The New York herald., 1870-09-09

A Lunatic Fire WOrshipper on His
Travels.
Stranger in Strange Land-Alleged Misap-
preparation Of His Loose Cash-Legal
Proceedings Instituted.

young Parsee gentleman, about twenty-e eight
years OF age, arrived Ia New York per steamship
City Of Brooklyn some five months aoo ana took
up his residence temporarily at the Ftfth Avenue
Hotel, registering his name as Bomanjee Byraniee
COlah, Parsee merchant Bombay. After a very
brief sojourn Mr.. Coah engaged apartments at the
Honman House. His property consisted Of sundrv
vallses containing wearing apparel, &C., and ten
boxes containing gold coin, which boxes were se.
cured and sealed In the usual manner. During his,
stay at the Hoffman House his demeanor was that OF
a quiet and unObtrusive gentleman, his habits being
regular and orderly On the Sth OF June he attended
the representation of some
INDIAN SPECTACLE
at Niblo's theatre and, during the performance,
lost control of himself so far as to render necessary
his removal from the house. Having been taken
before Justice Bowling he was pronounced to be Of
unsound mind and sent to Bellevue Hospital The
counsel for the British Consul Mr.. Plerrepont Ed
wards appeared on 2sth June to have the case nves
tgated, on which application q commission was
issued by the Court OF Common Pleas The inquiry,
however was twice postponed by desire Of the pro-
pret0rs OF the HOFFMAN House. until at last the case
was heard and witnesses examined on 14th July the
jury finding verdict that Mr.. C0ah was of uns0und
mind and unnt to look after his affairs. Upon this
finding the Court appointed their own clerk. Nath-
anie Jarvis. Jr., committee OF estate and Mr.. G.
jones' clerk IN the Holman House, committee Of
person.
1t may be observed that the
belonging to coan Sonsansd CO. nine of nem
1900 s;sU each ana the soeh tenth one only - $500.
of the larger boxes and removed the gold
which 1t contained, depOsltlng the same 10 .
ened. The proprietors OF the Hoffman House,
Messrs. Mitchell Read pending the legal proceed.
action Of the Court had been served upon them,
took the nine boxes OF gold and deposited them on :
panys office in their own name and pi to their own
credit, removing them on the 10th Of July to the
wine room OF their own hotel where they We're sub
wine baskets up stairs to the safe, the empty boxes
having been consignei to the furnace:
Next day, July II, the gold was taken into Wall
street and offered for sale. Nine thousand sove-
regns were purchased by Trevor q Colgate who
currency value amounting TO $40, sos. On the day fol-
lowing, namely-July 12-7.000 sovereigns were sold
tie currency value OF which, amounting to $4s, $780,
was deposited with Vernliiye Co. to the order u
Mitchell d Reed
on July H. or only two days after the completion
OF these transactions, Mr. Jones' clerk of the Hon-
man House, swole before the commissioners that
the money belonging to the lunatic found in the
HOFFMAN House, excepting few loose sOveretgns,
which they retained to meet certain debts. Mr.:
JARVIS, therefore, took possession Of the money at
yermye's. leaving 1t there as deposit but trans
On Mr.. jarvis applying at the Holman
House for any letters or papers that might throw
light on the past history OF the unfortunate gentle
nothing had been found III the trunks but two blank
memorandum books, both OF which were given up.
Turning over the leaves OF these books there fell out
ton proved to be bill ading for els 800 Ia specie
and valuable papers, the whole contained In ten
boxes shipped by B. u. Colah at Liverpool, per
steamship 0.y Of BrooRyn: Upon lnapiry q me
the delivery OF the said ten boxes found, he
himself having lbeen passenger by the same
vessel
Allegations have been set afoot to the effect that
the money OF the unatc is at present really in the
hands OF the British Consul and Mr. Jarvis these two
acting conointly IN behalf Of Ills estate and also that
ceed $4,000. These statements are at variance with
fact, ana ind their denial in the above details.
THE UNFORTUNATE MR.. COLAH
entail Parsee families In HindOstan, who has been
advised Of the position Of affairs by the counseI, Mr..
jarvis, and also by gentleman well known in con-
ished in this CITY, who, IRON his knowledge of the
Mahratta language, &C., has been appointed by the
committee OF estate as lay counsel and dnltcuS
development Of AFFAIRS is mainly due Telegrams in
reply, giving full instructions, have been received
from Bombay.
PROCEEDINGS HAVE BEEN COMMENCED
against Mitchell Reed for their share in these
proceedings, for the recovery OF the money stand
Ing in their name In The United States Trust Com
pany, well for theew loose sOvereigns deftly
sworn to and described by their clerk, Mr. Jones,
but which, in truth, amounted to 42OOo; the valu.
able papers contained In Of the tin boxes, and
damages for the loss sustained by the lunatlc's
estate In the sale of his gold.
MIR. Colah Is at present an inmate Of private
lunatic asylum at Fishktl on the Hudson, where he
IL the recpian OF every and attention which bis
case and circumstances appear TO warrant.
PERSONAL INTELLIGENCE