THE MACDONALD TRAGEDY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 80, 2 April 1903, Page 2

THE MACDONALD TRAGEDY.

DISGIMT AT BBNBATIOSAL HEADINGS PER PRESS ARSOOIATION. London, March 81. There were no representatives of the army or the Edinburgh Corporation at Sir Hector MacDonald'a f uoeraL A movement has been-started to erect a memorial to the late General at his birthplace, Dingwall. Lieut* nont-Colonel Stuart Wortley, Milita-y Attache to the British Embassy at Paris, has written to the Ntvt York Herald expressing hie intent* die* gust at the sensational beading* and the manner of tbe wording of tbe Herald's account of the charges against Sir Hector MaeDonald, which were, be declares, sufficient to cause dismay to any mm whether guilty or not.

a FRIEND'S TESTIMONY. Sydiit, April 1. Mr Kei'h Gibson, an ex-cap sin la the Imperial Ai my, and a familiar friwnd and regular oorre>pondent of Bir Hoetor MacD nald in tbe course of as interview, after paying a high tribute to Sir Hector's soldierly qualities, said in reference ti tbe charges, whieh som« of the papers would insinuate, (bet*. more cruel suggestion had nerer been ice rted in any paper in the world, " Knowing bis cature as I do," eaid Mr Gibson, " I am certain tint ho would have stood crucifying rather than even think of tbe charges. If then was one thing above all othets in Mao-D-inald'a nature he led a moral life, and h s aim was to prove an example to others. To do that he was always irjiog to educate and improve himself. He never gambled and never drank." In one nf his last letters, Bir Hector mentioned that some "funny business " and intriguing was being triad, by a few of the elite who ee*mad to have made up tbeir minds to ruin bin, but ho ob erved, that with the help of God, while he lived and was morally r< spat sible for his actions, his career would remain, ts it had grown, in the British Army.

Kef rence was further nude to a trap which had been set to compromise him morally. His position, he explained, kept him from going away or even mentioning the mat'er. He was perfectly happy in his family relatione, j and there was nothing wrrng between ! himself and his wife. His wife was a mo.-t honourable woman, but owing to Sir Hector's position, to bave keptber with him on foreigner vice- would have placed her in rather a peculiar sceia! position. ,

In a letter written just prior to hit < ppuiutment to Ceylon, while recognising 'he high honour of being appointed to the command, Sir Hector declared that socially he detested the appoint* men*.'

' Another letter told Mr GUaon that |r ther than hold a position, no matter h>w high, where socially ha would always have to be on the arena, ha would resign. At I-a»t on one occasion he tried ta resign on those condition?, bur Lord Roberta would not bear of it, Mr GiVson cono'uded that be is sure there will be a military inquiry into the whole matter, and when a thorough investigation is made, they will discover >.he reason for it all why there wa« h conspiracy, and why Sir Hector was hounded to death. Ha was Htite that fhe public would soan know that pt>oi " Mao " bad baau cruelly inurd-.ivd.

M- nbsi- i.ite d« to forward ocp!ei of Sir He tor McD>nl 5, g l-*.t<» to the War Olti. e, nd «k« other steps to vindicate his fri. nd» ch .*aow.