The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1903-03-28
DEATH OR DIsHoNoR.
General Mcdonald Suicides in Paris
to Escape Trial.

TO ESCAPE Trial.
Paris March 25.-Majcr General Hec-
tor Macdonald, commanding the Brit
ish forces in Ceylon and one of the
foremost officers in the British army,
against whom charges based on inn
moral acts were filed some time ago,
committed suicide today at the Regina
here. He shot himself in the right
temple shortly after noon, and expired
few minutes later. The general was
alone in his small chamber at the time
of the tragedy. One of the female at
tendants heard the pistol shot, and,
opening the door, saw the generals
figure stretched out on the floor with
blood gushing from a bullet wound in
IN the head. She ran screaming to the
balcony overlooking the lobby of the
hotel, where many guests, including
number of ladies, were assembled.
The proprietor of the hotel was the
first OF reach the expiring man. Medi-
cal help was Immediately summoned,
but was found to be useless. death en-
suing quickly on the fatal act. The
commissary of police was notified, and,
accompanied by a doctor. proceeded to
make a preliminary investigation. No
money or papers of any kind were
found in Sir Heetor's baggage.
Two Notes Found.
Two notes written in English We're
found lying on a table in his room, and
these were taken possession of by the
authorities, but it is understood that
their contents have no bearing on the
suicide.
In the generals coat lying on the
bed, were found some photographs. The
British embassy and consulate We're
notified later, and Consul General Ing
lis visited the hotel and took charge
of the body, which was placed on the
bed. The door was then locked, the
consul general taking the key The
French officials took possession of the
revolver, which was of nine milome-
tres caliber, and apparently new
Had Started For Ceylon.
Sir Hector Macdonald arrived in Pa,
ris 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
reaching 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
ed to stay only a day or two in Paris.
Little was seen of him after his ar
rival. He was, however, in the lobby
this morning about noon and it is be-
lieved that 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.
Causes a Shock.
acknowledgements have yet been made
as to the disposition of the body, which
is subject to the order of the British
authorities.
Both the British embassy and Cen
eral Inglis have advised London of the
tragedy and are awaiting definite in
structions The generals suicide has
profoundly shocked the British officials
here Those about the hotel who had
conversed with Sir Hector Macdonald
recently 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 mus
tache. He was dressed in a dark gray
travelling suit.
In contrast to the circumstances sur
rounding the death of General Macdon-
aid was the gaiety of the scene tonighk
near his death chamber. Owing to pre-
cautions taken to conceal the death few
people in the hotel were aware of it.
and the corridors and Hobbies in the
hotel were filled with joyous parties of
guests going to and returning from the
atre and opera. The body lay in an adj
joining chamber There are no watch-
ers by the side of the corpse