Ray "Gunner" Kelly, MBE, (born 1906 Broken Hill NSW died 11 August 1977) was an Australian police officer from Sydney who became famous during his career owing to his high-profile cases and results, but who was later alleged to have been deeply involved in corruption and organised crime.
Variously nicknamed "Machine Gun" "Gunner" or "Verbal", Kelly gained national fame as the head of the investigation into the notorious kidnapping and murder of Sydney schoolboy Graeme Thorne in 1960.
Kelly gained further renown in 1966 thanks to his highly-publicised capture of prison escapees Ronald Ryan and Peter John Walker in 1966. However, according to writer Tony Reeves, the biographer of Sydney crime boss Lenny McPherson, Kelly was able to capture the pair easily because they had been betrayed by McPherson. They had come to McPherson seeking his help to leave the country, but McPherson then set up a bogus meeting with Ryan and Walker at Concord Hospital in Sydney and tipped off Kelly.[1]
Kelly often leaked stories to journalist Bill Jenkings of the now-defunct Sydney newspaper The Daily Mirror. He retired in 1966 as the best-known and best-regarded police officer in Sydney. In March 1966, soon after his retirement, Kelly was hired for a private investigation into the disappearance of the Beaumont children by a Sydney newspaper; he flew to Adelaide, where the South Australian Police welcomed him politely, but he left after only one day[2].
By the time he died in 1977, however, his reputation had been tarnished by serious corruption allegations, many of which were canvassed in David Hickie's 1985 book The Prince and The Premier. Hickie and others have alleged that Kelly and Det. Fred Krahe were involved in the protection rackets that fed on Sydney's notorious illegal abortion industry [3]. Kelly also made "no secret" of his association with figures such as notorious abortionist Dr Reginald Stuart-Jones, illegal gaming czars Perc Galea and Joe Taylor and leading Sydney gangsters Charles "Paddles" Anderson and Lenny McPherson.
Author Tony Reeves quoted a former police officer who said that Kelly "ran" Lenny McPherson as an informant for many years, According to Reeves, Kelly kept the lid on numerous crimes to reward or gain influence over McPherson and others and learned early in his career that he could exert a powerful influence over criminal activities by setting up underworld killings of criminals who could not be controlled by other means.[4]
Kelly was also legendary for his prowess in "verballing" alleged criminals. This notorious practice involved coercing verbal confessions from suspects for offences they may not have committed; Kelly used the practice so effectively that barrister (later Justice) Simon Isaacs nicknamed him "Verbal Kelly".[5]
Kelly acquired the "Gunner" nickname after two incidents early in his career when he drew his service revolver and fired at suspects. It was his successes as a detective that made his name, however, and his talents were used in situations when particular approaches were warranted.
For example, when the British gangster Billy Hill sailed into Sydney with the intention of starting a new life in Australia, Kelly was detailed to ensure that he didn't land. Hill had a legal right to enter the country, so an unorthodox approach was required. Kelly met Hill in his cabin, identified himself, and told Hill that if he stepped off the boat he would return to Britain a week later, in a coffin. Kelly succeeded; Hill stayed on the boat and returned to Britain, and never tried to visit Australia again.
Kelly was awarded an MBE[6] in 1975 on the advice of controversial NSW Premier Robert Askin. By this time he was reputed to be the part-owner of an illegal casino in Gosford, New South Wales in partnership with the then NSW Police Commissioner Fred Hanson.[7]
Kelly was later found to be one of the most corrupt police officers in Australia by The Wood Royal Commission into police corruption. Kelly was heavily involved in the Mr Asia organised crime syndicate.[8]
Kelly died of natural causes on 11 August 1977.[9]