FALLS LIKE A THUNDERCLAP.

Southland Times, Issue 19006, 27 March 1903, Page 2

FALLS LIKE A THUNDERCLAP.

STUNG BY *A DEFAMATORY

" RAG," THE SOLDIER OF FORTUNE SHOOTS HIMSELF IN A PARISIAN HOTEL.

PROFOUND BORROW IN THE HIGHLANDS AND IN ENGLAND."**

I'er United Press Association. By Electric Telegraph — Copj'right

L,pNDO]S^ ]Vlaix:h' 2"6. "

{ Received 26th, 11.45 p.nl

Pending _Jiis 'bouirt-martial (ieneral Sir Hector Macdonald dijct| : not rcsiune liis cominariU. — Sfr, J . West Kiugway, the Governor hi-%he, Legislative Council of Ceylon, referred, to vv-i-j- - ginvc charges, and expressed

his hope that a st-iftcmng court'lmutial would secure his complete and honourable acquittal

General Macdonald' went to ]2"gland to consult his friends and superiors—With his concurrence."

On. the homeward voyage it ,was uotigeable -that yne or two higli'perT sonages from CexJoii ir apparently hefd themselves .alooft'^froni Macdo'iiald,' who/himsdlf '■Soeined to preterito eit alone, at 'the centre' of -ihd| talrfft at meal times. Onceybr t\^ied he defelined; invitations to sit. next- t^.P.tiig captain. He; snjfeKt 'touch of his ti^ne' at chess. Thei'e was not .the, slightest" suspicion auibngj^tiie OpKir'afepabV; -sengers >that anj' "trouble- was iin.£ pending. Some' JVTelbourrio'paissehgers*' invited him to p.reside at,a social-; gathering; "ilnit he _delicatelj^ excused, himself. ''•*;"

Yesterday's' announcement of a court-tuaytial ? :^reated consternation ' in th'bjfjlighrahcls, where it was the sole tonic of Conversation. Everybody hoifcd thixp the jpeneral's reputation would" ij,c i<et|m«ed untarnish.pd. There was a^&ftmljjrr feeling . an; London. : >; -^* ; * v r ~; After his' visit. \to England General Macdonald alighted, onC-hts return journey, "at. Fan's on the- 20th ..and* put up at the. Hotel Reghut. Yester-_ day afternoon he was found lyiivjf.on' the floor, with his -head resting Oi^ainsjt'a dressing tabJe, and with -.a bullet $n his temale. , 75&f~ ■■ . £% " IJAniS,, March 26. Received' 27th, 1.16 a.nar" "| General Macdonald Avas js>eerfnl ,■ until, yesterday.^' He wasMas£ seen in the reading rooni£.at nooH^silentb^and distressed*, holding a?P%'isi \n<ew&= paper published in Eng3ish,Tifrnd conP faining his portrait and, defamatovy . ruin6>.irs cpnctfhiing hrniself. * Thgsc*" were re-prod ucscl .in yoster^a^s. French newspaper^. Siuldeiil^Jmt quietly he' :*vent ilpstairs : . >The dpcrr toriT certifiecl 'tKat' he ljad'coiiimitte'd^ suicide under^ stress of ." mental Virbu- ; ble. The. features. of the dead solclicr displayed' perfect repose.' 1 _ " _. -v... ** ~ LONDON, March 26/ J r Tioceivcd 27tR, 1.16 a.m. General Macdonald assured Alarshal Roberts and tho War Oilico that he was jponfiden t that he-would be able to clear himself of the'accu-, satiqns made, and his friends anticipated his a^quitttfl. is iu"ii\Tjraal sorrow' m the cJs|jjSj*.and/ in; military t-ircles. , '}■* : *'» -,- - * ■

xSYDjVEY, Mai-ch'26. - Received 27th, 1.33 a%^

By I'jiiglish.iilesL received yestepiay ; a cable, puijhlislied in The T-imes, ' states that Ocneral Mactlorialdj^ had been suddenly 'z&callecL by "the v mili-' ; tary authorities. Thfr Calcutta English men. of February , 21st xpublishe^, the inflowing. £Rom C'eylQiV :^ f .^©|§jtv curiosity is -strong regArding^enbraj .j Ma£donald's abrupt departure,fheigh- ; lened by the fact that hp left*-with-out a guard of honour or any'inanifestation, "official^or,. public..'' '