“As the this disgusting theme put forward by the authorities, a young girl, burst through the crowd, and leapt in front of Joe "End the circus!" she cried. The young girl was walked away, in tears, she was never identified. Max Brown, a writer seemed to think it was Maggie, Ned's sister”  
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In this section we will focus on, how, why and when of when the young Joseph Byrne was strung to the lock - up door, of the Benalla police Station. The grave today, however has been marked by the Benalla Historical society, and Joe's grave gets a regular visit from myself, and I lay flowers, every single time I go along to Benalla just to visit Joe. Now read on as we enter the Journey of what as from Joe's death, until his burial that cold and lonely night of the 29th of June. Now the date is, 28th of June 1880, The volley that is about to kill Joe is just about to happen read on ....

''We were told that Byrne had been firing, and was in great spirits, boasting of what the gang was going to do. The work was hot, and he went to the counter for a drink. Finding that the weight of the armour prevented him throwing back his head to swallow the liquor he lifted the apron-shaped plate with one hand while with the other he lifted the glass to his mouth.

In this attitude a chance bullet struck him in the groin, and spinning around once he fell dead''

This report came from Superintendent Sadleir, who was there during the siege. How accurate these reports are, we will never know, but it is more than likely true.

As Joe toppled over, dropping his glass, and hit the floor as James Reardon put it "Like a log " and Reardon said he heard "Like blood gushing" Kate Reardon's, pinny and dress were now stained with the blood of an outlaw, and as Joe partly fell on her, Little Kate, could hear a Grand Father clock, chiming like mad after it had been struck by the same volley that had hit Joe; time had gone mad, Joe was dead. 

Before Joe had fallen, he cried the immortal, words:

“Here's to many more days in the bush, for the Kelly Gang!”

But the mystery of all is, that did Joe see Ned as he walked in thorough the back door of the Inn after returning to turn the sympathizer away?, Ian Jones, Kelly Authority, believes that Joe did see Ned. Joe was dead at 23 years of age.

Later that day, Ned Kelly, the gallant leader of the gang was captured, Dan and Steve more than likely committing suicide, and, at 3pm the police set fire to the Inn, as flames raced through the building, Father Gibney, a brave priest ran into the burning building, and rescued Joe's corps.

Joe Boarded the same train as Ned and they were driven back to Benalla, and Joe spent the cold night in the cell next to Ned's. A English sketcher, Julian Ashton, he drew Joe's dead corps in the cell, with a blacktracker kneeling over Joe. Joe's riding pants were drenched in the outlaws blood, Knee's flexed slightly, arms were half raised; Joe's fists were clenched. Ashton hurriedly exited the area, from a sight he didn't enjoy.

Next morning, at around 6:30am, Joe's body was placed on display, strung by a flag pole rope, hanging, his soft young face, eyes, with clenched fists, was looking on to all who had come to see the young mans destruction.

As the this disgusting theme put forward by the authorities, a young girl, burst through the crowd, and leapt in front of Joe
"End the circus!" she cried.
The young girl was walked away, in tears, she was never identified. Max Brown, a writer seemed to think it was Maggie, Ned's sister. After a hurried inquest, that night, Joe's body was ridden out to the top right hand corner of the Benalla Cemetery, in unconsecrated ground, placed in a hessian bag, and buried. His grave can be seen to the right. Only an undertaker, and two policemen were present. No speeches, no flowers, and more importantly, no claiming; no one claimed Joe's body; not even his mother, Tom Lloyd asked for the body, but was declined. So, whenever you pass by Benalla, on a holiday, caravanning, or even stopping the night in Benalla I ask you to go down to Joe's grave, lay some flowers, or just pay your respects to a most admirable individual.