Aaron Sherritt

Australian police informer Aaron Sherritt (died 26 June 1880) was an associate of the gang of outlaws led by Ned Kelly. He grew up in the same area as them and was especially close to gang member Joe Byrne. At one stage he became engaged to Byrne's sister.

On 26 October 1878, Ned, his brother Dan, Byrne and Steve Hart were outlawed after killing three policemen at Stringybark Creek. By some accounts, Sherritt offered to join the gang but was talked out of it.

Although he was supposedly a friend of the outlaws, he later turned police informant for money. Sherritt advised the police to camp out in a cave near Byrne's family home. They stayed there for about a month in a vain hope of capturing Byrne during a visit to his mother. Although it was supposed to be a secret operation, their presence there was soon known to the locals. Mrs Byrne herself discovered the camp in just a couple of days. She noted Sherritt's presence among the police and informed her daughter who then broke off her engagement to him.

Sherritt later married another girl. On the 26 June 1880 he was at home with his wife, mother-in-law and four policemen. A neighbour knocked at the door. When Sherritt answered it Joe Byrne shot him dead. The police officers hid under the bed and did not report the killing until late the following morning.

Within a couple of days, Joe Byrne was himself killed in a shootout between the gang and the police. Ned Kelly was the only one to survive to stand trial. He was found guilty and hanged.

References

* Alec Brierley, "An Illustrated History of the Kelly Gang" (1979)