The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-03-04
News from Sc. Thomas.
QUE ST. THOMAS CORRESPONDENCE.


ST. THoMAs, Feb. II, 1858.
Trade Repors-Suspension Of Mes1s Rid0oay, RuM Co.
-Inprisonmere Of John T. Ruhl-His Release-Letter Of
the American Cons, to tie Court Harbr full of Vessels
Yelloso Fsuer, &c.
The business Of this island has been Knocked into q
"cocked hat" by the recent failures America and Eu
rope During past years all the funds used in the pur
chase Of sugar. moasses and rum at Porto Rico and
Cruz, supplied by through the merchants of st.
Thomas. Now, want Of confidence ian epidemic which
has swept the word has closed up all the old chan.
nes of commerce Bills Of exchange cannot be negotiated
as in former timesno merchant will draw, and there
funds TO purchase exchange with were bills thrown
into the market.
The great house OF Ridgway, Ruhl Co., which did
most Of the American business here suspended BY
the by, our commercial community was recently thrown
into unusual excitement by the imprisonment John
Ruhl the managing partner of this firm. The law
prsonment for debt, relic of barbarism, still
THIS colony, and MI Ruh was arrested and imprisoned
house for 600 There some egaty in the proceed
ngs, and consul Major Helm, who watchfu of
the rights Of people, demanded his release As there
oeep interest mantle In the result of this
full application the history of this outrage will be
you copy Of Major Helms letter to the court which does
him great credit and certainly An able production This
letter contains all the facts, well the law ami in
fewer words than could give them.
CoxHERciAL AGENCY or THE U. s. or AsrRroA,(
IsL.sD OF tI TIonAs. Feb l. 1873 )
sR-By the laws Of the United States of America and my
rsIuetons from the proper department Of government
s.Ss % &. s & and al .ss ma
deem them injured ,d or &9pprs.ssssd; &
of John RuS an oasn ns S
your prison contrary your laws The facts oows
:.sS:as: hPiS ss sT i..sa ~
somScSson seseptors The S sold 6y se.ro o Il G.
funds protect the bun and Messrs Rdgway, Ruhl Co,
january John RsS Of the SlP or Rd91sy
island w.s the Of H. g Lundi arrested and in.
sny other legal proceedns hsVins been in,ta,es WITHOUT
no, my wsn 2, intention 70 question Eosf rsh, Allow
which not sy your law guaranteed 70 Danish subjects
Virtue Of his bSrt brief" while he does not lose bis
sitiaenshp right % American protection he is placed
pen%sri s6si pressed . show that By The DanisS law
this court is bound 70 discharge him.
wss Sdn.nse , under
m y a.d s
his bill Of exchange Justification Of the Another
that the Sheriff Or Judge shall not require security
explains and moies The seeming severity arrest with
ipnsdis'sfy amer The arrest
The validity Of the claim Is not and cannot be legally known
until Honor shall render Judgment in brougb,
on The S Of e1change THIS c.nno, be done eecsase legal
sy the statute and the defendant has now been IN
n s S sn S s' % &: os4 ss ns
ors and clearly e The plaintiff has right under this statute
6rs, court which sayssd held The 2th umo,
ing Judgment Sn bis claim, and such sn idea e
for a moment have assumed tha, legal proceed
he &C cersc.s Of he or essr
S s es I are Selos
the subject howeyer Is fact snown % the Court lhs,
bound ofcaiiy 70 notice therefore win not dwell on his
legal sfsT Let
. s. prs.u%ss ter moment . Hsad pI.inaS
s sscoS o. 81 ss p.soS snsc Se
law on bills Of .IcssnSe no, being able 70 pay 90
siea ss hs Is propsry pre- per Sos well
s and
protest. and that BY your laws all the Other creditors have
being sy PC
Sp enf s Asy from s.ns s 40
plaintiff could not however understand appreciate the
sds~sy ss WA ,'f kaS e. wous i' prompt
s' % S..1. e % % s.sss os Ss 's ssr
he Z RuS Spe and Srcs s SssS Failure
% n .s SSSa fore, ESh a , 9 p'S , debt 70 S
Ruhs friends would and The mosey
i s' S,s
tribunal.
rs. oour, Ia. allowed n. .r,s. ~,,, =, III. Law ,our
Honor was bound 70 Do bu, the failure % justly he arrest
by legal proceedings required by law, for the motive
which apparent will be visited By Honor by the
d charge Of the prisoner which conceive you are bound
tO de, under the law will
the proper time such injured
will teach the painn that false illegal impri
though the arrest legal. CHkRIE6 j. HELM
United States Commercial Agent
Mr. Ruhl ~ liberty and actively engaged IN ar
ranging the Affairs OF hh house. and N believed Gd
earnestly hoped that In very few months this old and
respectable firm will resume business and payment, n
there has been oss Of confidence In their integrity
Our harbor has been full OF vessels for the hast two
months IN search Of freshs some hRndred and ny ves
se have let without charters, some hirty FIVE sill hang
on but there little hope OF their geng anything do
and the yellow feverhat West India scourgehas made
descent upon six eight weeks earEer this
| season than usual.
There have been come six deaths from black vonit In
the past week, and there some twenty Eve
/ in hospital and boarding houses.