New-York tribune., 1907-06-30
LOVING NOT GUILTY.
WAS INSANE, SAYS JURY.
Un7critten Lac, Ho7ceuer, Strongest
Plea of Defence.

Houston Va June 29-After being in the
jury room one hour the jury this even
ing returned a verdict OF mot guilty in the
Of former Judge William G. Loving, of Nelson,
the manager of the Virginia estate of Thomas
T. Ryan. who placed on trial here last
Monday before the Circuit Court of Halifax
County, for the murder of Theodore Estes the
son Of Sheriff NJ. K. Estes, OF Nelson County.
Judge Loving shot and killed young Estes
the afternoon of April 90 at Oakridge, follow
ing q buggy ride that Estes had taken with
the judges daughter, Miss Elizabeth Loving,
who told her father that her escort had drugged
and assaulted her.
The Jury retired at 445 o'clock and from
that time until the verdict returned the
defendant remained in the same seat he had
occupied since the trial began, and surrounded
by the members of his immediate family with
the exception of his daughter, who was not
present In the courtroom to-day. At 5:4J o'clock
a loud knock was heard on the door of the jury
room. and Judge Barksdale who had taken his
seat on the bench. ordered the Sheriff to pre-
serve order, and cautioned the large crowd that
had remained to be quiet when the decision
of the jury announced The verdict was
read by the foreman. b. s. McCraw. Judge
Barksdale thanked the jury for its attendance
upon court at. great sacrifices, He declared that
he believed the verdict in accordance with
the conscientious views of the jury.
After the jury had been discharged Judge
Loving his wife and other relatives shook
hands and thanked each juror for the verdict
Tears streamed from the eyes OF botn the de-
fendant and his wife, Judge Loving was con-
graduated by many OF his friends present,
though in accordance with the warning OF Judge
Barksdale there was no demonstration In the
courtroom Mr.. McCraw a merchant and
farmer 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.. McCraw said that when called
for the vote he requested all who favored the
acquittal of the defendant to hold up their
right hands. on the first ballot every hand
promptly went up. When asked what the basis
OF the verdict was he said: INSANITY and that
he and other members of the jury believed that
judge Loving was out of his mind at the time
ne killed young Estes. The stress. he said. had
been brought on by the story told 10 him by
his daughter
The day was spent in argument. the forenoon
session being taken up by counsel for the de-
fence, and the closing speech by the prosecu-
ton being made this afternoon by Common
wealth Attorney Bouldin.
Messrs. Barksdale Moore and Lee for the de-
fence. spoke practically along the same lines.
They pleaded for an acquittal, on the grounds
that Judge Loving was insane at the time he
killed Estes, naNlnB IOSI COnIOi OF nIlSeIS upon
hearing the story OF the ruin of his daughter.
Elizabeth They dwelt at some length on the
testimony OF the insanity experts and the
cessive drinking OF whiskey by the defendant
some years ago. which It was claimed, had af-
fected the brain. The real basis Of their argu-
ment however, the "unwritten law" They
spoke OF the preservation OF the sanctity Of Vir-
ginia homes declaring that any man who IN
vaded the threshold and despoiled woman had
forfeited his claim on society
NJ Ilo,,f Ily 70 +ha inp NJ for hn
state. contending that Judge Loving was en-
tirely sane at the time Of the killing.