Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1903-03-28
GENERAL N DONALDSU|C|DES|
WAS ONE OF ENGlAND'S FORE.
MOST MILITARY OFFICERS.
The Diseraced Officer Had Fled to
Paris, Where He Shot Himself in
the Head-An Expose of His I'M
moral Conduct and III Health the
Supposed Cause.


Hector Macdonald, commanding the
British forces in Ceylon and one of
the foremost officers in the British
army, against whom charges, based
on immoral acts, were filed some time
ago, committed suicide at the Regina
here. He shot himself in the right
temple shortly after noon and expired
a few minutes later The general was
alone in his small chamber at the
time of the tragedy. One of the fe-
male attendants heard the pistol shot,
and, opening the door, saw the gen
erals figure stretched out on the floor
with blood gushing from bullet
wound in the head. She ran screaming
to the balcony overlooking the lobby
of the hotel where many guests. in
Guiding a number of ladies. were as
sembled. The proprietor of the hotel
was the first to reach the expiring
man. Medical help was Immediately
summoned, but was found to be use
less, death ensuing quickly The com
missiary of police was notified and
accompanied by doctor proceeded to
a preliminary investigation.
no money or papers of any kind
were found in Sir hector's baggage.
The French officials took possession
of the revolver which was of nine
milimeters caliber, and apparently
new.
Sir Hector Macdonald arrived in
last Friday evening from London, on
his way back to Ceylon, where it was
understood that an immediate court
martial would be held to clear up the
charges made against him. On reach
ing the hotel at II o'clock at night
he was told that only a small and in
different room was available. He re-
piled that that was quite sufficient.
He was not accompanied by any aide
de camp or valet. He said he intended
to stay only day or two in Paris.
Little was seen of him after his ar
rival. He was, however, in the lobby
in the morning about noon, and it is
believed that a newspaper printed in
English containing a resume of the
grave charges brought against him
and embellished with the generals
portrait in full uniform came under
his attention. He left the lobby 60
ing to his room, and the pistol shot
followed soon after
The generals suicide has profound
ly shocked the British officials here.
Those about the hotel who had con-
versed with Sir Hector Macdonald re,
Gently say he showed no signs of ex-
citement or mental worry. They de-
scribe him as Of soldierly bearing,
slightly under middle height, with
bronzed face and a Slight gray NOUS
tache
He was dressed in a dark gray trav-
cling suit
MacdonaId's Fighting Career.
London, March 27.-The tragic end
OF Fighting Mac who WIS the son
Of Highlander, rose froma position
of diapers assistant to be an honor
ed general in the army, has caused
great surprise and deep sorrow in
London. The nature of tie offenses
with which he was charged had not
been generally known, but had been
common gossip in military drcles, and
in the army and among his Highland
er comrades especially, thee is keen
grief. The feeling is that twas bet.
ter to die thus than face lishonor." /
Sir Hector Macdonald was separated
from his wife many years a;o, before
he got his commission. HI has nor
lived with her since. He leaves a
son, who is being educated an Eng
lish public school,
Sir Hector Macdonald, great
chance came when as a sergeant dur
ing the Afghan campaign in1S79 and
1880 with small force he, " a furi-
Gus bayOnet charge, cleared at a body
of Afghans who were lying il ambush
for Lord Roberts. For this eat Lord
Roberts offered him the chote of the
victoria cross or a commission. He
chose the latter. His greaest mill.
tary achievement was leacng the
Black SOudanese brigade inthe ON
durham campaign against thtKhalifa.
The announcement made blythe gov
eminent of Ceylon on Monay that
Major General Macdonald wuld be
courtmartialed and the publicly given
to the affair were evidently tie deter
mining motives for the suicie
His friends attribute the nfortun-
ate affair to his broken helth and
shattered nerves, the outcom of two .
campaigns in Soudan and Suth AT
RIGA. An attack of dysenter. and a 3
touch of sunstroke at Paardehrg dur
ing the South African camp.gn left ,
serious effects, and woun( he re-
ceived in the leg healed bad.
He will be remembered hes as the
man to whom, on his retua from 7