The Savannah morning news., 1902-03-26
COL. RAMSAY INDICATED.
Final settlement of Noted Case in
Laurens County.


Laurens County.
Dublin, Ga, March 25.-The good
name Of the late Rev. w. S. Ramsay,
county school commissioner of Laurens
county, has been cleared of the charge
of embezzlement and forgery brought
against it by the county board Of edu-
cation. Instead of finding in favor of
the county board of education, the ar
bitrators gave Mrs. Ramsay a judg-
ment of sos, with interest, salary due
Col. Ramsay at the time of his death
as county school commissioner. AS soon
as the award of the arbitrators was
rendered, a demand was made for the
money by the attorneys representing
the Ramsay estate. A check amount
ing to Sl19. principal and interest, was
promptly given.
Col. w. S. Ramsay, who was one
of the most prominent Masons, edu-
Gators and ministers in this part OF
the state, died about two years ago. At
the time of his death and for more
than twenty years previously, he was
school commissioner of Laurens coun-
ty. A few days after his death a rum
or got afioat that his accounts were
short. The Board of Education en-
ployed an accountant who submitted
a report finding a large sum due the
school fund of the county. The rela-
tives of the dead officer denied that
the accounts were short and pointed
out a number of errors made by the
accountant. The accountant then made
a second report covering a shorter Pc
Rod of time, His report found a larger
amount due the school fund than the
first report. The Board of Education
hes 17anpad SI1if the hnnd
Col. Ramsay in the City Court of At
lanta. Every effort was made by the
heirs of Col. Ramsay to have the suit
brought in the courts of Laurens coun-
ty so that the case could be fought
with as little expense as possible, but
the board declined to agree to this.
Several efforts were also made to ar
bftrate the differences, but the board
also declined to entertain a proposition
of this character. Finally, seeing that
the Board of Education would agree
to nothing looking TO a settlement at
home of this question, a bill was intro
duced in the Legislature relieving the
bendsmen from liability. When it was
seen that this bill would become a law,
arbitration was agreed to by the MEM
bers of the Board of Education
Messrs. ]. 3. Caldwell and c. w.
Brantley were selected by Mr.. John NJ
Simmons representing the Ramsay
heirs. and Hon. ] r. Baggett of this
county, and County School Commits
sioner j. r. Rogers of Sandersyille
were selected by the Board of Educa-
ton. The four thus selected agreed
upon Hon. Dudley NJ. Hughes, presi-
dent of the State Agricultural Society
as the fifth man. Several weeks ago
evidence Was heard in the case, but no
decision was rendered at that time.
This morning the arbitrator met and
went over the evidence and made an
examination of the books. The decision
was soon arrived at by the majority
that Col. Ramsay did not die owing
the County Board of Education any
sum whatever. but that the board was
due him at the time of his death $105.
Col. Ramsay was one of the most
popular men in the state. His funeral
in this city was attended by thous-
ands of people from all over this
country. On the day of his internent
a special train was run from Macon
TO accommodate the large number of
people from that city who desired to
pay the last tribute of respect to his
memory. A large number of knights
Templar came from Macon TO the flu
neral. Hundreds of people also came
from Sandersville, Tennille, Wrights-
vile, Hawkinsville and other towns in
this section.
The members of the county board OF
education are now meeting with much
adverse criticism on account of the
suit The amount involved before the
court of arbitration was $4,000 That
amount of money was deposited in the
Dublin Banking Company by the Ram
say estate. subject to the award of the
arbitratOrg