CO129-450 - Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1918 [10-12] — Page 42

Ne 291.

64.9 47842

C O

57703

RECE

REG, 30 NOV 8

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONGKONG. 8th. October, 1918.

42

Sir,

I have the honour to confirm my telegram

of the 3rd. October relating to the death of Mr. Frederick

Alan Biden, 2nd. Grade Executive Engineer in the Public Works

Department.

2.

Mr. Biden had been for some time in a poor

state of health. He suffered continually from a serious

kidney complaint, and on several occasions during the past year had been a patient in the Goverment Civil Hospital for this reason. After his discharge from the hospital he took

short leave of absence, but soon after his return became much

depressed, and this appears to have affected his mental

balance very considerably.

3.

It would probably be a matter of comfort

to his relatives to know that Mr. Bideo, who was a Company

Sergeant Major in the Hongkong Defence Corps was given an

impressive Military Funeral, which was attended by a large

and representative gathering.

4.

On account of his mother's age and the

desire of his personal friends here to conceal from her, if possible, the fact that his death was self-inflicted, I strong -ly recommend that the actual cause of death should not be

communicated to her. She is well aware of his recent illnesses

and

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

WALTER LONG, M.P.,

&C..

&c.

&c.