Pike County  Georgia Newspapers - Milton Pitts and Charles Pitts, Murder, Suicide

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Pike County Times-Journal
Zebulon, GA., Friday, November 23, 1906

Kills Brother and Then Himself

Milton Pitts, who lives near Moore’s mill in the Second
district of this county, on last Thursday killed his
younger half-brother Charles Pitts, and then fired a
bullet into his own heart, dying instantly.

It is said by some that the cause of the shooting was the
intimacy of Charles Pitts with the wife of Milton Pitts.
This, however, is denied by some of the citizens of the
community and is said to be without foundation. It is
said that Milton Pitts recently instructed his wife never
to speak to Charley again but these instructions were
disregarded and on Thursday he went to the home of Milton
for some purpose and addressed some casual remark to Mrs.
Pitts whereupon Milton flew into a rage,  drew a pistol
and fired a ball into the breast of his younger brother,
Charley turned to run and received another ball in the
back and died in a few minutes in a cotton patch near the
scene of the shooting.

After giving vent to his passion and viewing the deadly
result of his rage, Milton placed the pistol to his own
breast and fired and fell dead on the spot.

Mrs. Pitts immediately notified the neighbors and soon a
big crowd had gathered to witness the unfortunate affair.

As to the probable cause of the shooting, another report
has it that Milton had been drinking for several weeks
and was almost crazed as a result of his continued
intoxication.

The family of Pitts’ is a large one and the two deceased
men are sons of Gabriel Pitts.

The unfortunate affair is greatly regretted by the
community.

(Transcribed by Lynn Ballard Cunningham 9/7/02)