On Sunday 9 February 1879, in order not to break routine causing suspicion, Ned instructed his brother Dan to accompany the Police  Senior Constable's wife, Mrs Devine, across the road to the Courthouse where it was customary for her to prepare the Courthouse for the church service to be held  later that morning.

Fortunately for Ned and his gang the regular Priest, whose habit was to have a cup of tea with the Devines in the Police Barracks after the service, didn't conduct the service on this day and so suspicion was not aroused as would have occurred if Ned had been forced to also lock up the Priest.

So far Ned's plan for the local population to think the gang was police reinforcements was working beautifully.