Pike-Lamar-Bibb County GaArchives Obituaries.....Robert Olin Cotter April 18 1902
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Lynn Cunningham lcunnin1@bellsouth.net March 30, 2004, 7:46 am

The Pike County Journal. Zebulon, Pike County, Georgia, April 18, 1902
Dr. H.O. Cotter Found Dead

Barnesville, Ga., April 13. – 

Barnesville was shocked beyond expression today when it was learned that Dr. 
R.O. Cotter, a prominent citizen and specialist, had been shot and had died 
instantly as a result of the wound. It occurred at 10:45 o’clock this morning 
in his room at the home of Mrs. R.J. Powell near the city limits. It is 
asserted that his death is due to an accident.

The family were all at home this morning and at 11 o’clock Mrs. Cotter went to 
the doctor’s room, which is on the second floor and when she walked in she saw 
his body lying on the floor in his dressing room by a pool of blood. She 
immediately notified the other members of the family and sent for a physician. 
But when Col. Cotter, a brother, who was on a visit from Lagrange, reached the 
body he discovered that life had departed.

The room in which the body was found was Dr. Cotter’s workshop. Here he kept 
his pistols, guns, hunting and fishing implements, a table and various articles 
of this nature with which he frequently busied himself. It is supposed that he 
had been making an examination of his pistol, as he always kept everything in 
perfect condition, when it discharged. The ball, a No. 38, entered about an 
inch below the right ear and came out about two inches above the left ear.

Dr. E.C. Ripley, who was called in, gives it as his opinion that the shot and 
the doctor’s death were almost instantaneous. None of the family heard the 
shot, and were horrified when the discovery was made, which evidently was only 
a few minutes afterward.

 Dr. Cotter was one of Barnesville’s most prominent citizens and was widely 
known throughout the state. For years he was located in Macon, and as a 
specialist in the treatment of the eye, ear, nose he made quite a reputation 
and enjoyed a large practice.

He married the only daughter of the late R.J. Powell, and when Mr. Powell died 
in 1892, Dr. Cotter moved to Barnesville and took charge of the Powell estate, 
becoming president of the Barnesville Savings Bank.

His health became bad several years ago and he retired from business entirely, 
and about three years ago he made an extensive tour of Europe for the purpose 
of recuperation. Dr. Cotter was about 45 years old.

The funeral will occur here tomorrow afternoon.

The people of the entire community deeply sympathize with the distressed 
family, and hundreds have visited the home this afternoon and mingled their 
sorrow with the sorrowing loved ones.

(Transcribed 03/29/04 Lynn Cunningham)

Additional Comments:
At Greenwood Cemetery, (now) Lamar County, Georgia:
Robert Olin Cotter, M.D., b. 28 Nov. 1854, d. 18 Apr 1902
Maybelle Powell Cotter, b. 4 July 1862, d. 13 June 1921

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