The Times

Saturday, September 18, 1976, page 1 (of 24)

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Times Guide

Cancer-ridden SM man dies in leap from atop CG hotel Dispondent over health, former employer says

By ANA MARIA ALVAREZ Staff Writer A 60-year-old South Miami resident, afflicted with terminal cancer, leaped to his death from atop the David William Hotel in Coral Gables Thursday morning, Sept. 16. Despondent over poor health, Nicholas J. Murphy of 5252 Sunset Dr., jumped from the balcony of the top floor of the building, located at 700 Biltmore Way. According to police, Murphy apparently walked into the elegant hotel and went unnoticed as he took the elevator up to the penthouse. It wasn't until after he jumped and his body was sprawled on the cricular driveway in front of the hotel that someone finally took notice. "I was standing behind the door when, out of the corner of my eye, I saw him falling on the driveway," said Reggie Bailey, the hotel's doorman. A construction worker employed by one of the hotel tenants had another version. "I was working in the back when I heard a bunch of people yelling that some guy jumped from the building." "I got some sheets and covered him," the worker said, adding, "No one had ever seen him around here before." Until recently, Murphy had been employed as a real estate salesman with Quinn Properties in Coral Gables. "He had been employed with us for about five years, but he left us six months ago because he was ill and couldn't keep up," said Robert Quinn. "I think the problem was that his health had been declining for some time. He had been in and out of the hospital, he had cancer and had been taking cobalt treatments for years." Metro Detective Fabio Alonso said Murphy jumped from the balcony ledge of the penthouse and cleared the 14-foot overhang covering the hotel's driveway. "We are sure it was suicide," said Deputy Chief Medical Examiner Ronald K. Wright, after analyzing footprints left in a balcony planter. "Anyone in reasonably good shape could have made the leap and cleared the overhang," he said. Murphy is survived by his wife, Eileen.

Hi-yo Abigail!

Photo by ELIZABETH OWEN Dawson Moore, a student at Ransom-Everglades, puts her snow white filly Abigail to the test in a first-ever equestrian competition staged at Ponce de Leon Jr. High Friday. See story, Page 19.

Driver kicks kids off school bus

By ELIZABETH OWEN Staff Writer Ed Leavey was furious when his 13-year-old son, Joseph Ruiz, came home from school late one day last week. But the youngster had a good excuse. As he was riding a school bus home from W.R. Thomas Junior High, he and a friend began to tease a girl who was sitting in front of them. According to Leavey, the boys were pinning a sign in the girl's hair. The bus driver, Laura Gibson, got angry and stopped the bus. Instead of reprimanding the boys, or taking them home or back to school where they would be disciplined, the boys said the driver let them off right on Tamiami Trail, west of the turnpike. "She let them off right in the middle of nowhere," said Leavey, who lives at 9801 W. Flagler St. "There was a bar nearby where some bad, drunk characters were hanging out. Joseph and his buddy had to start walking home." Along the way, a friend's mother saw the boys and offered them a ride. They accepted and arrived home tardy, but safe. Leavey claims he called the county school bus system and was told that Ms. Gibson would be reprimanded for booting the boys off the bus and that would be the end of it. But Jim Gray, director of transportation for Dade County Schools, told The Times-Guide that the matter is still under investigation. "I've been in contact with Thomas Mertz, prin- See KIDS, Page 15

Hostage released

Stephanie Hirsch, a Coral Gables psychiatric therapist working at the Counseling Institute of South Florida, was released Friday evening after being held hostage by a patient for more than 24 hours. Wayne Wilson, a former inmate at South Florida State Hospital, reportedly became agitated during a counseling session Thursday, Sept. 16, at institute offices, located at 304 Palermo. Reportedly armed, Wilson had been holding Ms. Hirsch hostage since Thursday, although police didn't learn of the situation until Friday morning. She was released unharmed Friday evening. Coral Gables policemen and a S.W.A.T. team armed with rifles had a three block area around the institute cordoned off. The office is across from the new Coral Gables police and fire stations.