JUMPING TO DEATH

Evening Star, Issue 22383, 6 July 1936, Page 14

JUMPING TO DEATH

TAXI DRIVER RESCUES “BEAUTIFUL AUSTRALIAN “ GRAFTON BRIDGE EPISODE [Per United Press Association.l AUCKLAND, July 4. The story of the dramatic rescue_ by r taxi driver of a beautiful Australian blonde, aged 22, in the act of jumping over Grafton Bridge at 2.45 yesterday morning was told in the Police Court this morning. The girl pleaded guilty to an attempt to commit suicide. Sub-inspector Fox said the taxi driver when crossing the bridge saw 7 a girl in evening dress standing on the low ledge, witli her elbows on the parapet. He alighted from his vehicle and asked: “Are you not feeling well?” She climbed the parapet and he rushed towards her. Sue had one leg over the parapet, and when he caught hold of her she struggled to get free. With the assistance of a passer-by, she was taken to Auckland Hospital, w'here she was discharged this morning. According to the story the girl told the police, she came from Australia last January, and after stopping with her cousin, took a flat in the city, taking a commercial course at a business college. On Wednesday night she attended a ball, and finding that her escort and some of his friends were intoxicated, she left for home alone. She had taken some liquor herself, and this, coupled with the fact that she hadn’t been sleeping well lately 7, apparently caused depression. Mr M'Kean, S.M., asked: You did this just because your friend got drunk? Accused: Yes. but I’ve been studying too much lately. I was perfectly sober. I’m awfully sorry, and won’t try to do such a thing again. If my people hear of this it will make them most unhappy. Accused said she w 7 ould like to complete her course,_ and then return to Australia at Christmas. Accused’s cousin approached the magistrate and said she would go and stop with accused. The Magistrate (to accused): I don’t wish to enter a conviction, but you should give up taking intoxicating liquor. How often do you go to dances? Accused: About once a week. Everybody else seems to drink at dances.

The Magistrate: That may be, but you don’t want to be like a lot of sheep and do what everyone does. Tho Magistrate adjourned the case for sis months