The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1907-07-02

i.5I,ss oseGsioasliy Rhed BIZ handsss
.i'isf 70 hi, rieS. but displdl ri httis
emotion. His wife wept. aud. With
bowed head, cOsered her ewes with nor
handkerchief
ruE VERDICT.
After being in the jury room forty Eve
minutes at Houston the Jury late Satur-
day returned verdict OF mot guilty" in
the cA-- Of iDrmer Judge ". l. Loving
of Nelson county. charged with the muir
der of Theodore Estes. Insanity was the
ground OF acguittal
Within hall All hour after the rendering
of the verdict and an. a. iournment of the
court counsel for J idge Loving We're
called on 10y two of the Jury, who stated
TINT they had been appointed "a commit
tee representing the entire jury. " HI con
vcyed To Judge Loving ana his wifi. and
daughter the Information that. while
they believed that Miss LovinS'S state
meDt upon the witness stand of what
she had told her father was "A true A.
count of what she had com
municated To him. yet not tor moment
dill the jury entertain the opinion that
an actual assault had been committed
by Estes upon tie young woman. but.
on the contrary. they were fully satisfied
/
had been committed. bur that there had
been an attempted assault.
CoNFIuNfEu N Defense
Counsel for judge Loving said.
The conclusion OF the jury 10 the effect
that no assault was committed was alb
/ sOlufely correct
! Judge Loving issued statement say
ing that he had been confident he would
never be convicted. and that the verdict
was no surpri-e. He will return to
Nelson county and resume his manage
rnent of the Ryan estate.
! Judge BSrksdale cautioned the crowd
10 be quiet and not display their emo
tions when the decision of thu Jury was
announced
! When the clerk finished reading the yer
I dict Judge Loving turned - his wife and
| tenderiy kissed the won an who has
stood 10y him
His counsel congratulated him and
hundreds of friends followed suit. As
soon a. he could do so. Judge Loving.
accompanied by his wife and her sister
went 70 the jury box and shook hands
with the men who had declared him
guiltless OF the murder OF Estes
Judge Barksdaie thanked the Jurors
Tor their attendance upon court at great
sacrifices. he declared that he believed
the verdict was in accordance with the
console utious views OF the Jury.
| Judge Loving and his wife and sister
returned 70 their hotel. " here the dnuch-
/ ter, Miss Elizabeth. was remaining in
| her room. The girl was weeping with
I JOY as her father aud mother walked No
the steps. and ia an instant she was in
her fathers arms, her tears testifying TO
her gratitude that he was a free man.
John 2. swanson. brother-in-law Of
Theodore Estes, who was killed. issued
the following statement:
The statement in the press that ". X
Estes would qualify as an administrator
OF Theodore Estes. deceased and enter
suit against Judge Loving Is a mistake
Neither Mr.. Estes. nor the family has
ever entertained or contemplated a suit
against Judge Loving. We had honad
that the court would admit the evidence.
of the Commonwealth a. offered hy Mr.
Harmon, which would have vindicatad
Theodore Estes Of the charge Of assault
aud have established that no assault
was committed or attempted. and that
no indignity was offered Miss Loving"
IL i reported that the Estes family
l. preparing a statement setting forth
what they hoped to prove concerning
the drive taken by Estes and Miss Low
ing. had their testimony not been ex-
eiuded- His friends stii adhere TO the be-
iiei that h IN no WAY wropged the
the girl
The attorneys UhO spoke SATURDAY.
We're ". +. Barksdale. r. Walton Moore
and John l.. lie for Loving. Common.
wealth'- Attorney Wood Bouldin clos
ing for the prosecution.
Judge Loving and his family returned
10 their home Sunday.