STRANGE ACCIDENT

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 17, 15 October 1926, Page 9

STRANGE ACCIDENT

CAPTAIN ROBERTSON FALLS FROM WINDOW AT AERO CLUB'S BUILDING IN SYDNEY (Rec. October 11, 5.15 p.tn.) Sydney, October 14. Captain Robert Robertson, who has arrived here from Auckland to arrange a flight from Sydney to New Zealand, fell from a fourth floor window at the Aero Club’s building in the < ity to-dqy, landing on the veranda *oof. He was carried through a window cn the first floor and admitted to hospital in a serious condition. Mystery surrounds the accident. When Captain Robertson arrived in the Ulimaroa he said he was going to make a flight from La Perouse to New Zealand. He also said he was suffering from a nervous breakdown and would take a couple of weeks’ holiday. Today he called at the offices of the Aero Club, but apparently transacted no business His presence on the premises was first known by the crash of In's falling body. SAID TO HAVE JUMPED FROM WINDOW WHEN DECLARED TO BE AN IMPOSTOR (Rec. October 15, 0.5 a.m.) London, October 14. Captain Hughes, president of the New South Wales Aero Club, states that Captain Robertson called on him to discuss his flight scheme. Robertson was closely questioned by Captain Hughes, who came to the conclusion that many of Robertson’s statements would not bear verification. Captain Hughes, in the presence of witnesses, told him he was an impostor, and that to safeguard the interests of aviation he would get in touch with the police. Robertson then leapt out o f the window of Captain Hughes’s office, struck the top of the oriel window on the third floor, rebounded, and crashed on an awning level with the first floor.

When they were discussing details of Robertson’s scheme, Captain Hughes found the whole proposal vague, and Robertson was then questioned regarding statements which had appeared in New Zealand newspapers to the effect that the Aero Club of Australia was providing him with, a machine. Robertson denied making such statements. After being closely questioned Robertson admitted that he had never been in a flying corps, and then, as Captain Hughes turned to telephone the police, Robertson jumped through the window.