[1] He won 41% of the vote in the latter election, but lost to Robert Harper of the Commonwealth Liberal Party, who was less than 4 points ahead.
He also incorporated fresh statements from others like William Williamson, whom with Kelly's mother and infant sister, was wrongfully arrested after the Fitzgerald incident[4]: 37–38 and witnesses like Aaron Sherritt's young wife and mother-in-law, Mrs. Barry, who were present at Sherritt's killing, and James Reardon and his wife, and members of the police force who were present at Glenrowan from the commission testimony.
Kenneally profiled the main spies for the police and their methods, the treatment of the gang's prisoners at Jerilderie, Euroa, and Glenrowan, the procedures of Supeterintendents C.H.
The reviewer for the Melbourne Herald wrote that Kenneally's "facts are ably presented," noting "most of his evidence is drawn from official sources—police evidence—showing the conduct of the constables and their immediate superiors in a very poor light.
Davies in 1930, the year after its publication, in serialised accounts of the Kelly Gang for Adelaide's Register News-Pictorial[13][14] and for the Melbourne Herald.
The book is now viewed as "a major contribution" to the understanding of Ned Kelly and early editions are prized by collectors.
[17] The series of 27 paintings including The Trial, at the National Gallery of Australia,[18] feature the now-iconic figure of Kelly as his black iron helmet.
[21] Science writer Christine Kenneally is a great-granddaughter, and wrote a piece about the search for Ned Kelly's skull for the New York Times in 2011,[22] continuing the favoured family pastime.