Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-26
SAYS He
SHOT To AvENGE
GIRLS HONOR
Former Judge Admits
Killing Youth
Elizabeth Loving Takes the Stand and
Tells Pitlful Story of Night
Ride with Her ADJ
mirer
BY Associated Press.

BY Associated Press.
HOUSTON, Va, June 25.-When the
trial of Former Judge Loving, charged
with the murder of Theodore Estes,
adjourned yesterday, the defendant had
begun to relate conversation with his
brother-in-law, Harry Sneed, who told
him of the alleged drugging of his
daughter, which led to the killing, when
the attorney for the prosecution OBJ
jected upon the ground that Judge
Lovings statement would be hearsay
evidence. After lengthy arguments to-
day this objection was overruled, thus
scoring an incidental victory for the
said Mr.. Sneed came to his office and
told the painful story. Mr.. Sneed said
that while buggy riding upon the even
ing previous, he saw Elizabeth Loving
and Theodore Estes out riding.
E. l.. Kidd came to the home of
Stevens and inquired for Sneed, saying
that Miss Loving had returned from
her buggy ride in a bad condition.
Continuing, the witness said: "Sneed
went to the room at Mrs. -idd's and
saw Miss Loving in the bed. She was
delirious and her condition was pitifuI.
Sneed said that in the parlor of the
Kidd home he saw Mrs. Kidd and
Theodore Estes and told them that he
would go for doctor. Estes, however,
insisted on getting doctor himself.
| Dr. Strothers arrived and she did not
recognize him. Harry said that my
daughter was in the care of DR.. Stroth-
ers. He then went down the street
when w. d. Lee, a merchant of Low
ingston and kinsman of ,lis wife told
him that DR.. Strothers had said that
| Theodore Estes had informed him
| (Strothers) that Elizabeth was drunk,
and to treat her for that and say
nothing, of it.
Harry said that he returned home
that night and decided to tell me. l
was shocked and sent for my wife and
daughter. 1 received a letter from Miss
Annie Kidd saying that my daughter
was still there. My wife went after
elizabeth in surrey, returning with
her. I told Elizabeth of the conversa-
tion with Harry Sneed She got down
on her knees and began sobbing and
said that Sunday evening Theodore
| Estes requested her to go riding with
him; she declined, but upon being
urged accepted After they got in the
| buggy they drove to the house where
Theodore Estes lived and he got out
and remained for some time.
Offered Her Whisky
| "They then drove, she said, in the
direction of Gap While returning
Estes produced a bottle of whisky and
offered her drink. She declined, but
later did take a drink, and in a second
felt dizzy and queer. She requested
him to drive fast and return home, in
stead of continuing to Lovingston. At
ter that she became unconscious and
did not know what happened. When
| asked If Estes had assaulted her she
said Estes had forced himself upon her
| and she had only a faint recollection.
This revelation came to me as a
| thunderbolt from a clear sky. I love
nay daughter and no power on earth
could have restrained my hands"
The witness here began to weep.
Several of his relatives also shed
tears. Continuing Loving said:
I'm this condition of mind 1 went out
| intending to put that man to DEATH
got my shotgun and drove along to
Lovingston, but found he was at Oak
Ridge. 1 went to Oak Ridge, where
learned Estes was in a car at the sta
tion. I then turned my horse to liv-
cry stable, got out of the buggy and
loaded my gun. l saw Estes in the
car with two negroes and waved them
aside and said to. Estes: You're the
young man who takes ladies out driv-
ing and drugs and ruins them. I heard
no reply and when he made motion
as to leave the car 1 shot him. 1 then
surrendered to the sheriff
Harry Sneed, who lives upon the Oak
Ridge farm, who is assistant manager
of the estate of Thomas F. Ryan of
New York, was the next witness. He
related that upon the morning of the
tragedy he told Judge Loving that he
had been sent for to see Miss Loving
and found her in a drunken, uncon-
scious condition. He also testified
ebout his meeting Miss Loving and
Estes in buggy.
Elizabeth Loving took the stand at
the afternoon session of court and told
her story of having been drugged and
assaulted by Estes. 1t was pitiful
recital during which she and her rela-
| tives broke down and wept bitterly.