YOUNG MAN SUICIDES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LI, Issue 16921, 30 December 1925, Page 9

YOUNG MAN SUICIDES.

JUMPS OFF GRAFTON BRIDGE. (Per Prow Association.) AUCKLAND, last night. Pedestrians on Grafton bridge, shortly ifler two o'clock this afternoon, were horrified to see a young man take a fatal leap from the parapet about HO feet from the ground. The body has been identified as that of James Rule, 25, single, a resident of Waihi. Rule was crossing the bridge from Symonds street and had not gone far when he stopped! a pedestrian and said, "I.s this the highest point of this bridge, mate?" Thinking the query was merely the idle conversation of a man obviously under the influence of liquor, the pedestrian nodded in tlie direction of the middle of the bridge and asked Rule if he knew where be was going. The reply was : "I am on Grafton bridge, aren't 1? I'm going across." Rule then muttered something unintelligible about being half-way across. Thinking he might prove garrulous, his informant told him lo move on and keep straight ahead and' he would reach Park road. Pule said : "Thanks, mate," and walked on. \ He had 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 sudd'en that they did not realise his intention. The body struck" Hie ground in a clearing within a, foot! of ;i tombstone enclosure. Rule was breathing his last, when Dr. Murray reached him within five minutes. His head had. apparently, -truck the ground first and the 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 portion of a yellow cigarette packet -which was, later, found to bear the words "Harry Dwjvr under stands."