GRAFTON BRIDGE FATALITY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11295, 22 August 1922, Page 6

GRAFTON BRIDGE FATALITY

EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST. “ILL-HEALTH HAS SENT ME MAD.” At the inquest on William Nassau Grinlinton, of Hawera, tho young man who was found dead in the valley under the Grafton bridge at Auckland, Horace L. Grinlinton, of Williamson avenue, a cousin of deceased, stated that the latter was a furniture salesman. He arrived iu Auckland on Wednesday, I6th inst., from Hawera, having left a position there to work in the North. He was to have taken np his new occupation on the 19th. Witness was with deceased, who was staying at a ’boardinghouse at Khyber Bass road, on Wednesday afternoon, when he seemed to be well, hut preoccupied. Deceased did not complain of being ill. He was married and had two children, and had left his family in Hawera,

Evidence was given as to the finding of deceased’s coat, vest, and cap on the Grafton bridge at 11.45 p.m. on Thursday by passers-by, and as to the subsequent discovery of the deceased in a. semi-conscious condition in the gully beneath the bridge. 'Dr. D. N. W. Murray deposed that he was called to the scene of the occurrence. ,On examining deceased ho found he was suffering from a compound fracture of the right leg and a large cut on the back of the head. Dr. Joseph Connolly, of the resident medical staff of the ho/iital, stated that deceased was semi-conscious when admitted to the institution shortly before I a.m. He grew gradually worse, and died abqut 4 a.m. Tho injuries described by Dr. Murray, and shock from the fall, caused death. Sergeant Hammond produced an envelope, on which was written in blue pencil: “111-health has sent me mad. Farewell.—Will.” This, said witness, had been found in a pocket of deceased’s coat.

The coroner (Mr J. E. Wilson, S.M.), found that death was due ro shock from a compound fracture of the leg and other .injuries caused by deceased throwing himself off the Grsf ton bridge.