Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-18
REALTY AGENT CHARGED
WITH DEFRAUD|NC WIDOW
Police Arrest Ashby d. Ramsay
President of Ramsay Realty
Company, Inc.
ALLEGES THEFT OF ss,275.55
Mrs. Laura B. Bussard Swears Out
Warrant Charging Him With Steal.
ing Money Placed With Him for
Investment.

Charging that she was made de.-
'itute by the manner in which
Ashby d. Ramsay, president of the
Ramsay Realty Company, Inc, with
offices In the Virginia Railway and
Power Building, handled the funds she
gave him for the purchase OF three
lots and the building Of a bungalow on
Monument Avenue in Colonial Place.
Mrs. Laura 3. Bussard. formerly OF
Cumberland. Md, but now living hero.
yesterday afternoon caused the arrest
or Ramsay on two warrants.
The warrants charge him specifically
with stealing $3.275.55 and with the
theft of negotiable not, payable to
Ramsay within three years, for ST.
5Oi7O. Ramsay was arrested by De-
tective Sergeant Wiltshire and Detec-
tive Bryant on East Franklin Street
yesterday afternoon and locked in the
First Precinct Station. where he is now
being held. without bail, for his an
pearance In the Police Court this morn.
ing.
Ramsay Is said to be we'll known in
real estate circles in this cit-. lie
here several years At one time he
berland.
He was employed as travelling
salesman for some time. but ,rost of
his operations have concerned real es-
tate, he said last night His father ia
vice-president of the company and T.
* Thomas is secretary and treasurer.
CLAIMS THAT Loss
HAS LEFT HER DESTITUTE,
Mrs. Bussard says she has been made
destitute by the loss OF the monev
handled by Ramsay. and that she is
dependent upon the small salary re-
ceived by her son, who was employed in
his office. The boy was promptly dis
charged by Ramsay late yesterday af-
ternoon.
Mrs. Bussard Yesterday informed
sergeant Wiltshire that she had been
approached by Ramsey regarding the
purchase of the lots here while she
was living in Cumberland. She mort
gagged her home there for $4,000. and
with the cash She had in bank paid
him s3,27555 to buy her the three Co
lonial Place lots and to build her !,
bungalow on one of them The cost of
the lots was S1.sOO. and the remainder.
with an additional sl.5o4.70. for which
she gave her note. was 20 be used for
the building OF the bungalow.
BORROWED MONEY TO
COME TO RICHMOND
Considerable time elapsed after Ram
sey left Cumberland before Mrs. Bus
sards suspicious We're aroused Dur
ing that time she had written him a
number Of times asking when the
bungalow was to be completed, and
each time he had replied that work
had been delayed. and that the house
was not yet ready for occupancy.
Finally she decided TO come to Rich
mond, and. on borrowed money, she
made the trip here.
She arrived. she said. to find affairs
In state OF chaos. Mrs Bussard
claims that the house had been finished
FOR some time previous to her reaching
this city She said that il cost approxi-
mately S2.a00, and that there was a
diherence OF si7h between this amount
and the sum she had paid him. for
which no return had been made. In
addition to the alleged discoveries. she
learned that Ramsey had twice mort
gagged the property In his own name.
and that the builders had secured n
mechanics lien on the house because
they had not been able to get their
money.
sWEARs OUT WARRANT
FOR RAaISAY'S ARREST
AIRS. Eussard at once communicated
with Attorneys rage and Pulliam. OF
South Richmond. and placed the mat
ter in their hands. They took steps TO
attach everything belonging to RAM
CONTINUED on Second PnRn0