H. B. M. Consulate,
COPY.
April 8th., 1915.
274527
15 (15)
Saigon, Cochin-China,
sir,
I have the honour to inform you that I have caused
to be embarked on board S. S. "Kongsang" one Ers. Butler under the
following circumstances.
lire. Butler has appeared before me and stated she was completely destitute and wished to go to Shanghai. Certain British subjects resident here have subscribed sufficient money for her to take passage to Hongkong probably leaving enough to take Mrs. Butler to Shanghai. Personally I was in favour of send- -ing Mrs. Butler back to England as a destitute British subject but there were great difficulties in the way •.g. there is no boat leaving here direct for Europe for about 28 days and then only to Marseilles further it does not appear that there is even an available steamer for Singapore for 10 days. Possibly you may consider it desirable to repatriate Mrs. Butler to England instead of allowing her to proceed to Shanghai.
Her story as told to me is as follows:-She came
For here from Singapore some 15 days ago in order to find work. the past 6 years she has lived in Singapore and Shanghai. At the former place she has been employed in the "Empire" "Kafeking" etc. hotels. Latterly she had been ill there and the doctor had ordered her to leɛve Singapore. Previously she had been married to a soldier in the Bedforshire Regiment. He died in 1898 and was buried outside London. She possesses his regimental book, marriage certificate and burial certificate etc. Subsequently she contract- -ød a marriage with a Corporal in the Middlesex Regiment at Singapore called "Havie". He deserted her and went to Australia. She then resumed the nam of Butler.
The Colonial Secretary,
Hongkong.
urs.