The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1920-04-23

The Bates family formerly lived at Cashmere. They
came here some two years ago and Bates had been
poyed in the Great Northern saw mill and lived in a
house the mill Recently they moved to house lust
across the railroad yard from the depot short time
back Bates father W. T. Bates aged seventy eight of
California; here visit to the family and it seems
had promised his grandson Owen Bates, son of William
Bates that if he wanted to get married and start in for
himself he (the grandfather) would back him financially
This to have caused friction in the family
William Bates also objecting to his son, Owen marrying
Mrs. Walt But the negotiating for the purchase
of ranch down the valley and left the $50 train Sat
uday morning on business connected with the purchase
William Bates ate his breakfast and soon after the de-
parure of his son, secured revolver Scalibre Colts
army special and went into the sleeping where his
daughter, Georgia, and Mrs Walt still in bed and
the report goes told the latter get up and get
dressed and leave but almost Immediately began shooting
The two clung to each other and some of the bu
lets must have hit them both.
Mrs. Bates, hearing the shooting went into the Sleep
ing and asked in horror of her husband what he
doing and he Immediately turned her and as the gun
empty struck her with the gun repeatedly as she
fed to the kitchen where she fell behind the cook
Bates then went into the middle where his old
father W. T. Bates. had been sitting as witness to the
whole tragedy and bid him goodbye saying that he had
but shell left and that was for himself He then
went into the Kitchen reloaded the revolver with the one
himself he asked his wife to come and turn him over
which she did and he died without aoain speaking.
Physicians were Immediately called and Coroner
Tempeton notified Coroner Templeton arrived at about
noon from Wenatchee and after viewing the scene and
questioning those still alive decided that an inquest was
not necessary However, he made thorough inquiry in
to all details and recorded his findings in his office
So far the Echo is able to ascertain there was no
foundation for the report that Bates was drunk His
father, ". T. Bates said he Whskey about and in
formed the that he and his had slept together
and he seemingly sober 1t does appear as stated
above that the whole trouble over the proposed mar
riage of Owen to Mrs Walt and the money matters and
in connection with this it is said Bates told Mrs Walt that
she should have Of his fathers money and that he
would kill her rather than have her it. Rates is said
TO have been very i'll tempered and to have been mpli-
Gated in quarres having is said been arrested for
assault with knife, but was acquitted
Mrs. Walt was removed Saturday afternoon to the
LeavenWorth hospital She shot in both hands, one
neck and shoulder The daughter was shot lust over
the heart and in the chin the latter bullet ranging back
ward and causing her death
Coroner Templeton called upon Town Hennessev to
for the bodies Of the dead but later in the afternoon
upon the request of Owen Bates the bodies were removed
to the establishment of the Cascade Undertaking. Co at
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