James Smith Furness

FOUND DROWNED. Afe the Police Court yesterday a prohibition order was issued against an elderly man named Smith Furness, who was reported by his son in law^ to have been drinking 1 heavily of la'e. This morning- the unfortunate man was found lying dead on the beach near the Marine Baths. The following is the report of Constable Phair on the matter : — About 630 this morning a man named Charles Hockey reported to him that the body of a man evidently drowned was lying on the beach at the Marine Baths. The constable at once proceeded to the placs and found the body, which was identified as that of Hmith Furness. From the position of the body, as also where the stick of the deceased was found, it seems probable that the deceased had been seated on one of the seats placed near the Baths, and on getting up had walked right over the breastwork. Last night about nine cV.lock Constable Phair. when going in the direction of the Rocks, met the deceased who was then walking on the footpath towards town and appeared to be perfectly sober. An inquest was held this afternoon when Samuel Read, eon in law of the deceased, said that he saw Furness about 6 p.m. yesterday when he was not entirely sober. He had been drinking hard for two weeks, and some days ago said he felt inclined to cut his throat. He was at Read's house at G o'clock yesterday evening and went into a room he had been occupying and took out a pocket book with some papers which he said he intended to peruse. Dv Hudson deposed that the face was covered with blood and there was a dark bruise over one eye, and blood had oozed from the ear and eye. The blow might have been the result of a fall which, combined with drowning, had caused death. It appeared that the deceased had yesterday posted a letter to his wife in Wellington, and she had been telegraphed to for permission to take the letter out of the post office and open it. This was done by Samuel Read who produced the letter which was as follows: — " Mary — When you receive this I will be no more. Sam and Sarah are as Judas Iscariot. They betrayed a man by saying, ' whomsoever I put my finger on take him.' I forgive all your unkindne&s to me. (Signed) S. Fdkness." (Left. Sitting,') Nelson Evening Mail 1 March 1884 Page 2 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NEM18840301.2.9?end_da...