An Awful Night at the Bates Homestead Near This City
Young Bates Shoots Himself in the Region of the Heart and Will Likely Die.
The Death of Col. Bates.
A Detailed Account of the Terrible Tragedy.
These Two Distressing Events Cast A Gloom Over the People of the Community.

Colonel Bates is dead.

His son, Horace, is lying in an extremely critical condition, with the chances of recovery against him.

The people had hardly gotten over the first shock of the terrible accident that ended the life of one of Bartow county’s wealthiest citizens before they received another, which was perhaps greater than the first, because the wound that Horace Bates is now suffering with was inflicted with suicidal intent….Horace Bates was driven to this attempt on his own life by feelings so acute for his father’s sufferings that it almost, if not quite, reached insanity.

The story, as told, is this:
When Col. Bates received the fatal wound, Horace was almost speechless from horror. During his father’s continued sufferings, his grief surpassed description. Already sick, up day and night, attending the wants of his father, he soon arrived at that mental condition that he was hardly responsible for his actions….At 10 o’clock Friday morning Col. Bates breathed his last. His body was prepared for burial, and, in charge of Mr. Ed Wood, of Atlanta, sent to Newton county, the place of his birth, childhood and early manhood for interment…..From last accounts, received this morning, there is very little change in the condition of Dr. Horace Bates. He is very low and there is a fear that pneumonia will set in, which will probably result seriously. The friends of the young man still, however, hope for his recovery.