The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1907-07-04
JUDGE LOVING
Is NOT GUILTY
VERDICT AFTER TIIIRTY-FIvE
MINUTES IN CONSULTATION.
INSANITY WAS THE BASIS
Tears Stream From the Eyes Of Both
Defendant and His Wife Miss
Loving Not Present Defendant
Congratulated BY Friends.

Houston, Va.-After being out for
thirty-five minutes the jury returned
verdict of "not guilty" in the case
Of former Judge w. G. Loving, of
Nelson, manager of the estate Of
Thomas F. Ryan, who was placed on
trial here for the murder Of Theodore
Estes, son Of Sheriff NJ K Estes, Of
Nelson county. The jury retired at
4:45 and from that time until the
verdict was rendered the defendant
remained in the same seat he had oc-
cupied since the trial begun, sur
rounded by the members Of his i'm
mediate family with the exception Oh
his daughter.
At 5:45 O'Clock a knock was heard
from the jury room and Judge Banks
dale ordered the sheriff to preserve
order. The verdict was read by Fore
man B. S. McGraw.
Judge Barksdale thanked the jurors
and declared that he believed the YER
dict was in accordance with their con-
scientious views.
After the jury had been discharged
Judge Loving, his wife and other rel
atives shook hands and thanked each
juror for the verdict. Tears streamed
from the eyes Of both the defendant
and his wife. Judge Loving was con-
graduated by many of his friends,
though i'll accordance with the warn
ing Of Judge Barksdale there was 10
demonstration.
Foreman McGraw said that when
the jury entered the room one of them
did not exactly understand all of The
instructions Of the court which were
read to him. Mr.. MeGraw said he
requested all favoring acquittal to
hold up their hand. Every hand
promptly went up.
When asked what the basis of the
verdict was, he said:
Insanity" The stress he said,
had been brought on by the story
told him by his daughter.
The day was spent in argument,
the forenoon session being taken up
by counsel for the defense and the
dosing speech by the prosecution be-
ing made this afternoon by the COM
monwealth attorney.
Judge Loving and his wife will re-
main here several days. Most Of his
relatives and the relatives Of young
Estes, who have attended the trial
will leave for their homes tomorrow
or Monday. Miss Elizabeth Loving
will leave shortly for visit to friends
in a distant State in order to escape
notoriety.
The United States postal authori-
ties are investigating the letter re-
ceived by Judge Barksdale few DAYS
ago, purporting to have been written
by 9'black hand" organization,
which threatened to blow him and
the town up if Loving was not con-
victed.
The following statement was given
out tonight by counsel for Judge Low
ing:
"Within half an hour after the rem
dition Of the verdict by the jury and
the adjournment Of court, counsel fol
Judge Loving were called on by two
Of the jury, who stated that they had
been appointed committee repre-
senting the entire jury to convey to
Judge Loving and his wife and daugh-
ter the information that while they
believed that Miss Loving's statement
on the witness stand Of what she had
told her father was true account OF
what she had communicated to him,
yet, not for moment did the jury
entertain the opinion that an actual
assault had been committed upon the
young lady, but on the contrary, they
were all fully satisfied that no actual
assault had been committed, but that
there had been an attempted assault. =
Counsel of Judge Loving upon be-
ing interviewed in this connection
said:
1.-THE conclusion Of the jury to the
effect that no assault was committed
was absolutely correct. =