100FT. LEAP TO DEATH

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20740, 25 February 1939, Page 14 (Supplement)

100 FT. LEAP TO DEATH

SYDNEY MAN’S MYSTERIOUS ACT POLICE PUZZLED I' For no apparent reason Robert John Kingston, 32 , leaped to instant death from the eighth floor of the Mansion House Private Hotel. Kingi sfon was engaged to be married to a young Bondi woman. They had had no quarrel, and were together on Friday, the young woman told the police. A wool-c.lasser and in good health, Kingston had money in the hank. Kingston's unusual behaviour before he dived 100 ft. to instant death on the pavement has puzzled the police. Returning from a trip to Manly with three , friends, Kingston sat in the lounge 1 talking and joking. A bottle of beer ! was mentioned, and Kingston said, •Just a minute.” and left. His friends thought he had gone to get a bottle of beer. The next thing they knew police were making inquiries. The dead man had slopped out of the sixth-floor room and climbed 30ft. up the lightwell, hanging to water pipes. A man in a neighbouring room, seeing Kingston. thought he was a cat- burglar, and called. “What's the game?” Kingston climbed on, and the guest informed the porter. George McKenzie. Dashing on to the roof, McKenzie saw Kingston outside the roof railing. McKenzie called -out, “Don’t be silly!” Kingston jumped. He struck the veranah rnd was practically unrecognisable when picked up. His wristlet watch was still running and was going all the next day. Kingston seemed a trifle depressed a few days before his death. He had had word that his mother was seriously ill , in a country town.