous last words, recorded by a Melbourne Herald reporter.

A rival reporter at the 1880 execution in Melbourne Gaol quoted Kelly as saying: "Ah, I suppose it has come to this." A closer eyewitness says anything Kelly said was too muffled to be heard.

All at least agreed Kelly was dead. The government of colonial Victoria got rid of the notorious bushranger.

It has taken more than a century to reveal the government did it by a conspiracy which made Kelly a victim of the war on terrorism.