Evening star., 1926-09-19
REVENGE MURDER
MYSTERY SOLVED
Disappearance Of Texas
Doctor Results in Arrests.
Body Found in Prairie.
Special Dispatch to The Star.


MATHIS Tex. September lS.-The
strange disappesranc of DR.. j. A.
Ramsey. this villages most prominent
citizen. has been solved.
For four months the elderly and
beloved physician. missing from his
home since May 20, had been sought
by Texas rangers. They found his
hody recently in a shallow grave in
fhe open prairie near the Mexican
border. One bony forearm protruded
above the grave. When the grave
was opened the doctors body was
found In a sitting posture.
And the mystery of his disappear
anee and death. police and rangers
here believe, was further cleared up
with the arrest of II. J. I.eahy. 40.
a law student, once wealthy land
owner here. He and Mexican.
Roberto Martinez. are being held,
Ieahy charged with murder con
spiracy to murder conspiracy to
swindle and kidnapping.
But previous TO. and subsequent to,
The finding of the Doctors body We're
an amazing string of events. Behind
the murder of the doctor. il is be-
lieved. was that most deadly Of emo
tions-revenge.
DR. Ramsey had enjoyed the rep
utation of being the villages leading
citizen. Through his practice of med
icine fame had reached him. Yet he
lived quietly in a little white cottage
with his second wife. Day and night
he attended the Ills of this little com
munity of about 700.
He had one ambition. He wanted
more land, bigger home.
In this same village lived the Leahy
family. They had been sffiuent. They
had owned a fine homestead and
large tracts Of land. But the tide of
III luck swept over them and left the
Leahys on a f1na ncially barren rock.
Thare was only one thing to do: sell
the homestead.
The auction day came and the home
and property was put under the ham
mar. The property, involving 1.100
acres. was valued at $3.50 900. 1t went
for q song. The highest bidder was
DR.. Ramsey.
Within the heart of Leahy, the
law clerk, crept a bitterness. The
doctor became symbolic in his mind
Of the injustice of fate.
On the night of May 90 last. a
Mexican appeared at the door of DR..
Ramsey. He said his family was i'll.
DR.. Ramsey got into his automobile
with the Mexican and drove away.
He stopped at service stations and
purchased oil. That was the last
eral days later his wife received a
postal card. dated May 2l from Bee
VILE, about so miles from here. The
card read:
Dear wife: Had to bring patient
to Veeville May go to San Antonio
with prospect Of selling farm"
The writing on the card was identi
ned by Mrs. Ramsey as that of her
Nevertheless she told police
officers about II. 1t was strange. she
informed them, that her husband
should do such thing.
Then began the series Of amazing
events The doctors car was discoV-
cred tn San Antonio garage. Sheriff |
Hunt and a posse Of rangers and
police began a search for the doctor.
The hunt was futile.
So the authorities took a. step that
was as amazing as any other details
nf the mystery. Although the where. |
bouts of the physician had not been
ascertained, and although there was
no positive indication he was dead,
the authorities arrested Leahy, his
brother. Edward, and another man
named r. NJ. -Dubose. The latter two
were subsequently released. But
sAainst Harry Leahy were placed the
rharges Of murder. conspiracy to
murder and conspiracy to swindle.
Stories had gone through the vii
lage Of the growing bitterness of
Leahy toward the doctor, of his mad
intention to get back his land at all
costs. At the arraignment Of Leahy
in Sinton, near here. the defendant
appeared as his own attorney. After
another long fight he was rearrested
on a kidnapping charge but was set
free on bail.
Interest in the case then began to
lapse. for even q prominent citizen S
fate can be forgotten in the rush Of
daily events. But Sheriff Hunt and
two of his aides. Ranger Aldrich and
Townsend. continued the investiga-
ton.
So one day in August. Sheriff Hunt
was notified the two rangers had ar
rested a. Mexican near the border
city Of Laredo. This Mexican had
admitted a part in the Staying Of Dr..
Ramsey and had implicated second
man, an American.
Early on the morning of August
IS the officers were led to a little knoll
about 800 Yards off we'll Travelled
highway Then the Mexican told this
story, the police say:
he hAQ driven LII. INdIlScN w tHot
little knoll on the night of May 90 and
near there met the American. The
doctor was marched to the knoll.
where a shallow grave about yard
square already had been dug. There.
by the light Of f1ashlight, the doctor
was forced to sign the postcard.
Then Ramsey was struck from he,
hind and his body doubled up and
pitched into the hole. The American
took hold Of the aged>physician's gray
hair. drew back his head and. with
dirk, cut the doctors throat.
II was in that doubledup position
the doctors body was found. Ii was
exhumed and reburied before the lars-
est crowd this village ever has seen
gathered.
Leahy was trailed to fashiona bic
section Of San Antonio. First authori.
ties loca ed his bride and she informed
them of his wherea bouts. That led
to I<eahy's arrest.
Leahy is now I'm San Antonio await
ing trial. Tomorrow he will be re-
arraigned and the date Of the trial will
be set.