The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-02
THE CASE OF DIR. HELMBoLD.
His Financial Success, His Bankruptcy, and
His Incarceration in an Asylum.

His Incarceration in an Asylum.
New York World.
One Of the most remarkable cases known to
the jurisprudence of any country is now pending
before Justice Finletter, of the Court of Com
mon Pleas, in Philadelphia The old residents
of New York city will remember that in 1861 a
magnificent drug store stood on Broadway. inn
mediately adjoining the Metropolitan Hotel.
This was the establishment of DIR. Henry L.
Helmbold the chemist who invented and pre-
pared the famous "Buchu" and other medical
compounds. His fame 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 a
million year. His fourth hand and his quin-
tet of Kentucky thoroughbreds, sometimes
complished driver in his employ. were the ad-
mration of frequenters of Central Park and the
| avenue His elegant equipages outshone any
others at Saratoga and Long Branch.
DR.. Felmbold resided on Fourteenth street
He frequently rendered to his friends the most
| elaborate banquets. Delmonieo receipted his
| bills for at least 5000, 900 year.
/ In 1871, accompanied by his wife and children,
three bright boys of fiye six and years re-
| spectively, Helmhold went to Europe, intend
| ing to travel in Palestine and the East Hardly
| had he passed outside of Sandy Hook than peo-
| pie said to be envious of of his prodigious sue
cess and who, it is said, were anxious to obtain
possession of his business, combined against
it was said that his means were more than ample
to cancel his Indebtedness. On his return to this
asylum. a battle began for his personal
liberty and business rights He retained
| ex-Judge George M. Curtis, of this
| city, as his counsel In struggle
| in the Supreme Court for possession of his trade
| mark, DIR. Helmbolds prevailed. Tho court
| then enumerated the doctrine that mans name
was not an asset in bankruptcy and could not
in a Of 1ccIO T
| much part of man as the hair on his head or
| the nails on his toes. This decision was made
by Judge Westbrook, and was affirmed by the
| Supreme Court The next battle was to get the
lunacy proceedings, said to have been taken by de-
fault in Philadelphia, set aside. Due action was
taken in 1877 before the Court of Common Pleas
in Philadelphia by ex-Judge Curtis and F. Car
roll Brewster. The matter was referred to W.
B. Mitchell. commissioners He reported in favor
OF Dr. HeImbold, saying in the most emphatic
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. Hembold applied to the
Court of Common Pleas of PHILADELPHIA for q
confirmation Of tire commissioners report
While this was pending he was, it is said, in
duced to take certain drink. This rendered
him temporarily insane, or inebriated. While
in this condition he was pointed out to a police
officer He was placed in a cell. Judge Lud-
low, of the Court of Common Pleas of Philadel-
phia, while coneeding his sanity declined to set
aside the commission. DR. Helmbold appealed
to the Supreme Court. Pending the appeal he
drifted into settlement with his brother
Alfred L. Helmbold, as his friends claim,
through influence of his mother, whom the
Doctor revered. This gave to Alfred
the magnificent drug establishment at $50 Chest
nut street, Philadelphia, in the Continental Ho-
tel building, which now brings HIM in an income
Of probably $40 600 year. This settlement, it
is claimed, was effected without tho knowledge
of the Doctors attorney. Finally. DIR. Helm
bold, in 1881, was incarcerated in the Eorristown
Hospital. Since that time, although his friends
claim he is perfectly sane, they have been I'M
able to secure his release
His wife, Mrs Henrietta HelmboId, was a
| member of the distinguished Pell family of this
city. She is beautiful woman She has black
eyes, hair of glossy jet and acompexion which no
rouge can furnish. Her oldest son is now of age
The others respectively nineteen and twenty
years old. Jan. 20 tho entire family appeared
before Justice Finletter. Through their counsel
Judge Ecock an application was made tor the
relea,~ of Dr. 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 extremely 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 preciuded any possibility Of his return
to the old habit Dr. Helmboid desired to
reestablish his home and family circle in this
city as once. and the wife begged that the fam
lily be reunited.
Judge Finletter postponed the hearing, to be
continued when Mrs. Helmbold may be pre-
rared to produce suffcien: evidence of the Doc
tors sanity, The lunacy commission sits Feb
s. at the Office of E G. Mitchell, No. 518 Walnut
street. Philadelphia. 1t is hoped by Mrs. Helm
bold and her children that when the Doctor APP
pears before it he will be declared TO be in the
full possession of every faculty. and that he will
be ultimately restored to them.
Mrs. Helmbold claims that since the Doctors
incarceration the brother has obtained possession
of almost his entire property. She holds that
her sors are the rightful heirs to it. The
brother, according to her statement, has con-
trbuted very little, if anything, towards the
support Of DIR. Helmbold's children On the
contrary, Mr.. Alfred Helmbold. she claims has
enjoyed the income derived from Philadelphia
property belonging to the Doctor almost ex.
elusivey 1t is said that Mr.. Helmbold has not
assisted Mrs. Helmbold in her efforts to secure
the release of the Doctor. On the other hand
he has discouraged proceedings in this direction.
The lady has retained ex-Judge Curtis of this
city. as counsel. and he proposes to push matters
in the interest OF his client