LEAP FROM BRIDGE

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3309, 1 April 1926, Page 15

LEAP FROM BRIDGE

FRUITLESS SEARCH FOR BODIES

WHAT AN EYE-WITNESS SAW

One of the few who actually saw the fatal leap made by Alexander Mitchell, the Smithfield horse trainer who jumped from the Wanganui Town Bridge last Friday, was a Durie Hill resident, who was crossing the bridge in his motor car at the time. About half-way across the bridge taut nearer the town side, if anything than the Taylorville side, ho saw a man in an overcoat. Round his neck was a rope, and on his face was an extraordinary and desperate expression. When the car went past he was peering through the rails separating the two traffic-ways, as if to make certain that he was unobserved. “I saw from his desperate expression,” said the motorist, "that all was not well, and when I reached the end of the bridge I stopped the car, intending to run back. But before I could reach him he climbed on to the parapet, sat there a moment or two, looking down, and then leaped into the river.” Another eye-witness of the tragedy was stated to have been close enough to recognise the man as Mitchell, hut he was unable to prevent the desperate jump. The search for the bodies continues .but so far has not been successful, he oi /nllt.t