Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-03-26
Details of the Suicide.

i
| Hector Macdonald. commanding the
| the foremost officers in the British
army against whom charges based or
immoral acts were filed some time ago
committed suicide Wednesday at the
Hotel Regina here. He shot himself III
| the right temple shortly after noon
and expired few minutes later. The
general was alone in his room at the
| time Of the tragedy. One of the female
attendants heard the pistol shot and
opening the door saw the generals fig
ure stretched out on the floor with the
blood gushing from a bullet wound III
| the head She ran screaming to the
balcony overlooking the lobby Of the
hotel, where many guests, including q
number of ladies, were assembled. The
proprietor of the hotel was the first
to reach the expiring man. Medical
help was Immediately summoned, but
was found to be useless. death COM
ing quickly. The commissary of police
was notified, and accompanied by a
doctor, proceeded to a preliminary in
vestigation. No money or papers of
any kind were found in Sir Hector's
baggage. Two notes written in En-
glish were found lying on a table in
his room. and these We're taken pos
session of by the authorities, but 1t
is understood that their contents have
no bearing on the suicide. In the gen
erals coat, lying on the bed. were found
some photographs. The British en-
bassy and consulate We're notified later,
and Consul General Inglis visited the
hotel and took charge OF. the body,
which was placed on the bed. The
door was then locked, the consul gem
eral taking the key.
Sir Hector Macdonald arrived in
Paris 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
charges made against him. On reach
ing the hotel at II o'clock at night
he was told that only a small and
indifferent room was available. He
replied that that was quite sufficient
He was not accompanied by any aide
de-camp or valet. He said he only in
tended to stay day or two in Paris.
Little had been seen of him since his
arrival. He was, however. in the lobby
in the morning and about noon, and II
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 atten-
ton. He left the lobby. going to his
room, and the pistol shot followed soon
after.
No arrangements have yet been made
as to the disposition of the body, which
is subject to the orders of the British
authorities. Both the British embassy
and Gen. Inglis have advised London
of the tragedy, and are awaiting defin-
lite instructions. The generals suicide
has profoundly shocked the British OFF,
Gals here. Those about the hotel who
had conversed with Sir Hector Mac
Donald recently say he showed no signs
of excitement or mental worry. They
describe him as of soldierly bearing.
slightly under middle height, with
bronzed face and slightly gray NOUS
tache. He was dressed in a dark gray
travelling suit
In contrast to the sad circumstances
surrounding the death Of General Mac
Donald was the gaiety of the scene last
might near his death chamber. Owing