This 'old' prospector and part-owner of a mine at Croydon, died by shooting himself in the head with a revolver.

He went into Roebourne on business on 31 August and returned to Croydon by mail coach the following Thursday.  On Monday 7 August, his mate, John Shilson/Shillson, stated that Cunningham was not feeling very well and decided to stay in camp.  When Shilson returned from work he looked into the hut and found the deceased was still on his bunk.  He noticed a revolver in his hand alongside his head and a quantity of blood about the pillow.  He ran to the nearby camp and found Sydney Viddler who, after seeing the body, advised Shilson to notify the police.  They touched nothing.  Just as Shilson set out on foot for Croydon Police Station, Frederick Vaughan, a store-keeper residing at Croydon Goldfields, rode up and lent Shilson his horse.

As Cunningham died intestate, the police handed part of his property (2 horses and a foal could not be found) to the curator's agent in Roebourne.

The inquest on the body of Alexander Cunningham was opened on 8 September 1896 at Roebourne before Mr. D. K. McRae, J.P., acting coroner, and a jury consisting of Messrs Owen Sweeney, D. Anderson and Jas Lusby.  John Shilson gave evidence and, after hearing further evidence from Viddler and Vaughan, the jury returned a verdict that the deceased came to his death by shooting himself in the head with a revolver, but there was no evidence to show the state of his mind at the time.

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The deceased was buried by Joseph Proctor at Top Camp, Croydon.  Witnesses present at the burial were Patrick McElheway and Alfred Thorpe.  His death was certified in writing by Police Constable Jeremiah Lyons (Regimental No 228), of Whim Creek.

These diggings are located on Croydon Station, south of Whim Creek.

The deceased's father, Henry Wilson Wann, was born in England in 1839.  His wife, Margaret Sweeney, was born in Birr, Kings, Ireland, in 1839.  They married in Ireland at Cork, on 10 October 1859 and began their family of 10 children.   At least the last four children were born in New South Wales.  Sylvester was the youngest of the brood of 8 sons and 2 daughters.  His siblings were: William, born 1858 in Birr, Kings, Ireland, prior to the marriage.  Then followed Charles in 1862; Frederick 1865 and Henry 1868; Susan born 1872; James born 1873; Edward born 1876 at Richmond River in New South Wales (Birth Registration 19531/1876, Richmond River); Jane Ann born 1877; Constance born 1879 at Richmond River (Birth Registration 22538/1879, Richmond River); Sylvester.

Sylvester's father, Henry Wilson, died 19 March 1894 at Drake, New South Wales (Death Registration 4743/1894, Drake).  His mother died 17 May 1915 at Tenterfield (Death Registration 6630/1915, Tenterfield), aged 76 years.

Sylvester left an estate valued at £232 10s to Alfred Glassford Unmack, attorney under power of Margaret Wann.