‘Sherritt was an extraordinary man. He could stand anything-endure any hardship. He thought nothing of sleeping out in the wet and cold and letting beetles and things run all over him. One day constable Dixon was in the hut and said to Sherritt, “Didn’t you say you could lick any man in the police force?” “I can lick you anyway”, replied Sherritt. And he did! Dixon was wearing a white shirt, and got it covered with blood.’
Description is from Beechworth storekeeper Paddy Allen and featured in ‘The Kelly Gang from Within’. It should also be noted that after shooting Aaron, Joe called on Jim Dixon by name to come out of the hut. It appears he was a man who was hated by both Aaron and Joe, and no doubt for good reason.
Illustration by Aidan Phelan.
An Outlaw’s Journal 