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General First nameAndrew Russell
LastnameInglis
GenderMale
CountryAustralia
Date of birth1852-10-01
Place of birthMelbourne, Victoria, Australia
Date of death1894-11-09
Place of deathToorak, Victoria, Australia


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From The Argus, 10 November 1894

Tragic suicide at Toorak – Major Andrew Inglis shoots himself

Keen regret was experienced in the city yesterday when it became known that Major Andrew Russell Inglis had committed suicide at his residence on Orrong Road, Toorak. Those of the intimate friends of the deceased who had met him at Flemington on the day before, or at the Melbourne [Gun] Club on the previous night, were at first incredulous. His manner had been much the same as usual, and certainly none of the symptoms usually present in the behaviour of intending suicides were noticeable. But the intimation of his death was unfortunately correct, and inquiry only served to show how simple were the details of the suicide.

During the recent illness of his wife, Major Inglis had been occupying as a bedroom his dressing-room, which looks out of the north side of the house. He reached home from his club at half past one o’clock yesterday morning, and at about half past eight o’clock Mr Robert Cornish, who lives with the family, went to Major Inglis’s bedroom and told him that breakfast was ready. Major Inglis was still in bed, and he answered, “All right.” Mr Cornish closed the door of the room behind him as he went to the breakfast room, and he and the children proceeded with the meal.

A minute later a noise was heard as of falling crockery, and Mr Cornish sent one of the boys to see what was wrong. The boy returned almost immediately, crying out that his father had shot himself. Mr Cornish went to Major Inglis’s room and found him lying in his nightshirt on the floor. His skull was shattered by a bullet wound, his body was covered with blood and a revolver was lying beside him.

It was plain that the major was dead, but Dr Morrison was sent for to make an examination. He found that death had probably been instantaneous. The revolver ball had entered the centre of the forehead, issued at the back of head and, having struck the wall, had rolled back again on the floor. Mr John Fisken, who lives next door, assisted Mr Cornish in the trying emergency, and reported the case to Senior Constable Carter of the Toorak police station.

The search of the room and the house, which followed, disclosed no papers or documents in any way bearing upon the tragedy or pointing to the conclusion that the major proposed committing suicide. All that was rendered plain was the terrible determination with which the deed had been accomplished. It was clear from the many indications that when he got out of bed Major Inglis had gone to his cabinet, loaded his service revolver (an Enfield) with a single cartridge and then, standing in front of the looking-glass to make sure of his aim, had held the revolver to his forehead with both hands. The left hand was all blackened where it had gripped the revolver to steady the aim, and the looking-glass was spattered with blood.

Senior Constable Carter took charge of the body and reported the matter to the coroner for Bourke, Mr Candler, who intimated that he would hold an inquest concerning the circumstances on the following day at ten o’clock. As already stated, no documents were left behind to indicate the reason which prompted the deed. But it is assumed by the friends of the deceased that financial embarrassment was responsible.

Major Inglis was 41 years of age and he leaves a widow [née Florence Emily Charlotte Tracy] (daughter of the late Dr Richard Tracy) and four children, the eldest of whom is about 19 years of age. He was formerly interested largely in squatting properties and, though at the time of his death he still held some connection with a station in New South Wales, he ceased to be prominently associated with squatting some years ago.

He entered the Victorian military service as a lieutenant in the Field Artillery in 1884. In 1885, he was raised to the rank of captain, and became Adjutant to the Horse and Artillery Brigades. He became a major in 1891, and that rank he held until his death. In the service he was extremely popular with the officers and well respected by the men, and in sporting and society circles he was well known and appreciated.

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Archive statistics Career1879 - 1885
Tournament wins0
Matches4
Match wins1


Tournaments Fifeshire Tournament - 1885 Victorian Championships - 1880 Victorian Championships - 1879