FATAL LEAP

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 26, 30 December 1925, Page 3

FATAL LEAP

OVER BRIDGE AT AUCKLAND. YOUNG MAN’S DEATH. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Dec. 29. Pedestrians on the Grafton bridge shortly after two o’clock this afternoon were horrified to see a young man take a fatal leap from the parapet about 90 feet to the ground. The body has been identified as that of James Rule, single, aged 25, a resident of Waihi. Rule was crossing the bridge from Symonds street, and had not gone far when he stopped a pedestrian and said: “Is this the highest point of this bridge, mateP” Thinking that the question was merely the idle conversation of a man obviously under the influence of liquor, the pedestrian nodded in the direction of the middle of the bridge, and asked Rule if he knew where he was going. The reply was: “I am on Grafton bridge, aren’t I? I’m going across.” Rule then muttered something unintelligible about being half-way across. Thinking he might prove garrulous, his informant told him to move on and keep straight ahead and he would reach Park road. Rule said: “Thanks, mate,” and walked on. He apparently proceeded only a few steps, and then mounted the parapet of the bridge and jumped over. A woman and a man were passing Rule when he climbed the wall, but his action was so sudden that they did not realise his intention. The body struck the ground in a clearing within a foot of a tombstone enclosure. Rule was breathing his last when Dr Murray, reached him within five minutes. His head had apparently struck the ground first, and external injuries suggested that there was probably a fracture of the skull. Rule had a wallet in his possession containing £9 in bank notes. In his breast pocket Dr Murray, found a portion of a yellow cigarette packet which was later found to bear the words: “Harry Dwyer understands.”