LONDON SUICIDE THRILL

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 254, 25 October 1919, Page 19

LONDON SUICIDE THRILL

A TERRIBLE LEAP.

Fifteen minutes of thrills exceeding any c.nema story were experienced by a number of Guardsmen and passors-bv as well as the guests at a large private hotel In Queen's Court Gardens, London, says "The Dally Express." Shortly after five o'clock an elderly, well-dressed mah was seen standing on a narrow coping which runs underneath the fourth floor windows of the hotel. For some time he walked backwards and forwards along the parapet, balancing himself to and fro, as If hesitating to jump Into the street..

A number of Guardsmen stationed at a private house opposite shouted to the man to go back into his room, and two of the hotel porters went upstairs to find the door of the room locked.

The Guardsmen then fetched .blankets from their cubicles, holding them out ready to catch the man if he either jumped or fell. Apparently he heard a noise at his room door, for he swayed slowly backward and forwards two or three times nnd then jumped. In spite of the efforts to catch him, the man fell on the pavement. .He was taken to St. George's Hospital, where he died sooa after admission. He was Mr. Morrison, of independent means, who for some time past has been resident at the hotel with his wife. She has latterly been ill, and only a few days ago was taken to a nursing home. ■Mr. Morrison had suffered from neurasthenia, and it is thought that his family worries have been accentuated by tke heat.