Las Vegas Age, November 8, 2003, Clark County, Nevada  
Copyright © 2003 Gerry Perry <MissGerry@cox.net>

This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives.

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LAS VEGAS AGE
7/24/1909

DEATH ON THE DESERT

BODY OF N. H. FINNEY FOUND ON VEGAS-ELDORADO ROAD

    Last Saturday morning, Elmer DUFFIN, a teamster, hauling a load of 
supplies to the Quo Vadis mine, discovered the body of a man lying under 
a mesquite tree about eight feet from the road.  The point where the 
body lay is about twenty miles from Vegas, on the Vegas-Eldorado road 
and a short distance north of the Eldorado road pass.
    After delivering his load of freight, DUFFIN returned to Vegas and 
notified the authorities of his discovery.  Judge LILLIS accompanied by 
deputy sheriff Sam GAY, E. W. GRIFFITH and Elmer DUFFIN left for the 
scene at 1:00 a.m. Sunday morning.  The body was found to be in a very 
advanced stage of decomposition, indicating that the unfortunate man had 
been dead for several days.  A search of his clothing was made to 
ascertain his identity.  The personal effects of the deceased consisted 
of a small gold watch, with the name "N. E. FINNEY' engraved on the 
case; one twenty dollar gold piece and three ten dollar bills; one small 
memrandium(?) book; two receipts for subscription to Mining Science, 
made out in the name of N. H. FINNEY; and one Gillette safety razor in 
case.
    No marks of violence were found on the body.  The dead man had 
evidently lain his head on his canteen and passed to the great beyond 
without a struggle.  Egg shells scattered about indicated that he had 
eaten lunch at this point, but the canteen was found to be empty.  It is 
thought by those who investigated the case that FINNEY died from heart 
disease or exhaustion and not from lack of water, but this is a point 
which will probably never be known positively.
    The body was placed in a coffin and brought to Vegas, arriving here 
Sunday evening.
    A telegram sent to Nelson elicited the information that FINNEY had 
left Nelson to walk to Vegas.  That he was aged about 55 years;  has a 
brother living in Buffalo, N. Y.  FINNEY was an old timer in Vegas, 
having numerous acquaintances here.  He formerly lived in Georgetown, 
Colo.