The Penn's Grove record., 1883-12-22
: TIE HELMS
The Brutal Husband Is Tried, Convicted
and Sentenced.

The trial of Rudolph Helm, for fatal
ly kicking his wife, some time since,
was arranged at Woodbury. on Wedres
day of last week. Long before the
Judges took their seats on the bench
the court room was crowded to the last
degree of discomfort, while hundreds,
unable to gain admission, waited anx-
iously outside to get the slightest ink
ling of the proceedings. AT eleven
O'Clock Judge Joel Parker, of the New
,Je,s ey Supreme Court, took his seat on
the bench, with Associate Judges
Moore, Jones and Miller, and Helm was
brought in and was seated by the side
of his counsel, John Jessup. Over a
dozen men were challenged before the
jury was enpaneled, with William G.
Lodor as foreman.
Prosecutor Belmont Perry read the
charge that the grand inqnisition of
Gloucester county had found a true
bin against Rudolph Hem for the man
slaughter Of his wife, Elizabeth Hem,
at Almonesson, Deptford township, on
the 18th of October last, by giving her
u violent kick, from the effects of
which, in less than twenty minutes she
died.
The first witness called was Mary
Nugent, a sister of the deceased WON'T
an, who said that on the 2Sth of Octo-
Der she was visiting Mrs. Helm at the
farm of Mr.. Thompson, in Deptford
township, which vas EARNED by her
brother-in-law, the prisoner. After
dinner a game of croquet was played.
Rudolph Heiu and the witness herself
were partners, and Elizabeth Hein and
John Walton were their opponents.
The first game was won by the witness
and her partner. A second game was
begun about 4 O'Clock and in the mid
die of che game Rudolph Helm, on find
ing his wife was ahead in the game, be
gan cursing her, saying, I'D
d-n you, hurry up and get through
with this game" He was cross to his
wife all day. He stood against q tree.
As his wife stopped forward, with her
back towards him, to strike q ball, he
took a couple of steps forward anddelib
erately kicked her with his right foot.
She was in a delicate condition She
was on the point OF falling to the
ground. Sylvester Rudeanbock caught
her ID his arms. Blood was flowing
from her in streams at this time and
the ground was saturated with it. Sew
eral of those present took her in their
arms and carried her into the kitchen
and did what they could to relieve her
terrible sufferings. Mrs. Helm, on the
way from the croquet ground to the
house. said "This Is the last OF mel
and she died about twenty minutes
afterwards. A doctor was sent for,
but he arrived too late.
Counsel for the defense then cross
examined the witness, but could not
shake her previous statement. She ad-
ded, however, that Helm did not offer
to help or assist his wife until she was
within a few yards of the house. He
then asked: "What is the matterr
Witness replied: "Don't you see what
is the mattsrp" He then appeared to
be anxious and said: Hurry up for a
d~octor.o
Several other witnesses were called
on and testified to the same effect.
Several prominent lawyers from
Philadelphia, Camden, Trenton and
the southern section of the State, were
present on Monday to hear Judge Joel
Parker make his charge to the jury, the
learned Judge having occupied three
days in preparing it. We would like
to furnish our readers with the Judges
change, but space forbids, as it is quite
lengthy, and consisted of t~hirty.four
closely written pages of legal cap, and
required three-quarters of an hour in
its delivery. In character it mas en-
tirely free from any expression of opin-
ion upon any facts and was perfectly
fair and impartial. The testimony OF
tho physicians who made the postmor-
tenn examination was reviewed at
great length and with minuteness and
detail, and particular attention was
called to the statement of the doctor
that the blood which saturated the
clothirg of the deceased woman imme-
diately before death had proceeded
from the vagina; that bleeding was the
immediate cause of death, and was the
result of some violence.
A graphic picture was drawn of Mrs.
Helm as she was playing the fatal game
of eroquet; full of life ard b~uoyancy;
pleased because she was considerably
ahead of her competitors in the game,
in the act of propelling her ball through
the final wicket; the kick which ended
not only the game but the life of the
player, and finally, the pathetic words
to and the appealing glance in the di-
rection of her husband: "This is the
last of meln
The jury retired at five minutes to
eleven and re-entered the court room
at twenty minutes after four O'Clock.
The foreman, William C. Lodor, stated
they had found the prisoner guilty,
with q recommendation to mercy"
The prisoner wa brought into the