LEAPED TO DEATH

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 959, 30 April 1930, Page 1

LEAPED TO DEATH

GRAFTON BRIDGE TRAGEDY OLD MAN’S FAREWELL NOTE Ina, despairing note found on the body of James Farrell, aged 70, who was recovered from the deepest pa»t of Grafton Gully underneath the bridge on Friday, according to evidence at the inquest today, were these words:—-“Good-bye, boys; my time has come. I am going to end it all. —Joe Farrell — old Jim.” Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M., who conducted the inquiry, returned a verdict of suicide. A son gave evidence that his father, who was a blacksmith, had been out of work for two years. Deceased had been a heavy drinker, and feared his family would have him prohibited. A St. John Ambulance officer, Sydney E. Langton, who went to the gully a few minutes after a woman had seen Farrell leap from the bridge, said the man was dead when ho arrived. The manager of the Salvation Army Home said Farrell had been living there three months, and had done no work. He was a heavy drinker and at times eccentric. Evidence of having seen Farrell nearly knocked down by a tram while crossing the road toward the bridge was given by Robert Fariand. When going across the bridge witness was about a chain behind Farrell and could not catch him up. He intended telling the old man how lucky he had not been killed by the tram. When witness almost reached Farrell, the latter began to run for about a chain, and then suddenly scrambled on to the parapet and rolled over.