JUMPED FROM WINDOW

Southland Times, Issue 21576, 14 December 1931, Page 7

JUMPED FROM WINDOW

BANK MANAGER’S DEATH.

(United Press Assn. —By Telegraph—Copyright.)

London, December 11

Eric Connan, formerly of Queensland, manager of the Strand Branch of the National Bank of Australasia, was found dead on the pavement outside his residence in Kensington in evening clothes. His neck was broken and the indications were that he had fallen from the fourth floor window. Lately he had been suffering from insomnia.

Witnesses at the inquest included Winifred Dumas, who stated that she had known him for three years. He had suffered from malaria during the war. He had played bridge until 1.30 and seemed cheerful but complained of a headache. The Coroner, Mr Ingleby Oddie, gave a verdict of suicide while of unsound mind. He quoted a letter addressed to deceased’s brother saying that he had not been sleeping well. ‘‘My head gets so funny,” he had said. Mr Oddie added: “He must have squeezed past the bookcase opposite the window and jumped out. His body was found 20 feet out on the roadway. I believe that he got terrified after going to. his room and thought that he was going to lose his reason. He was appalled at resuming work next day with his head giving so much pain and yielded to the sudden impulse in a moment of intense mental strain.”