Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-02-04

Mrs. HeImbOId Asking for the Release
of the Ruchu Man.


of the Buehu Man.
One of the most remarkable cases
known to the jurisprudence of any coun-
try, says the New York World, is now
pending before Justice Finletter, OF the
Court OF Common Pleas, in Philadelphia.
The old residents of New York city
will remember that in 1861 magnificent
drug store stood en- Broadway immedi-
ately adjoining the Metropolitan Hotel.
This was the establishment of DIR. Henry
I. HelmbOld. the chemist VINO invented
and prepared the famous "Buchu' and
other medical compounds. Ills lame
was enhanced by his enormous
advertising. Five hundred thousand
dollars year was expended by him IN
making known to the people his remedies.
The sales of his "Buchu" alone amounted
to something like million year. HIS
fOur-in-hand and bis quintette of Kentucky
thoroughbreds, sometimes driven by him.
self and at other times By an accomplished
driver in his employ, were the admiration
OF frequeuters of Central Park and tae
avenue. His elegant equipages OutshOle
any others at Saratoga and Long Branch.
DR.. HelmbOld resided on Fourteenth
street. He frequently rendered to his
friends the most elaborate banquets.
5000 600 year.
In 1871, accompanied by his wife and
CHILDREN, three bright boys of five, six
and seven years respectively, Helmbold
went to Europe. intending to travel IN
Palestine and the East. Hardly had he
passed outside of Sandy Hook than peo-
pie, said to be envOus of his prOdigiOus
success, and who, it is said, were anxious
to obtain possession of his business, COM
bned against him. He was thrown into
bankruptcy, although it was said that his
means were more than ample to cancel
his Indebtedness. On his return to this
country he was Incarcerated IN lunatic
asylum. A battle began for his personal
liberty and business rights. He re-
tanned eX-Judge George Nj. Custis, of
this city. as his counsel. In a struggle
in the Supreme Court for possession OF
mis- trade mark, DIR. Hembolds rights
prevailed. The court then enunciated
the doctrine that mans name was not
an asset in bankruptcy and could not
pass into the hands of an assignee. 1t
was as much the part of a man as the
hair on his head or the nails on his toes
The decision was made by Judge West
brook and was affirmed by the Supreme
Court. The next battle was to get the lu-
macy proceedings said to have been taken
by default in Philadelphia set aside. Due
action was taken in 1877 before the Court
of Common Pleas in Philadelphia by eX-
Judge Curtis and f. Carroll Brewster
The matter was referred to w. b. Mitch
ell, Commissioner. lie reported in favor
of DR.. HembOld. saying in the most en-
phatic language that the Doctor had been
subjected to an exhaustive examination
and he failed to detect in him the slightest
evidence of mental alteration. DR.. Helm
bold applied to the Court Of Common Pleas
of Philadelphia for a confirmation of the
Commissioners report. While this was
pending he was, it is said, induced to take
a certain drink. This rendered him tenn
pOrarily insane, or inebriated. While in
this condition he was pointed out to a
police officer. He was placed in a cell.
Judge Ludlow, of the Court of Common
Pleas of Philadelphia, while conced-
ing his sanity, declined to set aside
the commission. DR.. Helmbold ap-
pealed TO the Supreme Court. Pend
ing the appeal he drifted into a settlement
with his brother, Alfred i. HelmbOld, as
his friends claim, through influence of his
mother, whom the doctor revered. This
gave to Alfred the magnificent drug es-
adjustment at $50 Chestnut street, Phila-
delphia, in the Continental Hotel build
ing, which now brings HIM in an income
of probably $4,000 a year. This settle
ment, it is claimed, was effected without
the knowledge of the Doctors attorney.
FlnalIy Ut. IGlmDOIt IN 1901 was NEAR |
cerated In the NorristOwn Hospital. |
Since that time, although his friends claim
that he is perfectly sane, they have been !
unable to secure his release.
His wife, Mrs. Henrietta Helmbold, |
was member of the distinguished Pell |
family of this city. She is beautiful |
woman. She has black eyes, hair of glossy |
jet, and a complexion which no rouge |
can furnish. Her oldest son is now of |
age. The others are respectively 10 and |
20 years old. Jan. 20 the entire family |
appeared before Justice Finletter. |
Through their counsel, Judge ElcOck, an |
application was made for the release of |
DIR. HelmbOld on a writ of habeas |
corpus. The scene as the fearful and |
beautiful woman begged for the return |
of the father of her children was eX-
tremely affecting. Mrs. HelmbOld |
said that she had repeatedly visited |
her husband, and he had begged her to do
all in her power to secure his release.
She assured the court that DR.. HelmbOld |
was perfectly sane and anxious to return
to his family. He had promised never to
drink again, and his long abstinence from
intoxicating liquors, she thought, pre-
cuded any possibility of his return to the |
old habit. DR.. HelmbOld desired to re-
establish his home and family circle in |
this city at once, and the vile begged that |
the family should be reunited.
Judge Finletter postponed the hearing, |
to be continued when Mrs. HelmbOld may |
be prepared to produce sufficient evidence |
of the doctors sanity. The Lunacy Com |
mission sits Feb. ).