SHOCKING TRAGEDY

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 10194, 5 January 1926, Page 5

SHOCKING TRAGEDY

ANOTHER GRAFTON BRIDGE SENSATION.

HARRIED MAN SUICIDES BEFORE PEDESTRIANS.

TIRED OF IT ALL.”

AUCKLAND, Jan. 4. Grafton Bridge was the scene of another tragedy this morning, when a man named Alfred E Hanscombe, aged about 45 years, climbed to the parapet, at the highest point on the bridge, and rolled off to crash to lus death in the Grafton gully. The fatality occurred about 12.15 p.m. when a number of people were crossing the bridge. The deceased was noticed walking to and fro, prior to climbing the parapet and it was when his ride of the footpath was dear of pedestrians that he acted. Several people saw him climb to the top, and, before lie could be reached, he had rolled over the edge. Constables Tucker and Kelly were soon on the scene and succeeded in locating the body in a heap of tangled undergrowth. The man was then dear 1 , liis injuries consisted ot a fractured neck, fractured ribs and a fractured thigh. It was stated that death must have been instantaneous. It appears that the deceased was a married 1 man with six children, the youngest being seven years of age, and resided at 2 Saekville Street, Grey Lynn. He was employed as a nutorman on the Auckland City Tramways, and, as far as can be ascertained, had been so employed for the past 14 years. He was last on " duty on Saturday and was due to start again at 3 p.m. to-day. The last Grafton Bridge sensation occurred last Tuesday, when a young man also crashed to his death from practically the same spot as the deceased. The few papers found on the deceased man showed him to be a member ot the Loval Orange Lodge. Inquiries at the home of the dead man, elicited the information that he had been worried for some time. He left two notes, in one of which he stated he was tired of it all and was afraid ot going blind. His wife, who had been in poor health for some time, stated that her husband had been worried about renorts from head office on Saturday. He was in his usual state ot health, but yesterday he seemed worried and was continually asking iho children to kiss him. .This morning he had been working in the garden and left the house at about 11.20 a.m. to buy some nails. He informed vis wife that, if he did not return by 3 p.m., she would know it was all rignt, as lie would be going to see a man about a position on a farm at Russell. The parties had been happily married. —Press Assn.