GIRL’S GRIP FAILS

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 May 1936, Page 11

GIRL’S GRIP FAILS

MAN’S FATAL FALL. An elderly merchant plunged to his death in crowded Thirty-fourth Street, New York, at 10 o’clock one morning recently, despite the efforts of a 22-year-old stenographer, and a window cleaner to save-him. ■ The police listed the case as “fell or jumped.” '■ A check-up of the victim’s fifth-floor . office indicated that the tragedy was accidental. 'He was Henry W. Gerdts, 69 years old, who for almost half a century was active in thef silk business. • . Mr. Gerdts had been associated with Gertds and Loftier, Inc., at 180 Madison Avenue, for ten years. He ar- ‘ rived at his office early from his home. He noticed that a window near the stock-room had been opened for the first time that winter and asked the stenographer to help him close it. - The girl, Carolyn Weinberger, tried to lielp him, but the.window would not ’budge and they gave up. Shortly afcrwards. at hoi- desk several yards away, she heard licr employed cry out. Sho rushed to the window, and saw him tottering over the low sill. A tall '• man, lie slipped from her grasp and fell. . > Directly-beneath, at a window of an unoccupied loft. Edwin Olson was polishing a pane. OlsOn, leaning back on his safqty belt, reached out vainly for the hurtling figure. The body landed on the south side , of Thirtyfcttrth Street, about twenty yiirdA wed. of Madison. Avenue. < Patrolman Dwyer, of the Midtown Squad, notified the East Thirty-fifth Street, station and his report was confirmed after investigation . by p-etec; tive' KJechHn. Mr. Loffler, convinced hir, ; -friend had been killed in a second .-ifempt to close the stubborn window, pointed out that he had been in good health and spirits. P.ijf'iness Associates. including one v, bo had dropped in to have lunch with Mr, Gerdts, said Mr. Gerdts was a naLvs.of Hoboken dhd entered the silk business as a boy.