Your gearbox is similar to this one:
View attachment 1770
Hollow shaft 10 is moved forward and backward when switching the PTO and
hydraulic pump. 9 is your PTO shaft.
Try again with the range and gear engaged when the PTO hand clutch is NOT disengaged. Then it shouldn't be possible because you would have to move the entire tractor to turn the PTO.
Good idea - once you have removed it, you can also look at shaft 10 and see if it moves when you move the short left selector lever (PTO/hydraulic pump).