The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-01
HUGH HARRISON
SUES MRS. RAMSEY
Charges Owner of Westover
With Writing Insulting and
Abusive Letter.
ASKS COURT FOR $4,000
Charles City County Greatly
Excited by Charges and
Countercharges.

suit mas been instituted IN inc
Charles CITY County Circuit Court BY
Hus;h r. Harrison, scion Of ono of the
Oldest families of Virginia, against
Mrs. Charlse II. Ramsey. owner OF
Wostover. n famous James River plan
tntion. established by william Byrd.
founder OF Richmond. and formerly
the home Of tho Drewrys. The action
is for alleged SANDER. brought under
a special statute covering insulting
words. Damages arc sought by the
plaintir in tn. sum of $4,000.
The basis of the suit is a letter al
logged TO have been written by Mrs.
Ramsey to Mr.. Harrison. in which 1T IS
charged by the plaintiff that she used
language calculated 10 bring about n
breach Of the peace. and that she
wrote and published malicious and In
officials and others. Ali of the writ
tsi, words. the plaintiir AYERS. are such
aS, from their usual construction ana
common acceptance. are construed as
insults, and tend TO violence and q
breach OF the peace. and by their
means. he asserts. ne was greatly In
jurcd IN his name. fame and credit.
and his feelings were outraged, and he
has been humiliated in the eyes of tho
public.
Mrs. Ramscy'n Letter.
The letter which IS alleged to have
been written by Mrs. Ramsey is quoted
In fun In the declaration as follows:
Westover, Va. August u. 1919.
II. r. Harrison,---I a!u Informed uDon
reliable authority that for some time
past YOU have frequently, publicly and
vchcinently declared your intention To
break mp the post-ofiicc at Westover
ana that YOU have also told residents
of the county that same breaking
-Isrt II. ,,..,
no knowledge as TO what violent
means YOU may propose TO effect this
end: whether by ike. explosives. etc.
Thcrciore you arc hereby notified
By me, in my official capacity as post
master Of said office, that your pres
cncc or appearance ut Or near said Of
flee. wharf or road. viii be viewed with
suspicion. and In th" light OF a menace
10 nv personal safety, and 10 III.
safety OF the post-otiicc building, it's
tents icf SAID building, some OF which
are the property OF the United States
government And thu, you NAV have
no good reason to appear near said
Office or wharf. owing to the fact that
YOU ere on the line OF :; new rural
route for mail delivery, YOU are also
notified that no freight OF any kind
Whatsoever from or for YOU or mem
bers Of your household will be received
or handled by me or by my employees
u
n" commemorative attorney In pub
lic court to refrain from trespass.nc
upon Westover plantation or annoy
Ing ITS owners; and "A copy OF this no.
iice Is being sent to him, two Justices
OF the peace, 10 the Virginia Naviga-
lion Company. the Post -Oiticc Depart
nent. and 10 the Speaker OF the House
OF Delegates, ,he Hon. r. T. Byrd.
Sisned) c. III. RAMSEY, u. NJ
Able Counsel on Both Sides.
The suit viii come up for trial early
next month before Judgs -. Gardiner
TYLER. in the Charles City COUNTY cir
cut Court II f. expected that the
case viii be hard fought, ana Well
kno"n counsel have been employed Nv
b"th sides. For thc plaimtif, III. NJ
H'nith' Jr and Irving T. Campbell will
APPEAR ana the defense will be con-
Quoted by Richard Evelyn Eyrd and
Charles V. Meredith.
Charles City society is aroused over
the case. and IL is the chief tonic az
conversation on account of the promi-
nence of the parties involved. II is
expected that the courtroom will be
crowded when the ease is called for
trial large number Of persons
prominent socially and politically
throughout the State will be called as
witnesses.
Hugh 7. Harrison, the plaintiff, is
descendant OF the family which hass
furnished two Presidents OF the United
states. William Henry Harrison and
BenJamin Harrison. He is related to
many prominent families either b-
blood or descent. His sister married
Major Clay Drewry. by whom West
over was sold To Mrs. Ramsey after
having been in the possession Of the
family fer several generations
Mrs. Ramsey is practically a new
conner In this section Of the country
having purchased the famous James
River plantation about seven years ago
She is a native Californian. and be-
fore her marriage to MIR. Ramsey, was
the widow OF John Harrald, owner OF
an immense Western ranch She has
been divorced from her second hus-
band Tor 81 number of years.
Iins MOdernized Estate.
Mrs. Ramsey is recognized AS a
woman OF strong personality. and the
estate under her management has made
wonderful progress. The homestead
fine old Colonial mansion, was eject
ed by Colonel William Byrd early in
the eighteenth century, and is one of
the best examples of Colonial archi-
lecture In America. The house over
looks the james River. and is pointed
out TO every traveller on the river
The house has been thoroughly over
hauled and modernized. and is one of
the most famous homes In tho Old
Dominion. Within n few miles OF the
plantation is Lower Brandon, Upper
Brandon, Berkeley and other famous
estates.
Just what has caused the breach be-
tween Mrs. Ramsay and Mr.. Harrison
is not known. but 1t is said to be of
long standing. Mrs. Ramsey has In
stalled private post-ofce on the
plantation and has n private wharf
which is used by the Virginia Naviga-
tior Company and Old Dominion
Steamship Company for landing pas
sengers and freight for nearby points.
Mrs. Ramsey had herself appointed
pcstmistrcss, and the office is oper-
ated by her employees.
Since coming here seven years ago,
Mrs. Ramsey has done considerable
entertaining at Westovcr. She has
three children. one OF which recently
made her debut. and 1t was made tho
occasion of a large house party
Richard Evelyn Byrd, who repre-
sents Mrs. Ramsey. Is n lineal descen-
dant Of Colonel William Byrd, the