Evening star., 1939-12-15
Couple Found
Shot 10 Death
lin 18th St. Home
Coroner Certifies
Romsoy Tragedy as
Murder-Suicide
Pictures on Page BIZ

William Ramsay, 77-year-old re-
tired jeweler, and his wife, Susan
Ramsay, were found shot to death
today in their three-story home at
3053 Sixteenth street NV.
Coroner A. Magruder Macdonald
said Mr. Ramsey shot his wife with
.38-caliber revolver and then
turned the gun son himself. A cer-
tiflcate of murder and suicide was
tragedy occurred some time last
night Dr. Macdonald said
Mrs. Ramsay's body, with two bull
let wounds in the chest and another
in the head, lay in the kitchen
downstairs, the coroner explained,
while Mr.. Ramsay's body, a bullet
wound in the temple, was found in
his wife's bedroom on the second
floor The revolver was found be-
side Mr.. Ramsay according to the
police.
Detective Sergt. jeremiah Flaher-
ty said that Mrs. Ramsay's body
apparently had been dragged from
the small hall connecting with the
dining room.
A bullet was lodged in the dining
room wall the detective sergeant
added making a total of five shots
fired. Gas still flowed from a jet
in the upstairs bedroom, the officers
declared. and the smell of gas filled
the large frame house.
Maid Finds Doors Locked.
Discovery of the tragedy was made
about y am. by the Ramsays' COL
ored maid, Virginia Fultz. She told
police she came to work about 80
and found all doors locked After
trying unsuccessfully to gain en-
trance, she appealed Tor aid to the
Rev. James H. Taylor pastor Of
the Central Presbyterian Church,
who lives nearby. The clergyman
sent the church jani-or, Charles
Lawrence, to the Ramsay residence
with the maid, and they saw Mrs.
Ramsay's body through the kitchen
window. The janitOr broke through
the rear door. confirmed what he
had seen from the outside. sum-
AA~4-No POAiNS dllo NdllSu OUTSIDE
until officers arrived.
Save for roomer. who lived up-
stairs. the Ramsays lived alone.
nelghbors said. The name of the
roomer, reported to be a Govern
ment employe, could not be learned
Immediately.
Inc house was moved to its pres
en- tlOcation when Sixteenth street
was extended many years ago. Il
originally stood farther to the south.
A skilled matchmaker, Mr.. Ramsay
had lived in Washington for 40 years,
friends said. He was life member
and former vice president of the
theological Institute. organized
shortly after the World War by the
National Research Council to de-
velcp time mechination.
For many years Mr.. Ramsay had
a leWeiry shop in the 1900 block
OF F street NV He was regarded
as one Of the most expert watch
craftsmen in the country. Many
famous Government officials and
statesmen were his customers over
a long period
Mr.. Ramsay had invested in
Washington real estate and at one
time was we'll to do. Friends said
ne lost heavily during the depres-
sion, after his retirement from
business.
A year or so ago he suffered a
general breakdown and underwent
series OF operations at Emergency
Hospital. Friends said he had
never recovered his health.
Learned Trade in Glasgow.
Mr.. Ramsay was born in Chicago
Of Scotch parents. When he was a
young man he went to Glasgow to
learn the watch trade from an
uncle. He settled in Washington
soon thereafter and went into pusi-
ness for himself.
He became interested in the Hor.
illogical Institute through a friend,
Paul Moore of the National Re-
search Council. The lack of men
sklllfully trained in the science of
time mechination was felt during
the World War and this resulted
in the establishment of the insti-
tute.
Mr.. Ramsay Joined it in 1921 when
it was first organized and in 1927
he was elected vice president, an
office held for some time. His in
terest and promotion of the insti-
tute caused him to be made a life
member He did a great deal, it
was said, in arousing the interest
OF watchmakers throughout the
country in the work the institute
was doing scientifically