The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-03-26
COULD NO LONGER
LIVE IN DISGRACE
Gen. Macdonald Kills Him.
self On the Eve of
Court martial.

PARIS, March 25.-Maj. Gen. Hector
Macdonald, commanding the British
forces in Ceylon and one of the fore
most, officers in the British army
against whom charges based on i'm
moral acts were filed some time ago.
committed suicide today at the Hotel
Regina here. He shot himself in the
right temple shortly after noon and
died few minutes later
The general was alone in his small
chamber on the Mezzanine floor of the
hotel. One of the female attendants
heard the pistol shot and opening the
door saw the generals figure stretched
out on the floor with the blood gushing
from a bullet wound in the head. She
ran screaming to the balcony overlook
ing the lobby of the hotel, where many
guests, including women, were assem-
bled. The proprietor of the hotel was
the first to reach the expiring man.
Medical help was Immediately sum-
moned, but was useless death ensuing
quickly.
The cOmmissary of police, accompa-
MED by a doctor, proceeded to a pre-
liminary investigation. No money or
papers of any kind were found in Sir
HectOr's baggage. Two notes written
in English were found lying on a table
in his room and these were taken pos
session 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. British Consul
General Inglis took charge of the body,
which was placed on the bed. The
door was then locked the consul gem
eral taking the key. The French of
ficers took possession of the revolver.
Sir Hector Macdonald arrived in
Paris Friday evening from London on
his way back to Ceylon, where 1T 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 indif-
ferent room was available. He replied
that that was quite sufficient He was
not accompanied by aid de camp or
valet. He said he intended to stay
only a day or two in Paris. Little was
seen of him since his arrival He was,
however, in the lobby this morning
about noon and it is believed that a
newspaper, printed in English, con-
tained a resume of the grave charges
brought against him and embelIished
with the generals portrait in full uni
form, came to his attention. He left
the lobby, going to his room, and the
pistol shot followed soon after.
The 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 excitement or men
tai worry They describe him as Of
soldierly bearing, slightly under mid
die weight, with bronzed face and a
slight gray mustache. He was dressed
in a dark gray travelling suit.
Sir Hector Macdonald was separated
from his wife many years ago, before
he obtained his commission. He has
not lived with her since. He leaves a
son, who is being educated in an Eng
lish school. Sir Hector's great chance
came when, as a sergeant during the
Afghan campaign of 1897 and 1880,
with small force, he, by a furious
bayonet charge, cleared out a body of
Afghans who were lying in ambush for
Lord Roberts. For this feat Lord
Roberts offered him the choice of the
Victorian cross or a commission. He
chose the latter. His greatest military
achievement was leading the Black
Soudanese brigade in the Omdurman
campaign against the khalifa.