A LEAP TO DEATH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17339, 10 December 1919, Page 7

A LEAP TO DEATH.

TRAGEDY iN THE CITY. VERDICT OF SUICIDE* MIND TEMORARILY UNSOUND. The fatality which occurred in Endean's Buildings on Monday morning, when a. man named William John Mackay Woodruffe, aged 63 years, met his death by falling about 60 feet on to the tiled floor of the light well, had a sequel yesterday, when an inquest was held by the Coroner, Mr, J. E. Wilson, S.M. .An eye-witness, Thomas Layton Smith, stated that a moment or two after 9 a.m., coming out of his office on the third floor of the building, he saw the deceased placing his left leg over the 4ft balustrate of ♦he light well. "He got over the balustrade," continued witness, "and stood for a moment on the parapet, which is about 12 inches wide. Suddenly he released his hold and threw himself backward into the well. A moment later I heard a dull thud as the body crashed heavily on to the tiled ground floor. Running to the balustrade I looked down and saw the body lying below. I hurried down the stairs, and though there was a little breath coming from his lips, it soon ceased." The liftman in the building said be thought the body, in falling, struck the parapet of the second floor. When he reached the deceased he was lying face downward on the . tiles. There was no movement of his pulse. The Magistrate : Did he use the lift to go up? No. Sergeant J. Lander, of the waterfront police, testified to the finding of the dead body and to the nature of the injuries sustained. Ronald Woodruffe, son of the deceased, gave evidence that his father for the past six months had been in indifferent health and depressed over business matters. He came to Auckland on November 30, and witness had been informed that he had of late been subjeot to fainting fits. His wife was in Australia. On Sunday evening he told witness he had not been sleeping well owing to financial worries, and on leaving him at the Central Hotel said be felt tired, and would have a sleep. He made an appointment for 11.30 o'clock on Monday morning. Percy Clark, the deceased's room-mate at the hotel, said the deceased left witness at 8.40 a.m. at the front door of the hotel, stating that he was going to have a shave. There was nothing m his manner to suggest any intention of suicide; he seemed quite satisfied with his financial position, and had informed witness that in a few days he was returning to Whakatane on business matters. Further evidence showed that before going out the deceased booked his bed for the following n'ght. . "The causes of death," said the magistrate in his finding, "were injuries received through a fall down the light well in Endean's Buildings. The deceased had been under considerable mental stress, and I am of opinion that he committed the act whilst temporarily insane."