FATAL LEAP.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXXVII, Issue 7915, 7 August 1917, Page 3

FATAL LEAP.

A VICTIM OF INSOMNIA. (Own Correspondent). NAPIER, Yesterday. A Wairoa farmer, Robert James Couper, jumped from the top floor of the Masonic Hotel on Sunday, and died while en route to the hospital. At the inquest evidence was given by his wife, the nurse, his brother-in-law, the hospital doctor, and Dr. E. Edgar. It appeared that Couper came to Napier about three weeks ago, suffering from insomnia, and was treated by Dr. Edgar. He was prescribed for, and a nurse was engaged. Except for one or two small lapses deceased was progressing favorably. On Sunday morning he and his wife were talking in bed while the nurse went clown to breakfast. Mrs Couper got out of bed and went to the other side of the room, and while her hack was turned deceased got out of bed find climbed through the window. Mrs Couper turned and saw him, and got to the window in time to clutch his clothing, but could not manage to stop his fall. The nurse had just got to the dining-room when she heard a cry, and found that Couper had jumped from the window. The Coroner returned a verdict that deceased committed suicide while temporarily insane.