SUICIDE IN THE AIR.

Evening Star, Issue 14932, 19 July 1912, Page 5

SUICIDE IN THE AIR.

A remarkable theory is suggested in connection with The death of M. Verrr.pt, the aviator, who fell a distancs of 600 ft while flying at Chateaufort. Belief gains ground (says 'The Times's' Paris correspondent,) that Verrept's fall was a, case of suicide. If suspicions are justified, this would be the first recorded cmc of suicide by means of an aeroplane. The officers present, at Chateaufort when Verrept fell made a thorough examination of his aeroplane immediately after the fatal fall. They found that none of the machinery, and no part of the aeroplans, was out of order. The machine had descended with the, motor running, instead of by the usual "vol plane." with the motor stopped. The officers, it appears, have come to the conclusion that Verrept's headlong descent was voluntary. Thase suspicions find a certain of confirmation from information as to Verrept's behaviour before the ascent, and from the behaviour of a woman friend after his death. He bade farewell in the morning to a woman to whom he was attached, and, having obtained her signed photograph, placed it near his heart, and told her that he was going to commit suicide. On his arrival at Chateaufort he took his seat in the aeroplane in which ho was accustomed to ascend dailv, and after mounting to a height of from" 1,600 ft to 1,700 ft, remained at this elevation for some 45 minutes. He then descended to a height of some 600 ft or 700 ft, when he was seen to throw up h:s arms and let his aeroplane descend full speed to the rround. When the airman had been conveyed to Versailles Hospital, where he soon afterwards died, the woman was immediately informed. When she saw his dead body she burst into bears, and exclaimed : "Poor John! I could not have believed that you would do this, and it was my fault, too!"