Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1907-07-03

Houston, Va, Special-After be
ing in the jury room As minutes the
jury Saturday evening returned a
verdict of "not guilty" in the case
Of former Judge William G. Loving,
Of Nelson county, and manager OF
the Virginia estate Of Thomas F. Ry-
an, who was placed on trial here last
Monday before the Circuit Court Of
Halifax, Judge William R. Barks-
dale presiding, for the murder Of
Theodore Estes, son Of Sheriff NJ. X.
Estes, Of Ntlson county. Judge Lov-
ing shot aud killed young Estes on
April % at Oak Ridge, following a
buggy ride Estes had taken with the
judges daughter, Miss Elizabeth
Loving, who told her father that her
escort Lad drugged and assaulted
her.
The fi1y retired at 4:45 O'Clock
and from that time until the verdict
was returned the defendant remained
in the seat he had occupied since the
trial began, and surrounded by the
members Of his immediate family
with the exception of his daughter
Elizabeth, who was not present to-
day. At 5:45 O'Clock 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 preserve order and
cautioned the large crowd that had
remained to not give vent to their
emotions when the verdict was an
nounced. The verdict of acquittal
was read by Foreman B. S. McGraw.
Judge Barksdale thanked the ju-
rors for their attendance upon court
at great sacrifices. He declared that
he believed the verdict was in ac-
eordance with the conscientious views
Of the jury.
After the jury had been discharg-
ed, Judge Loving, his wife and other
relatives shook hands with and
thanked each juror.
Tears streamed from the eyes Of
the defendant and his wife. Judge
Loving was congratulated by many
of his friends present, though in ac-
coldance with the warning Of Judge
Barksdale, there was no noisy dem
onstration.
Insanity Basis of Verdict.
Foreman McCraw, a merchant and
farmer, said that when the jurors
entered the room, one Of them did
not exactly understand all of the in
structions Of the court, and these
were read to him. Mr.. McCsaw said
that when he called for a vote, he
requested all who favored tn ac-
quittal of the defendant to hold up
their right hand. On the first bal
lot every hand promptly went up.
When asked what the basis Of the
verdict was he said "Insanity," and
that he and the other members Of
the jury believed that Judge Loving
was out of his mind at the time he
killed young Estes. The stress, he
said, had brought on by the story
told him by his daughter.
No Assault Committed.
The following statement was given
out by the counsel for Judge Low
ing:
asWithin half an hour after the
rendition of the verdict by the Jury
and the adjournment of court counsel
for Judge Loving were called on by
two of the jury who stated that they
had been appointed a committee rep
rescnting the entire jury to convey
to Judge Loving and his wife while
they believed that Miss Loving's
statement on the witness stand of
what she had told her father was a
true account of what she had commu-
nicated to him yet not for moment
did the jury entertain the opinion
that an actual assault had been COM
mitted by the deceased. upon the
young lady, but on the contrary they
were all fully satisfied beyond all
doubt that no actual assault had
been committed, but that there had
been an attempted assault. Counsel
Tor Judge Loving upon being inter-
viewed in this connection said: The
conclusion Of the jury to the effect
that no assault was committed was
correct. -"