The herald., 1896-10-22
Failed to Save James Lowe
From Disgrace
EARNED THE WAGES OF SIN
And Drew All His EARRINGS 10 q
Lump
James Lowe, Charged With vagrancy,
Kills His Mistress and Then Blows
Out His Own Brains

Associated Press Special Wire
SACRAMENTO, Oct 21.-At o'clock
this morning James Lowe shot and ia
tally injured Addie Shilling, or Gertie
Stonehouse, and then blew out his brains.
The tragedy took place in the lobby of
the police court, where Lowe was going
to stand trial on the charge of vagrancy.
Lowe was the son of ex-senator Lowe
of San Jose.
The young man has been living here
for several months with the Shilling
woman, who is reputed to be prosti-
tute. She was to have been a witness
against him in vagrancy case. When
she was shot she had in her hand some
threatening letters, which Lowe had sent
her, demanding money from her. The
police say Lowe formerly lived with the
Shilling woman at San Jose, and they
hint she knew something about an arson
case in which he is suspected having
been involved. The fear that she might
expose him is said to have driven the
young man to desperation. Loves body
is now at the morgue.
The young woman was shot twice in
the breast and died in the receiving
hospital this afternoon. A short time
before her death she regained conscious
ness, but she was unable to speak. The
two bullets which had been fired at her
pierced both her lungs.
Hon. j. r. Lowe of San Jose tele-
graphed to Coroner Clark this afternoon
to embalm his sons remains and place
them in a handsome casket.
Since the tragedy number of letters
have come to light, showing that young
Lowe had threatened to kill the woman
and then end his own life. From the
tone of his letters it is inferred that the
woman had caused him to lose position
in San Jose; had been the cause of his
wife deserting him; had caused him to
suuander all his money upon her and
then, when he was financial wreck, she
had cast him off. The police claim to
have evidence to prove that Lowe burn
ed down his house in San Jose to get
the insurance money for the woman he
killed. % - pears she knew of this,
and fearing tnat she had or might betray
him, he decided to silence her by killing
her. 1t is known now that he had been
lying in wait for her for several days
with loaded revolver in his pocket
Lowe was to have been tried in the po-
lice court today for vagrancy upon
complaint sworn to by the woman he
killed. But that complaint was to have
been dismissed today and he would have
been required to give bonds to keep the
peace. he having sent her letter threat
ening her life.
There are conflicting stories here about
the relations of Lowe and the young
woman. His friends allege that he kept
her we'll supplied with money and on the
other hand it is declared that the woman
supported him.
Senator James r. Lowe of San Jose,
whose son, James, Lowe, today murder
cd Annie Shilling and then committed
suicide arrived in Sacramento tonight.
The senator is completely Frustrated
over the tragedy. To the Associated
Press correspondent, he said the affair
would completely crush the members of
his family and would no doubt cause the
death of the boys grandmother, who
had raised him, and who was aged and
i'll.
Jimmy was of most sunny disposi-
tion," said Senator Lowe, land he was
proud spirited. l have no doubt what
ever that when the iron doors of your
prison closed upon him and a charge of
vagrancy was placed against him his
proud spirit was completely crushed, and
he determined to die rather than face
disgrace. His wife was noble little
woman. We were deeply grieved when
Jimmy deserted her to go away with that
unfortunate woman who lies out there
in the coffin. 1t was mad, uncontroll-
able infatuation which he had for the
woman"
Senator Lowe said there was no occa-
sion whatever for his son to suffer for
money. 1t had never been denied him.
He knew where to get all he needed.
The senator said there was absolutely
no truth in the assertion of the detec-
tives that James Lowe had set fire to his
residence in San Jose to get the insur-
ance money.
The remains of young Lowe will be
| taken to San Jose tomorrow for inter-
| ment.