Kilmore Free Press (Kilmore, Vic. : 1870 – 1954), Thursday 26 May 1870, page 3

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A MYSTERIOUS BUSHRANGER

Mr Thomas Field, landlord of the Whim Holes hotel, has lodged the following singular information with the Smythesdale police —

On Monday evening, about eight o’clock a man, whom Mr Field supposed to be an Englishman, and about twenty eight years of age, five feet ten inches in height, medium build, and who had fair hair, slight moustache, small goatee, called at the Whim Holes Hotel and had a few drinks at the bar. The stranger represented himself as a detective from Melbourne on leave of absence, and on his way to Giblins’, Break-o’-day, to shoot rabbits. About eleven o’clock, he suddenly presented a revolver, demanded money, and commanded them to show him through the house. Mr Field said there was no money to be had, whereupon the fellow snapped his revolver at the barman, but the pistol did not go off. The stranger then loaded his revolver, and immediately decamped. Mr Field’s man instantly got a double barrelled gun and went out after the fugitive, who, however, got away. A short time afterwards his visitor came back to the window and asked for a drink, but the alarm being raised he scampered off and managed to escape. It was further stated that there could be no doubt as to the traveller having ammunition with him, as some cartridges were found in the house where he had dropped them. It was supposed that he had gone in the direction of Rokewood. On Tuesday evening Mounted constable M’Grath, of Smythesdale, with others, started off in search of the alleged offender, and up till after four o’clock on Wednesday had not returned. It was then. beginning to be ap prehended that something serious must have caused the delay.