Sorority Girls Tell of Tragedy

The Memorandum and Letters Were Turned Over to Father

Girls Did Not Read Them

Miss Inglis Had Taken Strych[n]ine on a Former Occasion. Inquest Was Short

The coroner's inquest on the tragic death of Miss Inglis was held Tuesday morning and a statement made by Prof. Nancredo while on the stand shows that the young lady had made a previous attempt on her llfe.

That portion of his testimony was as follows: "I have known Miss Inglis for four or five years. She was eccentric. I know from statements that from her early childhood she was subject to attacks of was profound mental depression. I have never seen her in these attacks, but I am informed that during these periods she would be mentally irresponsible. I am informed that on one occasion she took strychnine, but it was an overdose and she recovered."

Dr. Nancrede did not say when this occasion was nor who had informed him, nor did Coroner Watts ask these questions.

Contrary to expectations Dr. Nancrede did not touch upon the question of overwork of students in the medical department and no questions were asked along this line.

He stated that Miss Inglis was dead before he reached the sorority house. He said that he put the revolver in the drawer, locked the drawer and gave the key to the young ladies to turn over to the coroner.

Miss EIsie Pratt, of Kalamazoo, told about all the details of the tragedy itself that are known. She testified as follows: "Miss Inglis' room was next to mine, she came to her room about 11:15 o'clock Monday morning. I was in my room at the time. I heard Miss Inglis go into her room and close the door. In a few minutes I heard a pistol shot in her room. I went to my hall door and opened it. Just at that moment Miss Inglis opened her door and come out into the hall and fell on the floor. She tried to say something, but she only mumbled and it was nothing I can put into words. We carried her into my room and put her on the couch and then summoned Dr. Nancrede. I think she lived a half hour after the shooting, but she was dead before Dr. Nancrede got there. She had been mentally depressed and I have known that she had suicidal thoughts in her mind when in these depressed spells. I have seen no letters that she wrote."

Miss Lily T. Roche was the next witness and she was very positive in her testimony. Her room is on the first floor of the sorority house.

"I heard the shot and heard something fall. I rushed upstairs and saw Miss Inglis on the hall floor and a revolver on the floor in her room.

"Then in all probability Miss Inglis came to her death by her own hands?" asked Coroner Watts.

"I know she did," was the positive answer.

"I said 'probably'," suggested the coroner.

"I know she did," she repeated.

"You did not see the shooting," again suggested the coroner.

"l know she did it herself—there as nobody else in the room," said Miss Roche so emphatically that Coroner Watts did not press the argument.

In answer to a question Miss Roche said "Miss Inglis left a memorandum of instructions. I do not know the contents. We put the memorandum in her desk, locked it and turned the key over to her parents."

Miss Frances Waugh was also a witness, but she only substantiated what had already heen said.

During the inquest Miss Inglis' revolver was exhibited on the table. Coroner Watts dismissed the ladies after Miss Waugh had finished.

"Can we have the revolver?" asked Miss Roche.

"Certainly," said the coroner, handing it to them.

The young ladies shrank back. "Will you please take out cartridges?" asked Miss Roche.

They were removed by Juror Manwaring.

"Please take that out, too," suggested Miss Pratt, pointing to the empty shell which had contained the fatal bullet.

Mr. Manwaring did so and it dropped to the floor. Miss Pratt stooped down and picked it up. The young ladies then left with the revolver, the cartridges and the empty shell.

The jury returned a verdict of "Suicide while in a state of mental depression."

The list of the coroner's jury is M. C. Peterson, Frank Warren, Edwin A. Gartee, Thomas Brogan, James Robison and George F. Manwaring. Outside of the reporter and witnesses no one were present.