Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1907-04-26
TRAGEDY IN NELSON.
sx.judQe W. G. Loving Of that County
Shoots and Kills Theodore Estee.

Former County Judge w. u. Loving
OF Nelson county, uperintendent o
The estate OF Tnomas f. Ryan, sho
I aud Instantly killed Theodore Estes
aged twenty five, son of NJ. K. Estes
sneIiff OF Nelson county, at Oakridge
Monday afternoon. The weapon uset
was double eled shotgun, loaded
with buckshoG. me attentions OF
young Estes to L0vlng's daughter Ii
said to nave been the cause Vt n,
shooting.
Judge Loving aeUut 3 O'Clock tina
Afternoon drove TO Gle home OF youns
Estes, at LoyingSton. and asked fol
hlm. being LUld .u-.L re Was not there
he drove back to Oakridge and found
Estes at the station looking after the
unloading of Car Of fertilizer.
Judge Loving approached the Car
ana ordered The negroes IL LIE car t.
stand aside. He then opened IRE, the
first load OF shot entering Estes righ,
side. The second striking MN in The
neck, killing him instantly.
| immediately after The shooting udgt
Loving requested Thomas McGinnIs,
merchant and llver5 mau at Oakridge,
to accompany him to LUvingstou, where
| he surrendered himself 10 L b N Pei
kins, a justice of tie peace.
Judge Loving has been managing the
Oakrldge farm near Oakrl0ge for Thos
+. Ryan, of New Yoik, for some time
Estes Was connected with bis father Is
large mercantile, fertilizer. and i'm
plement business, at LovingstOn. L
lie said that be was unarmed at the time
OF the shooting.
Ile principals to- the tragedy are
among Tie most prominent people il
N eison county. Estes was q cOnnec
ton by marriage of Gov. Swanson.
Tuesday morning Judge Loving was
released on $4,000 bail bond by Capt.
Jonn w. Payne, bail commission er of
Amherst county.
The hearing was held at McGinnis
MOTEL. at Cartridge. and two negro
witnesses, who were actual spectators
TO the tragedy, were heard. The bail
BOND was promptly Furnished with FIVE
men as surety and Judge Loving left
The hotel with several friends a few
minutes later and drove home.
He had no statement to make, refus-
ing to talk until the matter shall be
heard in the courts. The full story
was told by spectators at the hearing
for bail. Judge Loving called at the
store of Estes at LoviDgston and not
finding him there, he drove back to |
Oakridge.
He inquired where Estes was. The
later appeared cool, drew a shotgun |
from the bottom of his carriage and |
walked to the depot where he found |
Estes in freight car.
Ju6Oa I,OujnO sajd. $50 Won -ara
out driving with the ladies last night,
were your
Estes, realizing his position, denied
that he was and be raised his hands.
Loving took aim and fired fifteen buck
shot, which entered his right side. The
second charge contained twelve. This
look effect in the head. nearly decapi-
jatiLg Estes.
Judge Loving then said to one OF the
negroes, tits no use, he's dead. 1 shot
10 KILL"
Commissioner Payne made the fol-
owing statement: Loving heard that
Estes had taken his daughter, Eliza
'eth, riding Sunday night and he
brought her home drugged, unconsci
'us and disgraced. Loving waited un-
II he got the full story from the girls
Fps ABOUT tne 0ruSg1ng and assault,
nd then he took his gun and search
d for Estes.
He said when he heard the story
rom his daughter that be was insane +
nd nothing could have stopped him.
When the father of Estes heard of the
ragedy, be started for Oakridge with
ne avowed intention of killing Loving.
when the body was taken home
lrs. Estes tainted and she and three
aughters are now in a bysterical con-
ltIon. The whole town is in an excit-
condition"
Miss Loving, the alleged victim, is
graduate of Mrs. Stuart's school, in
taunton, and is universally popular.
he is IS years old, beautiful woman
the blonde type and OF unusually
andsOme physical development. and
eighs about AS pounds.