PURVER WILLIAM STILLMAN

The incidents connected with the death of Mr. Purver William Stillman, the Thatcham carrier, which was last week confirmed by mail, are a little peculiar. On the 3rd of May Mr. Hawker, photographer, of Northbrook-street, received a cablegram:

"Inform Lizze Stillman brother died. Any requests send address. Zobrist"

It was a strange message, and Mr. Hawker, after some enquiries, handed it over to Mr. Thomas Stillman, of Bartholomew-street, who could only conjecture that it referred to his brother Purver, and that he had died among strangers, the only clue to his identity being a photograph of his sister, bearing Mr. Hawker's address. An answer was prepaid, and the friends wired back for further particulars. Then came a stranger message:

"Will dead. Body embalmed. Desire corpse shipped, cost four hundred seventy deposit in bank. Instruct bank. Wire credit Bellingham Bay, National Bank here. Zobrist."

This naturally aroused some amount of distrust, and Mr. Stillman wired a friend of Purver's to get independent information, but that person living five miles from a telegraph office, the message had to be forwarded by mail, and an answer awaited in due course. It was not until Wednesday that the news arrived confirming the previous statements, that Purver had died in hospital at Fairhaven, Washington, after an illness of 14 days
Deceased will be remembered by many, as for some years he acted as the conductor of the Thatcham 'bus. He determined to seek his fortune in America, and appears to have been successful, for it is said he leaves landed property at 4000 dollars. Mr. Stillman was granted about 160 acres under what is known as the Homestead Law, by which he was bound to live on the land for fiveyears, when he would be granted a free title. He had completed that period within six weeks. The American law requires that the successor must be a relative, and that beforeproperty be transferred he must become a citizen of the Star and Stripes. Unless these conditions are complied with the property reverts to the State.
Newbury Weekly News 26 May 1892
Mrs P. p 170 p(d)2
Page 30 Mentioned on Stillman tombstone as "Also of Purver William son of the above, who died at Seattle, USA April 30 1892 aged 30 years