"[15] The Perth Daily News said "The piece was one of the greatest successes ever known, and for six solid weeks the performance ran to huge business.

"[1] A writer claimed prior to a performance of the play in Benalla, local police advised the removal of the prologue involving Harry Power, and this was done.

[16] Reporting on this performance the Benalla Standard said "the audience... throughout were orderly; and although several well-known Kelly sympathisers were present, the attendance of the three policemen on duty was not required.

According to contemporary reports, the play, then called Ostracised, or the Downfall of Crime, debuted in Sydney at Victoria Hall on 8 April 1882.

"[11] According to the Leader the author "wanted to evolve a moral play from the tragic incidents connected with the career and fate of the Kelly gang of outlaws; but the actors, desirous of rendering the piece more diverting than instructive, introduced so much of the farcical element that it was at times extremely difficult to trace the author's meaning.

"[25] The Ballarat Star said the author "has managed to string together the incidents of the Kellys career with some degree of consecutiveness, and prepared a drama which at the events raises a laugh and evidently excites the auditor’s interest.

The Chief Commissioner of Police is not called a fool or a coward, nor is Ned Kelly held up as an example of injured innocence.

"[27] The Benalla Standard said, "The several characters were well sustained by the different parties engaged, and the shooting of Constable Fitzpatrick by Dan Kelly was most realistic.

The murder of Sergeant Kennedy was a most affecting scene, and his piteous appeals for mercy produced the most profound sensation, especially when it was resolved that he should be killed, to put him out of misery.

Honesty speaking the production is most reprehensible, and I regret that a gentleman like Mr Martin should have allowed his name, to be associatid with a catch-penny affair.