Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-24
JURY FOR LOVING
IS QUICKLY FOUND
Little Virginia Town Crowded
for the Trial.
MAY PROVE SENSATIONAL
Daughter of the Judge Appears in
Court.
HISTORY OF THE KILLING
Defendant Is Backed by the Millions
of Thomas F. Ryan and Will
Make Desperate Fight.
Daughter of the Judge Appears in
Court.
HISTORY OF THE KILLING

The trial of former Judge w. G..
Loving of Nelson county for the
murder of Theodore Estes, son of
Sheriff NJ. X. Estes of Nelson, grow
ing out OF buggy ride which Estes
took with Judge Lovings daughter,
began in the circuit court at Hous-
ton today. Judge William r. Banks
dale presided. The session began
It 10 am. Both the prosecution and
the defense announced their read
,ness for the trial.
HOUSTON, Va. June 24-The Loving
trial promises TO eclipse in interest and
sensation the McCue and the Strother- By
waters case in Culpeper. 1t will put to test
again the much talked-of "unwrtten law"
Judge Loving, armed with a double bar-
reied shotgun instantly killed young Estes
while he was unloading car of fertilizer
IN Oak Ridge, on April %. The shooting
was the sequel to a buggy ride taken on the
evening prior to the homicide by young
Estes with Miss Elizabeth Loving the nine
teen year-old daughter of Judge Loving
The girl when brought home had been
drinking, and it is alleged that her escort
had maltreated her. Acting under the i'm
preston that his daughter had been .lruyged
and assaulted, Judge Loving Immediately
went in search of Estes. After the shoot
ing he said: Il shot to kill. Every drop Of
blood in my body called for vengeance. l
would have gone d hundred miles to kill
him"
Backed by the millions Of Thomas F.
Ryan, of whose Virginia estate he has been
orerseer for number Of years, and with
powerful political influence, every device
known to the legal fraternity will be awaited
Of in the efforts of the counsel for the de-
Tense TO acquit Judge Loving. The plea of
the defense Will be emotional insanity and
the "unwritten law The relatives of
young Estes whose family connections ex-
teEd to the governor of this state, will exert
every effort to clear the memory of the
dead man from any stain of wrongdoing.
Miss Loving, VINO has lived in seclusion
since the tragedy. appeared in public yes
terday for the first time. She showed no
signs of her experience. Two special coaches
tense and the other by the prosecution,
brought 10 witnesses and two corps of law
yers here last night. venire of sixty
has been summoned.
Jury Is Secured.
The county people began to arrive here
this morning at o'clock, and up to the
time of calling the court they kept coming
steadily.
While it has been suggested that the de-
Tense would spring surprise at the proper
time, il is almost certain that the evidence
to be offered by the most important wit
ness will be of such a character that it
will serve to shorten the trial and may
bring the end with the present week With
about Ito witnesses in attendance. it is be-
lieVed that fully 30 per cent Will not tes-
tify fer the reason that much they Will be
able to relate is hearsIy.
Judge Clarence j. Campbell formerly of
Amherst county court is here. He has
taken a seat with the newspaper men.
Some years ago Judge Loving was engaged
in the prosecution of Campbell before a
legislative committee. and the impression
prevails that the opportunity TO even up
on the part of Judge Campbell is at hand.
Judge Loving. accompanied by rela-
tiveS and friends. arrived five minutes
before the opening. and We're seated just
behind the four attorneys for the de-
tense Judge Loving appeared to be
cool. but showed some traces OF worry
and fatigue. At the right of tie de-
PENDANT was seated his wife, dressed in
black. and beside Mrs. Loving was her
daughter Elizabeth. She appeared much
excited and trembled vIsibly.
Her eyes were v-ry watery and she
raised her hand occasionally to wipe few
tears she could not restrain. To the right
of the young lady was J. NJ. Loving,
farmer OF Amherst county and brother OF
the prisoner. ON the left of Judge Loving
was seated Miss Annie Sneed, a teacher in
the WOmans College at LynChburg and "A
sister of Mrs. Loving. Others who were
seated with Judge Loving were Judge J.
Thompson Brown, b. r. Harrison of
Lynchburg. w. G.. Loving, jr., and George
Fortune of Nelson county who is an uncle
of Thomas +. Ryan.
The last named is a witness for the de-
Tense To the right of the judges bench
was seated the three prosecuting attorneys
and John p. Swanson OF Danvile. brother
of Gov Swanson and brothcr-in- law of
young Estes On the Swanson side there
were no ladies present at the opening of
court
promptly at 10 O'Clock, and directed the
sheriff to open court. MeSsrs. Lee and
Moore were not present. and they We're
sent for. were also Wood Baldwin and
Daniel Harmon Of counsel for prosecution.
Miss Loving wore white shirt waist,
sailor hat and white veil. Soon after ar
irving In court she began to grow nervous,
and in a few moments she found relief to
her emotions by giving way to tears.
In very few minutes, however. she con-
trolIed herself and regained her COM
posture
answered TO their names. The lawyers for
the prosecution were in place and Judge
Barksdale announced that THIS was a spe
cial term of the court to try the case of
the commonwealth VS.. Loving.
The list of sixteen names was completed
and counsel retired for conference at IL 30
After being absent for an hour counsel
returned TO the court
clerk Craddock then made the usual
statement and read the indictment, Judge
Loving standing erect, his eyes to the
front II was announced that the court
would convene at 10 o'clock. recess at l
10 . for dinner. and continue to $50 in the
afternoon. and at noon, at suggestion OF
counsel. a recess was taken 10 O'Clock.
Ten of the members of the jury are en-
gagged solely in farming. one Is a farmer
and deputy tax collector and the twelfth
man is a merchant. Nine are married
Tnrn. the ages ranging from thirty-two to
fifty-seven years. 1t is a body OF intelli-
gent-looking men, Judge Barksdale ex-