Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-05-05
ARRESTOFCRAWF
REAL ESTATE AGENT cHAR0Bu
WITH GRAND LARCENY.
LENT MONEY FOR HaS. psYRoIIsf,|
The Accused Gains That the Trans.
action Was Entirely Regular, auA
That He VIII he Able "a Prove nl~
Innocence.

george f. Crawford. a real estate agent
VINO has been doing business In this city
Tor the past twSnty-three years. was err
rested last night on the charge OF stealing
$500 from Mrs. Catharine Peyronnct. Of
No. 3i6 west Marshall street. and il
locked up In the Third police est atton
awaiting hearing In the Police Court
this morning.
The warrant was sworn out by Mrs.
Peyronnet early yesterday. and Mr.. Cr1w.
ford not being In the city, Sergeant
Orange went up to his home. near Glen
Allen, in Hanover. and served the paper
on him there. bringing him back to the
city on the Z o'clock train.
BAIL WAS REFUSED.
The couple repaired at once to The
Third Station. where Mr.. Crawford was
held. He sent for Mr.. Louis wenden-
burg to act as counsel for him, and tho
attorney Immediately had Justice Crusca-
field and Commonweslth's-Atto Rich
ardson sent for. with a view 20 obtaining
bail for his client. Both officials re-
sponded promptly, but after a consuta-
ton decided that 1t would be Inadvisable
dence Is heard I'm court this morning. The
real estate man was thereupon incar-
cerated in cell, where he spent the night.
Shortly after being put in the cell Mr..
Crawford was called upon by Dispatch
man. who questioned him as to the cause
OF his arrest. At first he declined TO
discuss the matter at all, but finally con-
sented 10 an interview He said in the
outset that there was nothing in the
case that reflected on him. explaining
that he had only done what every real
estate man frequently does-made loans
for his patrons.
THE HUSBANDS EXECUTOR.
From what could be learned hast night.
It seems that Mr.. Crawford was agent
for years for Mr. L. f. Peyronnct. hus-
band of the lady who is prosecuting him.
and at his death Mr.. Peyronnet made
him his executor. He wound up the At
fairs of his estate. and then continued
to act as agent for the widow. About fivo
years ago. or possibly longer. he loaned
$500 of Mrs Peyronnets sloney to two
men (negroes). named Banas. on farm
that he'sold them in Charles City county.
The loan was secured by notes backed
by a second mortgage on the property.
and the interest was paid regularly until
last January, when the Banks brothers
defaulted In their payments.
THREATENED TO PROSECUTE.
Then IL was that Mrs. Peyronnet began
to investigate matters. She placed her
affairs I'm the hands OF Lawyer John =.
Gayle. who had several interviews with
Mr.. Crawford resulting In his threaten
ing to have him arrested if the money
was not forthcoming. tire Inference be-
ing that he suspected Mr.. Crawford OK
colusion with the Bankses.
Mr. Crawford did not visit his place OK
business after this threat was made, put
explained this to the reporter last night
by the statement that he had been IN
| the country showing a prospective Lur-
chaser piece OF property.
NO FEARS oF CONVICTION.
Mr.. Crawford seems not TO fear con-
viction. asserting positively that he VIII
be able TO clear himself to-day. There
seems TO be some doubt. though, as 10
his ability 10 bring the Banks brothers
into court as the Tax-Collector OF
Charles City called on him some timo
ago and told him that the negroes had
left tho property and gone away from
Charles City.
Mrs. Peyronnet could not be seen last
night. and hence her statement could nos
be secured.
MIR. PIZZINrs STATEMENT.
Mr.. w. 3. Plzzini. the junior member
OF the firm of George Il. Crawford q
Co.. was seen, though by the pispatch
representative, and whilst deeply re-
GREETING the unfortunate position OF his
partner, he could throw no light upon
the subject whatever. as the transao'
tions between Mr.. Crawford and Mrs
Peyronnet were all had with Mr. craw~
ford I'm person and some years previous
TO Mr.. Plzz.nrs entrance In the hrms
MIR. Pizzini referred to the fact tnat Mr.
Crawford was the executor OF Mr. rsy-
ronnet and said he presumed that tho
arrest grew out OF transactions connects
ed with the executorsh.p or subscribing
thereto.