Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1895-09-13
IN TWINKLE OF AN EYE
The Life of Young Theodore
Bates Is Snuffed Out.
FOUND DEAD IN HIS Bgp-R00M

with Ghastiy Guushot Wound Over
His Heart-Death Was instantaneous
The Cause at First Thought 90 he
Suicide but Further Developments
Roint TO Accld Mt.
A lamentable tragedy, OF which @
Theodore 4. Bates, eldest son OF Hon
George II Bates. and one OF Whining
ton's best known and most popular
young men WAS the victim, occurred
this morning at the residences of Ferdl
nand l. Gilpin, No 1904 BrOome street
The exact circumstances connected
With the young man's death are not
known, further than that II resulted
from gun shot wound In the heart At
6rst 10 was thought TO bs a case Of
suicide, but later circumstances led to
the belief that it WAS an accident
The unfortunate young man WAS on
visit at Mr.. Glpin's house, that gentle
man being his unele. He had for some
time been q student In the Office Of
William Henry Rawle, the prominent
Philadelphia lawyer, and came TO VIII
mington on his visit. day before yester.
day. Last evening he appeared Ia an
unusually happy mood and spent the
hours before bedtime oonversing with
the family. He slept alone occupying
bis cousins bedroom.
This morning he arose In good spirits
aud after talklug with his cousin. Rms
sell Gilpin, went TO the bath room and
after taking bath retired to his room to
dress for breakfast. shortly after 8
o'clock. not having answered the sum
mons for breakfast. bis cousin went TO
the room where be was met by the terrible
sight OF young Bates's body lying on the
foot OF the bed, dead. with gaping wound
In his left breast. Immediately over bis
heart A single barreied shot gun lay
on the floor a. the foot OF the bed where
Il had evidently falleu. DR. Draper was
az OIL co sent for, aud the coroner noti-
fed. Dr. Draper examined the body and
decided that death was instantaneous
Deputy Coroner Chandler viewed the
booy and will hold an inquest this after
noon.
de was dressed ready for breakfast.
The powder used was Of the smokeless
variety leaving no smoke aud making a
report which could not DO heard, owing
to the fact that the water was running
In the bath room adjoining At the time
OF the shooting ths Gllpin family aud 4
brother Of the young man, DaLiel, we're
In the house
Prior to the shooting Russell Gllpln
and Mr Bates had been talking Of going
reed bird shooting, and had examined
guns and ammunition for their trip The
gun with which the fatal wouad was
Inflicted had been chosen by Mr. Bates al
his weapon.
Hon George Il Bates, the father Of
/ the young man, was on bis way "a
/ Philadelphia on business when the
shooting occurred, bat returned At once
The mother Is visiting With relatives IN
Massachusetts,. and a Telegram wan sent
her at once.
@. Theodore R Bates was a nephew oi
ex Governor Russell, OF Massachusetts
and WAS born In Wilmington May l. 1871
de attended school at Ragby Military
Academy In this city, and later Phillips
Academy, Exeter, Mass, where he wal
fitted for Harvard He was graduated
from Harvard In 1892 with the
degree Of a. b and then registered
as law student. He entered hil
fathers oai 30, aud In few
months would have entered foi
examination. BE was a very bright and
zsalous student, and was highly respected
by older members OF the bar Durinl
the Worlds Fair, he had charge OF th'
Harvard exhibit, aud in that capacity
made many friends who will learI
OF bis untimely death with sorrow.
He WAS an athlete Of no mean abiiii,
aud held the championship as a mill
walker. He contested IN nunbsr o
races, winning many Of them. His las
race WAS in New Jersey about two ear
ago. when be lost Eve mile walk through
au unfair decision. He then announced
his decision to never again enter con
test
He was a stauuch Democrat in politics
and for man OF his age took grea
interest 10 party matterB He was th
organizer of the First Voters Democrat
Club. in 1892. aud It's president uatil I
WAS merged into the Y NJ d @.
Hon George Il Bates. father OF th
Young man, is son Of the late DAnle
N. Bates ard was graduate frou
Harvard Law school. De is one OF th
best known lawyers az the Delaware bar
and has been leader Ia the Democrat
party He was a member Of the specla
commission TO investigate the politics
/ ANuAANlNM VI 1AaAANAf IA AHHNl &AA 1'1ANN'
in the negotiation Of a treaty with tbs
kingdom.
What He Told Lawyer.
Il saw Theodore Yesterday" rsmarke
one Of the leading members Of the bar {
an EvEEIEG JOURNAL reporter shortl
before noon to- day. "He seemed to
In the best of spirits He told me tbs
he had been spending a few days wit
his mother at Newburyp,rt, and was {
be the guest Of his uncle, Mr.. Gilpir
for some time. During the conversatio
he remarked that he and some frlond
we're going out for reed birds to-day
This leads me 10 believe that it was a
accident. pure and simple"
Arrangements for the funeral have nc
yet been made
Mr. Crook and the Count.