MELANCHOLY OCCURRENCE AT PONSONBY.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 179, 2 August 1887, Page 5

MELANCHOLY OCCURRENCE AT PONSONBY.

Mr W. S. Pulford Found Dead

in a Field

iSoME excitement was caused in the city last night when ib was reported that tbe well-known news agent and pressman, Mr William Sylvester Pulford, had been discovered lying Head in a paddock at Ponsonby. The deceased was first discovered by two youths named George Ketterns and Frank Kelly. They were passing along Ponsonby Road about 9 o'clock at night, and when near ■the Roman Catholic Church, which has been recently erected in what is known as Tole's Paddock, they saw by the light of the moon the body of a man near the church fence. Two boys named Walter Flicker and Alfred Fielder were also at hand. Upon getting through the thorn hedge they discovered that the man was dead. Information was at once conveyed to Constable Graham', whoupon arrivingrecognised the well-known features of Mr Pulford. The body was quite warm, but life was extinct. From the position of deceased he appeared to have simply laid down to sleep, "and apparently had died without a struggle, as there were no marks whatever upon <,' the body. Constable Graham procured a vehicle, and removed the body of deceased to his residence in Cumin-street;.' Upon making the usual examination, Constable Graham found upon She body, a packet of private letters, and also a packet of hydrate of chloral. This had not been touched, and was labelled "Poison" in large red letters, as required by the Act. It is known that deceased was in the habit of taking this medi--1 cine. Naturally the sad end of Mr Pulford was a terrible shock to Mrs Pulford and the other members of the family, and great sympathy is felt' for all concerned, more ■especially by those who remember that about a year ago Mrs Pulford lost her third son in an equally, sudden manner, he being drowned by the capsizing of a boat in the harbour.

Mr Pulford was about 5G yeai's of age. He leaves a widow and. two sons to mourn their loss. The eldest son is Mr W. H. Pulford, the scenic artist; the second is Mr E. Pulford. The deceased was a nephew of George Cruickshank, the celebrated artist and Temperance advocate, and brother-in-law of Creswick, the landscape painter. Mr Pulford left his home yesterday ;morning apparently in good health and spirits. He stated that he would not be back to dinner, as he intended visiting a friend in Parnell, who had lately come from Australia. William Smith, driver of the 6 o.'clock tram-car, remembers Mr Pulford being a passenger to Ponsonby. He appears to have got off about the top of Franklinßoad,as he went in Mr Bloomfield's chemist shop, and there purchased the packet of hydrate of chloral at 10 minutes to 7 o'clock. As this package was untouched, it is probable- that the deceased also took a dose during the intervening time. He must have next proceeded to. Tole's paddock, and feeling overcome by drowsiness, probably lay down to sleep—a; sleep from vhicn he never awakened in this world. A man named George Harriss, who was passing the spot a little after 7 o'clock, states that he heard a mars snoring a[tthe other side of the hedge, but did not trouble to inquire further into the matter, no doubt thinking that it was some "drunk" sleeping off.his potationsi _ How long Mr Pulford remained sleeping prior to death supervening,of course, cannot be ascertained. He was found^ dead at 9 o'clock, and at that hour the body was still warm. Mr Pulford has had a chequered career, in fact his life would make a readable book. In the early days of the Victorian go-ld.fields he joined the g6ld escort as a cadet. In 1853 he went up to the Bendigo diggings in command of 28 troopers, of whom Detective Walker was a member. It was at the time' of the licensing riots. Mr Pulford was then still a cadet, but subsequently he was appointed a sergeant in the force. Later on he turned up as a detective at Adelaide. He was married at Perth, and subsequently was engaged in explorations in South Australia with Har--greaves. He then commenced to contribxite to the Australian "'press, and was also the author of some dramas. Mr Pulford next came to this colony and settled in Auckland. When the " Observer " started he resumed his connections with the press, and became manager of that journal. Latterly he became a news-agent and managerof the " Creditors' Mutual Protection Association." He was also preparing a hand-book of the New Zealand Parliament, which was to contain short biographies of the .members. a , .

It will no doubt be remembered that some years ago, when Dr. Payne, the celebrated American shootist, was in Auckland, Mr 'Pulford narrowly" escaped death" while standing in the Opera House as a target while Payne fired at an apple placed upon his head.. . The thing did not' come off quite right, and the bullet scored a line along the surface of the cranium. Since that time jMr Pulford has never been the same man. About a year afterwards he fell down in a fit in Ponsonby Road. He received prompt medical treatment, and apparently recovered all right. He has, however, repeatedly been seized since then with what appeared tp .have been: mild epileptic fits. During the last few weeks he has been receiving* medical attention from both Dr. Hainesarid Dr. Leger Erson. A gentleman met the deceased yesterday at about 10 a.m. at the corner of Queen and Wyndham-streets, and after a hearty shake hands, Mr Pulfbrd began recounting some of his former experiences in Victoria, with considerable warmth and energy. ' He said he was once announced in the press as a medical man, and it was in this way : He and a party of gentlemen were invited to go onboard a man-o'-war which visited their port, and after assembling on boWd, the visitors began to scan everything around, but Mr Pulford satdown in the-cabin and had 'a smoke, while his friends looked at what was new to them. He had scarcely sat down in the cabin when he noticed a 'gentleman coming down- the stairs, and he appeared to be trembling, and then he sank down towards the floor. Mr Pulford rah towards'him, and was just in time to catch him, as he threw up his head and'expired in his grasp. He referred to it as a case of awfully' sudden death. He (Mr Pulford) then sefe to, in the presence of the company, to arrange the body of the dead man,:by tying his feet together and otherwise arranging liis person. Thosewhoreported the affair announced that a medical man^vas on" board, and every care was paid at the time to the stranger. I The friend yesterday also referred to the, narrow escape Mr Pulford had from being shot some time ago. Mr1 Pulford said that persons having heart disease may appear • to", -haye1 fine health, and might' fall downf at1 any moment. It was rather singular that Mr Pulford should thus be referring to sudden deaths, and himself a victim ere 12 hours passed away. He appeared; in very good health and in excellent spirits. Mr Pulford was a member of theWasonic Order, and as an old Past-Master will no doubt be given a Masonic funeral. The Rev. Mr Calder, incumbent of All Saints' Anglican Church, upon hearing of the sad occurrence,! at once proceeded to Mrs Pull ford and broke the sad tidings to hep as gen tly-as. possible. '*<*«a*r %+„*? . At 2.30 to-day an inquest was held at Sandford's Hotel. Dr. Philson officiated as coroner. A jury of six was empeanelled. The evidence of witnesses ia being taken as we go to preas.