Daily Southern Cross 1876.

"DRUNKENNESS- Anthony Cowan, Thomas King and Anne Swift had the usual punishment inflicted on them for this offence."- May 25, 1876.


"DRUNKENNESS- Anthony Cowan, for the third offence, was fined 20 shillings or be imprisoned for nine days." - May 29, 1876.

"DRUNKENNESS- John Jones and Anthony E. Cowan were punished in the usual manner for this offence.
VAGRANCY- Anthony E. Cowen pleaded guilty to a charge of vagrancy.Four previous convictions were recorded against him,and this was his 45th appearance before the Court.Sentenced to six month's imprisonment."- 21 June 1876.

"DRUNKENNESS- Anthony E. Cowen was fined for being drunk." November 29, 1876.


Here the online copies of the Auckland 'Daily Southern Cross' cease. There was one more mention of our man, however, in another paper. On June 26, 1879,the Poverty Bay Herald carried the following article about Anthony Corvan/Cowan/Cowen:-

" In the Auckland Police Court, according to the Evening Star, an elderly man named Anthony Cowan, wished to make an application to the Bench for protection. The Bench: Well, what is it?
Applicant: Your Worship, I am continually haunted by three spirits, calling themselves the brothers Hokitika, and they say they have been commissioned by Prince Alfred to murder me.
The Bench:Did you ever offend the Prince?
Applicant: Never, willingly.
The Bench: We have no influence in the Spirit world, and cannot bind the spirits over to keep the peace.
Applicant: But couldn't you bottle them up
Sub-Inspector Pardy said that Constable Hogan knew all about the spirits, and by his magic spell would quiet them. The Applicant clapped his hands, and was taken to the guard room,where he awaits medical examination."


Poor Anthony...no matter what sort of man he was, it is so sad to think of a homeless, mentally unstable old man with no family to care for him.I have looked through the New Zealand death records without success for his death under all of his name variations. It has been suggested that he very well may have ended his days in the Avondale Asylum.