The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-06-28
vrxc.t,rasion Demanded.

rnwrx c. woopBrRY's REFUSAL TO LKAvr A
,rx,TIc ASYLUM WITHOUT A TRIAL BY A
JURY or HIS PEERS.
In the room OF the Supreme Court,
Chambers. I'm the new courthouse, there
was in progress Yesterday afternoon the
case q, Edwin c. Woodbury., an alleged
t,notic. who has been since August, 1880,
nm inmate 81 Bloomingdalc Asylum.
Mr.. Woodbury. was n member OF the
Arm ~ Woodbury. Brothers. Mt No. 103 east
Wous,on street. Oscar u. Woodbury. was
tho other member Of the firm, and still car
rios ON the business. They were inventors
and machnists, and were extensive manu-
farturcrs 81 brushes. Mr.. Edwin G. Wood
lnlry. who Is bachelor, was an ardent
reader Of the Bible, and felt called upon 70
nreach his views. To this end hc hired
HAN. employed an organist, and gathered
about himself company Of followers.
Mr.. Woodbury. called his gathering OF
hearers the Solid-Back Church, ana
styled himself the Helix "a reference
to an invention OF his firm, ana
frequently used this term ne nom
dc piame. His reading OF the Biple
had led him 10 believe that charity occu-
MED the most prominent place In truly
GOOD lie, and next 10 this came love. lie
deemed i, necessary in order 10 cultivate
love consistently 10 give away all his pro-
pcr;y. lie began 10 put his theories mo
practice. when lac was arrested IS q i'lnatic,
and upon the certificate signed by TWO phy-
eicians was sent to Bloomingdaic Asylum.
This was in August, 1850.
Through the efforts o. q member OF the
Odd.Fellow fraternity, 10 which he be-
lonced. his case was brought 10 the stten-
:. L. 10 ha
I'm this month writ Of h0bedS corpus was
issued by Judge Lawrence. of NE supreme
Court. His counsel. T.. i. Wilder, with
Ccphas Braincrd, the counsel for his bro
thcr Oscar. had agreed upon discharge by
mutual consent, aud Judge Lawrence was
about 10 afiiX his signature To The ORDER OF
discharge. when Woodbury. rose up IN
court and asked permission to say few
words.
WHY HE WANTED 4 TRIAL.
Leave was granted and in q short speech
be declared that ne would not leave Bloom
ingdalc on any such order. He sald THAT
he had been a successful mechanic, ana
that he had been seized and thrown INTO an
asylum and Gagged n wild beast despite
his protest and in opposition to his de-
mandS for a Jury trial at once. lie sald ne
did not propose 10 be turned ont OF the
ASYLUM without trial before jury OF his
peers 10 determine whether the commit
mcnt i'm the first place had been founded on
fact. Bya discharge a. proposed by counsel
he said he understood that all future acton
looking toward damages would be cut on,
and thi, he would not agree 10. Judge
Lawrence said that his wish for full hear
in should be- gratiiicd, and at once made
out an order for an investigation by She
rin', Jury. appointing Or. James W. Ran
ney. De Witt {. Graham, ana Hamilton
Morion-thc two last named beng law
ycrs-;o act a. commissioners. 1estcrday
ihc hearing opened with Or. Nichols. the
superintendent Of Bloomingdale Asylum,
ON The stand. He testified that Wood
bury was able to attend TO himself
personally, but he did not think that he
had sufficient mental capacity to attend 10
his bu>jnc>s. owing 10 his firm belief in his
theory Of the Bible and his determination
10 practice what he taught. Or. Nichols
described the life OF Woodbury. at the
ASYLUM. and said that. in his opinion, the
seclu,ion there had been Of benefit TO the
patient. The witness WAS sharply eX-
amincd by the Chief Commissioner, Or.
Ranncv. "a, well as by counsel and jury
men, who put hypothetical questions Of all
sorts.
The inquiry will be continued on Mon
dav afternoon next at ( O'Clock. The order
Of Judge Lawrence directs the jury not
only 10 report upon the mental condition
Of Mr. Woodbury., but also upon his estate,
which will bring in an accounting OF the
business Of the firm during the period OF
Mr.. Woodbury's retirement in Blooming
dalo.-Ncc York Herald.