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Story
July 18, 1960
The Nome Nugget
Nome, Nome County, Alaska
What is this article about?
In Newport Beach, Calif., psychiatrist Dr. Richard Renneker talked down 24-year-old Norman H. Battey from a 10-story building ledge after Battey, upset over marital troubles, threatened suicide. Renneker's humorous remark convinced him to climb down safely for psychiatric observation.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
Psychiatrist Talks Down Would-be Suicide From Ten-Story Building
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., (A) A vacationing psychiatrist left a swordfish dinner and talked down a would-be suicide swinging and yelling atop a 10-story structure Friday night.
Dr. Richard Renneker, dining with his wife and friends at a nearby restaurant, joined about 150 persons standing below as the young man jeered at the crowd.
Dr. Renneker and an unidentified Catholic priest walked up an inside stairway to within three stories of where the man perched on a half completed elevator shaft.
The man on the tower refused to talk to the priest.
Dr. Renneker, a research psychiatrist at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Hollywood, told the man: it was his life and he could throw it away if he wanted to.
At Renneker's request police turned down spotlights playing on the man teetering more than 100 feet above the ground.
Some of the crowd shouted "Jump, jump."
Dr. Renneker delivered the clincher.
"You're ruining my dinner, you know that," he said.
The young man came down spectacularly, swinging hand over hand like a gymnast on the half completed shaft.
Police said Norman H. Battey, 24, of Costa Mesa was upset over marital troubles and was taken to a hospital for psychiatric observation.
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., (A) A vacationing psychiatrist left a swordfish dinner and talked down a would-be suicide swinging and yelling atop a 10-story structure Friday night.
Dr. Richard Renneker, dining with his wife and friends at a nearby restaurant, joined about 150 persons standing below as the young man jeered at the crowd.
Dr. Renneker and an unidentified Catholic priest walked up an inside stairway to within three stories of where the man perched on a half completed elevator shaft.
The man on the tower refused to talk to the priest.
Dr. Renneker, a research psychiatrist at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Hollywood, told the man: it was his life and he could throw it away if he wanted to.
At Renneker's request police turned down spotlights playing on the man teetering more than 100 feet above the ground.
Some of the crowd shouted "Jump, jump."
Dr. Renneker delivered the clincher.
"You're ruining my dinner, you know that," he said.
The young man came down spectacularly, swinging hand over hand like a gymnast on the half completed shaft.
Police said Norman H. Battey, 24, of Costa Mesa was upset over marital troubles and was taken to a hospital for psychiatric observation.
What sub-type of article is it?
Heroic Act
Personal Triumph
Survival
What themes does it cover?
Bravery Heroism
Triumph
Recovery
What keywords are associated?
Suicide Prevention
Psychiatrist Intervention
Heroic Rescue
Marital Troubles
Building Ledge
What entities or persons were involved?
Dr. Richard Renneker
Norman H. Battey
Unidentified Catholic Priest
Where did it happen?
Newport Beach, Calif.
Story Details
Key Persons
Dr. Richard Renneker
Norman H. Battey
Unidentified Catholic Priest
Location
Newport Beach, Calif.
Event Date
Friday Night
Story Details
Vacationing psychiatrist Dr. Richard Renneker interrupts dinner to talk down suicidal Norman H. Battey from a 10-story building in Newport Beach, using empathy and humor to convince him to descend safely for psychiatric care after marital troubles.