LEAP TO DEATH.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18577, 30 December 1925, Page 6

LEAP TO DEATH.

AUCKLAND SENSATION. MAN JUMPS FROM GRAFTON BRIDGE. PEDESTRIANS WITNESS SUDDEN TRAGEDY. (fress association telegram.) AUCKLAND, December 29. Pedestrians on Grafton bridge shortly after two o'clock this afternoon were horrified to see a young man take a fatal leap frxn the parapet, about 90 feet from the ground. Tho body has been identified as that of James Rulo, single, aged 26 years, a resident of Waihi. Rule was crossing tho bridge from Symonds street, and had not gone far when he stopped a pedestrian and said: "Is this tho highest point of this bridge mate?" Thinking the query was merely the idle conversation of a man obviously under tho influence of liquor, the pedestrian nodded in the direction of tho middle of the bridge and asked Rule if he knew where ho was going. The reply was: "I am on Grafton bridge, aren't I? I'm going across." llule then muttered something unintelligible about being halfway acrofifl. Thinking he might prove garrulous, his informant told him to move on and keep straight ahead, and ho 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 ho climbed the wall, but his action was so sudden that they did not realise his intention. The body struck the ground m a olearing within a foot of a tombstone enclosure- Rule was breathing his last when Dr. Murray reached him within five minutes. His head had apparently struck tho ground first, and the external injuries suggested there was probably a fracture of the skull. Rule had a wallet in his possession containing £9 in bank 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."