Mr. Conger to Mr. Hay.
Peking, China , January 5, 1901 .
Sir: I have the honor to report that En Hai, a Manchu soldier belonging to the Peking field forces, who was arrested in September, charged with having murdered the German minister, Baron von Ketteler, on the 20th of June last, was publicly beheaded on the 31st ultimo by the German military authorities, on the same spot where the murder was committed.
According to En Hai’s statement, which can not, however, be relied upon, he was placed in charge of a corner of the Hata street and one of the side streets leading toward the Tsungli Yamen, having under him some 30 men. At about 4 o’clock on the afternoon of the 19th of June he received a verbal order of a prince to shoot all foreigners passing along the street. The order was such an unusual one that he considered it his duty to return to the camp and consult with his superior officer, who confirmed the order. He stated that while he did not know the name of the particular prince who had issued the order, he was quite sure it had been issued with the knowledge of his commanding genenal, Prince Ching. He also said that the order was directed against foreigners in general, not against the Germans or ministers in particular. On the morning of the 20th, when he saw the chairs of the minister coming up the street, he ordered his guard to load their pieces, and upon the near approach of the chairs fired himself, when the firing became general. A revolver was afterwards found in the chair, with one chamber empty. The body of the minister was dragged into a side alley and left there until buried, a few days later. The clothing was not removed, nor the remains otherwise maltreated.
I have, etc.,