CO129-556-5 Mary MacGregor- investigations into death 19-2-1936 - 20-5-1936 — Page 49

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annulled.

The question of his marriage to the deceased

was discussed.

In May 1935 Mr. Bird left Tientsin on leave

to the United Kingdom and correspondence was maintained

between him and the deceased. Whilst in England in

September, 1935, Mr. Bird was granted an annulment of his

marriage. In October, 1935, he remarried in England and

came to Hong Kong with his new wife, arriving here on

14.11.35 to take up his present position.

Mr. Bird said he saw the deceased once during

her stay in Hong Kong, on the afternoon of 6.1.36. He

informed her of the anulment of his marriage but did not

tell her he had re-married.

An inquiry with jury was held by the Police

Magistrate, Kowloon, on 22.1.36 and the finding of the

jury was as follows:-

"It is our opinion that the deceased died from

taking an over dose of veronal self administered at the

time when she was in a very depressed state of mind

brought about by a cause unknown to us (i.e. suicide

but not insane).

11

During the enquiry it was revealed that the

deceased, when in Tientsin, was admitted to Hospital on

11.3.35 suffering from acute barbitone poisoning, reveal-

ing that she had taken 15 grains of veronal on account of

sleeplessness.

The deceased was buried in the Protestant

Cemetery and an Army chaplain conducted the service. It

was attended by officers and members of the staff of the

Army Educational Corpsin Hong Kong.

The deceased left behind the sum of £200 in

English Bank notes and $117.50 in Hong Kong currency. This

together with her other effects were handed to the Official

Administrator, Supreme Court.

I have received a similar letter (copy attached)

from the writer's husband, but I do not propose to furnish