SENSATIONAL SUICIDE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLVI, Issue 10684, 30 December 1925, Page 7

SENSATIONAL SUICIDE.

LEAP FROM HIGH BRIDGE.

HORRIFIED SPECTATORS.

(Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, December 29. Pedestrians on Grafton Bridge shortly alter 2 o’clock this afternoon were liprriiied to seo a young man take a fatal leap from the parapet, about 90 feet from the ground. Tho body has been identified as that of James Rule, single, aged 25, a resident of Waihi.

Rulo was crossing tho bridge from Symonds Street and had not gone far, when he stopped a pedestrian and said, “Is this the highest point of this bridge, mate?” Thinking the query was merely the idle conversation of a man obviously under the influence of liquor, the pedestrian nodded in the direction of the middle of the bridge and asked Rule if he knew where ha was going. The reply was, “I am on Grafton Bridge, aren’t I? I’m going across.” ltulo then, muttered something unintelligible about being half-way across. Thanking he might prove garrulous, his informant told him to move on and keep straight ahead, and he would reach Park Road.

Rule said “Thanks, mate,” and walked on. He apparently proceeded only a few steps and then mounted the parapet of the bridge and jumped over.

A woman and a man were passing Rule when he climbed the wall, hut his action was so sudden that they did not realise his intention.

The body struck the ground in a clearing within a foot of a tombstone enclosure. Rule was breathing his last when Dr. Murray reached him, within five minutes of the fall. His head had apparently struck the ground first, and external injuries suggested that there was probably a fracture of the skull. Rule had a wallet in his possession containing £9 in hank notes. In his breast pocket, Dr. Murray found a portion of a yellow cigarette packet, which was later found to bear the words, “Harry Dwyer understands.”