New-York tribune., 1907-06-25
LOVING TRIAL RAPID.
Jprr Is Obtained Prosecution Closes
and Defence Begins an One Day.

Houston "a. June 24.--The trial Of former
Nudge " G. Loving for the murder Of Theo-
DOR Estes {. sequel TO buggy ride which
Estes took with Loving's daughter, moved
rapidly to-day and when court adjourned this
afternoon the prosecution had rested and the
Cefaace had begun its case. The progress in the
trial was remarkable Before adjournment Of
the morning session. jury had been obtained
mostly middle aged men and all but three of
them married. eleven being farmers and one
merchant The taking Of testimony began upon
the reconvenng Of the court, and late this at
fernOon the commonwealth rested its case and
JaGge Loving whose defence IS the unwritten
Law. had taken the witness stand in his own be-
Aaif.
The widespread interest In the case was mani
fest. 4 large crowd present, but perfect
order was observed
Judge Rarksdale convened court promptly at 10
O'clock with the courtroom filed. Judge Loving,
accompanied by relatives and friends, arrived five
minutes before the opening. and were seated just
behind the four attorneys for the defence. Judge
Loving appeared 10 be cool but showed some traces
OF worry and fatigue. At the right of the defend
ant was seated his wife dressed in black, and be-
side Mrs Loving was her daughter Elizabeth. She
appeared much excited and trembed visihly.
Her eyes were watery and she raised her hand
kerchief occasionally TO wipe few she could
not restrain. To the right Of the young woman
was J. NJ Loving farmer Of Amherst County
and brother of the prisoner. On the left OF Judge
Loving seated Miss Annie Sneed, teacher in
The womans college at Lynchburg and sister
Of Mrs. Loving. Others who were seated with
Judge Loving Judge J. Thompson Brown.
j. r. Harrison. Of Jynchburg; w. G. Loving, jr..
and George Fortune, Of Nelson County, who is an
nndle Of Thomas f. Ryan. The last named is
witness for the defence. To the right Of the
Judges bench seated the three prosecuting
attorneys and John 7. Swanson, of Danville,
brother Of Governor Swanson. and brother-n-aw
Of young Estes. On the Swanson side there were
10 women present al tbs opening Of court.
Perfect order observed in the courtroom. and
despite The crowd there congestion. There
WIS IN display Of the idle curiosity and morbid
irIerest which usually characteriZes such trials
During the afternoon session eleven witnesses
testified for the prosecution. The feature of to-
days proceedings was the showing of the hand
OF the defence which is the unwritten law pure
and simple. though this phrase has not been
used 10y the attorneys Of either side. The plea
will be that the victim Of the tragedy had taken
Miss Eliza beth Loving, the nineteen-year-old
daughter OF the defendant out for a buggy ride
the evening prior to the killing. and had,
with the aid Of drugs, maltreated her.
Judge Loving was in the act Of telling about
the conversation with Harry Snead. who first
brought TO him the Information of the alleged
drugging incident, when the attorneys for the
prosecution objected 10 his answering this ques-
fon. After a rather long discussion of the ad-
nissibiiity Of the evidence during which the
Jury was out of the courtroom. Judge Barksdale
at $50 o'clock adjourned court and Will render
his decision on the point involved upon the re-
COnvening Of court tomorrow morning. The
bloody clothing taken from the body of young
Estes and the shotgun with which Judge Loving
committed the deed were exhibited in the court.