From Gerhard Renner    15 April 1885

Botanical Museum of Melbourne

April the 15th 1885.

Baron Sir F. Von Mueller

K.C.M.G., MD. etca etca¹

Government Botanist

Sir!

I have the honour to report for your information that on the night of the 13th and 14th I was awoke by a noise and heard somebody knocking gently at one of the windows of my room. When it was repeated I got up and when looking through the half opened blind I saw a rather suspicious looking person, apparently listening if any person was inside. I struck a light and when looking again through the window I saw the man had left. Hearing at the same time a knocking at the front door of the mainbuilding I went into the same and to the door, just in good time to see a man, of different stature than the above mentioned one, leaving the platform and disappearing. The key of the door had been thrown out of the door apparently to allow the use of a skeleton key and upon examining the door I found that one had tried to take out the glass. When I went outside I saw two shadows dissappear. Entering the Museum again by the front-door I heard knocking and shaking again on the backdoor and voices softly speaking. I thought it now the right time to make an end and to call assistance from the police station. In order to have at least a witness, should anything happen to me; and that the place might not be deserted but watched during my absence I went, protected by the darkness, to the Observatory to ask Mr. Burley (Senior messenger and caretaker of the Observatory) for assistance. He also advised me to report it to the Police at once. On the way to the Police Station and when approaching the back-door of the Museum again I saw a man busy to examine its locks. I called to stand and at the same time fired into the air to show I was armed. The man turned and suddenly disappeared, the heavy rain and profound darkness made it impossible to follow him

I am Sir

your most obedient servant

Gerhard Renner.

Custodian of Bot. Museum²