FALL OVER CLIFF

Southland Times, Issue 22043, 16 June 1933, Page 12

FALL OVER CLIFF

GIRL’S MYSTERY DEATH. CRIES OF “LET GO” HEARD. - . Melbourne, June 1. Declaring that the evidence did not enable him to say how the fall occurred, the City Coroner (Mr Grant, P.M.) to-day recorded an open finding at the inquest of Winifred Price, aged 21, a typist, of Alexander street, Elsternwick who died two days after having been found injured at the foot of sea cliffs at Beaumaris, on the night of February 12.

Malcolm Rowston, surveyor, of Latona street, Mentone, said that on February 12, about 11.30 p.m., he and another man were fishing off Beaumaris about 300 yards from the cliffs. They heard cries of “Let go! God! Don’t! Let go!” Following a brief silence, moans were heard from the bottom of the cliffs. A figure of a woman was seen lying on the rocks. She was bleeding from the nose and mouth, and appeared to be badly injured. The police were informed, and she was taken to hospital.

Elizabeth Hannah Price said she knew her daughter was friendly with a man named Harry Kay, but was not certain of the extent of their relationship. She did not know of the girl’s condition. She last saw her daughter alive at 7 p.m. on February 12, when she said she was going out for a short while. Her health and spirits seemed then to be normal. “I next saw Winifred at the Alfred Hospital,” said Mrs Price, “and she was unable to speak.”

Dr. W. J. Allen said that Miss Price was suffering from a fractured skull, fractured spine, and other injuries. She was not capable of making a statement, and died on February 14. Evidence that her son had informed her that he was going to marry Miss Price, and that she had accompanied them to a registry office in Prahran to witness their signatures, was given by Mrs Susan Emily Kay, of Johns street, Elwood. Mrs Kay said she went to the registry office with the two young people on January 13, but was informed that the father of her son. who was only 20 years of age, had to witness his signature. “We were told to call back again,” Mrs Kay continued, “but nothing further was done. I asked Miss Price if she had told her parents of her intentions to get married, and she replied that she had not, and did not think she would.” Henry Charles Kay, butcher, Johns street, Elwood, related to the Coroner how he had met Winifred Price in April, 1932. In December, of the same year, both agreed to marry, and he asked his mother to witness his signature. Because of the hitch, however, the ceremony was not performed. Kay stated that, later, he and Miss Price had an argument, and he did not see her again until after the Tuesday, following A.N.A. Day. He then went to Tasmania to get a job on February 7, and could not throw any light on the circumstances concerning the girl’s death, or why she should take her life.

Senior Constable Stanley Drysdale, of Mentone, said that at 12.20 a.m. on February 13 he made a stretcher, placed it on the boat, and rowed Miss Price to Mentone Pier, from where she was taken to hospital. She had refused to make a statement. Detective E. C. G. Wyther said that he had inquired into the circumstances of Miss Price’s fall over the cliff, and could not find any evidence to show she had been pushed over. On March 5 a bag, which had been identified as belonging to the girl, was found in a bush a few feet away from the cliff edge. There was a sheer drop of about 45 feet