GRAFTON BRIDGE TRAGEDY

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 May 1936, Page 11

GRAFTON BRIDGE TRAGEDY

YOUTH’S SUICIDE. [PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, May 6. “A couple of strands of pig wire, laced along the top of the parapet, would stop some of these people, said Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M., Coroner, at the inquest into the death of Harold Frederick Taylor, aged 18, of Mount Albert Road, whose body was found beneath the Gratton Biidge on Sunday morning. The deceased’s i’atliei', Ernest Janies Taylor, a retired storekeeper, said his son left the Technical College last September or October, and he obtained employment as a motor-cycle mechanic. On Saturday evening he left home about 6.40 to go to a city picture theatre. He enjoyed good health, but he was very reserved and uncommunicative, and of a decidedly nervous disposition. Witness knew of no reason why he should have taken his life. Evidence was given by the deceased’s employer that he was a good worker, and was better disciplined than the average boy. How he found the body on Sunday morning, when he was out exercising his dogs, was related by Constable Sheeran. The constable- also described the finding of the body, and stated that the watch deceased was wearing had stopped at 10.35. “This is one of those extraordinary cases,” said Mr Hunt, who returned a verdict that the deceased' committed suicide by throwing himself from the Gration Bridge. Death was due to internal injuries.