The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-02-29
DISPOSED OF LOTS TWICE.
The Records Of The County Court ShtW
Mr. BartOn'S Double -Dea Ing.
THE GRAND JURY MAY INDICT HIM
Next Monday Wcck-No Warrants Issued
as Yet, but Evidence is Being Gotten
Together to Present to the
Grand Jury.

profound sensation was created ~
the publication In Yesterdays Times or
an expose of the double dealings Of Mr..
James II. Barton, the founder OF Barton
Heights and for years one Of the most
highly respected members Of society, both
in that town and in Richmond. where his
business Office is situated. Many refused
to believe the publication, avering that
Mr.. Barton's affairs had become mixed
through careless business methods, and
that he had no criminal intent.
Facts which were brought to light yes
terday. however. show am even worse
state Of affairs tnan had been thought 10
exist, ana prove beyond a shadow OF Il
doubt that dishonest dealings have been
carried on by Mr. Barton for long
time past. Mention was especially made
yesterday OF his practice OF holding back
notes when they were paid and giving le-
cepts Tor sums instead of turning over
the notes TO the drawers. Yesterday an
examination of the records in the clerk :
Office of ttcnrlco County Court showed
numerous Instances where Mr.. Barton ndd
sold the same property twice over.
SOLD TT TWICE.
Notable among these double sales is the
case OF Mrs. Julia A. Schultz. OF Barton
Heights TO whom Mr.. Barton was indebt-
cd for "a large sum. on the 18Th DAY OF
April. 1855. me- decided to Mrs. Schultz.
according Co the records, lots I, :, -, ana
10. Ia block .. and september 10Th fol-
lowing ne conveyed the same lots TO
Mrs. cordelia ID. Carter. wife Of Mr..
Lot 3. in block 3. was decided 20 Judge
Edmund Waidul Jr., and was subse-
quenUy decided 10 the trustees as "A part
OF Mir. BartOn's assets. I'm addition 30
This iorty-seycn lots. which had been
previously decided To Mrs. Schultz and
Mrs. Carter were turned over 10 the
trustees as a portion OF Mr.. Barton
assets, as is shown by comparison Of
the deed OF assignment Win the records
I'm the clerks office.
Not only has a args portion Of The
lots Included i'm the deed tD INC uus.ecs
been previously u ID oilers a.
the deed recorded Lrf jre the asSignnI-l I,
but whole blocks are encumbs cred hy
deeds of trust 20 secure large a'nlunis
borrowed upon them, Though they were
the properly of others, as deeds in the
clerks office show.
MIR. RICHARDSON'S CONFIRMATION.
Mr.. ID. G. Richardson. who is counsel
for one of the sufferers in the case, when
seen yesterday, said that the pubiication
In yesterdays Times was substantially
true. Beyond the fact that the state
ments made were correct, Mr.. W-na-'i-
son could not give any other inf0rmt .on,
as he had not had time to fully look
into the case, but ne had Investigated
far enough 10 ascertain that ttere were
two. and probably three, deeds of trust
pom several lots and dwellings,
Mr.. Richardson said that Il wac oAe
OF the most tangled-up affairs taaf bad
come under his observation for some time
past, and he would probably De several
DAYS upon the case with which he Was
connected. lie said that as sOor as ne
arrived at a solution Of the ma idle be-
would gladly make public the rsaJi'.
u was gtuer trY stated yest"r az MOI D.
Ing that tWO wa. ans had 'ecn issued
for Mr.. BartOn's arrest. bat TINS rImCr.
after Investigation, was found 10 De false.
Mr.. Richardson. when asked what .he
probable course Of procedure would be I'm
The case, said that DE had little doubt
but that Mr.. Barton would be indicted
aH the next grand jury term of Henlico
second Monday in March lie under
stood, he said. that Deputy Clerk Taylor
was getting the evidence against Mr.
Barton In shape for presentation 10 the
grand jury.
WHAT MIR. SANDS SAYS.
Comm0uwealths Attorney Conway r.
Sands was seen late yesterday afternoon
and asked whether he had yet taken any
action in the matter. lie replied.
NO. ! have not. because no direct
charges or Information nave as yet brcn
brought TO my attention, and know notl-
ing further at present about the AFFAIR
than what i have seen I'm the papers.
Of course. as soon as such information Is
given me j shall do my duty, regardless
of who the person charged with crime
As YET none Of the notes which Mr..
Barton failed 10 turn over 10 the drawers
after they had paid them have come 80
light. and many persons are anNiousiy
awaiting "a summons 10 pay them again.
A Times reporter called at The office OF
the Old Dominion Building and Loan
Company yesterday afternoon 10 ascer-
tain whether any Of the double sets OK
notes Of which there are known 10 he
many. had come 10 light. Mr.. Barton's
transactions with this association were
very extensive, covering period or sev-
eral yeals.
THE BUILDING Az
I'm response 10 inquiries. Mr. J. Taylor
Eiyson courteously gave all the iniorma-
ton in his power.
AS soon as I read the publication IN
the morning papers, ne said, 4 M once
instructed one OF my clerks 20 look
through all OF our transactions with Ar.
Barton. / Will admit that / trusted him
implicitly. and / feared that this trust
might have made ms relax in some degree
the strict business principles wnich gov
ern this association. To my relief how
ever, after every transaction mad been
duly investigated, nothing wrong was
MIR Elyson then explained the adj
mirahle workings of the Old Dominion
Company. and how they secured them
selves from loss by never lending money
except upon first mortgage. NO money,
he said. was lOaned until notlce was
received from the clerk or the court
IN WUtfn a Httft was tfhttA'tt ''t ttt y tttrr
that the previous deed upon the property
had been released.
1T is true, however, that many OF the
residents OF Barton Heights have PAID
large amounts Of money upon property,
anu their notes retained by Mr. Barton.
who then raised more money upon the
same property by giving a mortgage.
This he c0ull easily DO. tor no one Nnew
of the fact that the property was not
his legally. there being no records what
ever 10 prove the contrary.
LADIES SWINDLED.
If I were at liberty to tell what /
know about this" said a resident OF
Barton Heights yesterday. the facts
which have already been published would
seem commonplace. ! VIII say. now
ever, that IL is a fact that there are
several ladies' who purchased lots from
Mr.. Barton. who have no title 10 Their
property, although they have paid the
bulk of the money When they made
the purchase they were required 10 give
notes and Mr. Barton declined 10 give
M the deeds until all the notes were
paid These ladies' are consequently IN
fear Of losing ali that they nave paid.
III was stated last night that Mr.. ku-
dolph y. Felthouse, the contractor, VINO
has done a great deal Of building Tor Mr..
Barton in the past would be "A suHerer
ia a considerable amount. This cOuit
not ne verified. The list OF the victims
still grows, but they are averse 10 haN'
ing their names appear IN print. as many
are unable to state positively what notes
are outstanding against them. There
were a number OF callers from The
,-..+ar,i.v tb. odip. NJ e