Last
Updated: May 15, 2021
Benjamin & Nancy (Booth) Helms Family
(2 known wives)
The Helms
family of Floyd Co., VA reportedly derive from brothers Adam of Goblintown Creek in Patrick Co., VA & Thomas Helms of
Daniel’s Run in Franklin Co., VA.
|
1. Helms,
Benjamin |
Parents:
Thomas & Mary (Weddle) Helms. 1821
Birth:
abt 1821 Floyd Co., VA. 1844 Marriage #1:
Benjamin Helms m. Nancy Booth 12-02-1844 Montgomery Co., VA. 1850 Residence:
Floyd Co., VA, H377: …… Helms, Benjamin 29 yo w/m farmer, b. Floyd,
$300, cannot read or write, HOH. ……… Nancy 39 yo w/f, b. Montgomery. ……… Isaac 3 yo w/m, b. Floyd. ……… James B. 2 yo w/m, b. Floyd. 1860 Residence:
Floyd Co., VA, Greasy Creek PO, H1200: …… Helm, Benj 39 yo w/m
farmer, b. VA, $500/205, HOH. ……… Nancy 48 yo w/f, b. VA. ……… Isaac 13 yo w/m, b. VA. ……… Jas. B. 12 yo w/m, b. VA. ……… Drusilla 7 yo w/f, b. VA. ……… Adaline 6 yo w/f, b. VA. ……… Joel 4 yo w/m, b. VA. 1870
Residence:
Jacksonville Twp, H439: ...... Helms, Benjamin 49 yo w/m farmer, b. VA,
$850/500, HOH. ............ Nancy 59 yo w/f, b. VA, keeping house. ............ James 22 yo w/m, b. VA, farmer, $110. ............ Joel 14 yo w/m, b. VA, cannot write. ............ Nolen, John B. 15 yo w/m, b. VA. (may
be Noles or Moles) ............ Helms, Celia A. 13 yo w/f, b. VA. (d/o
Peter & Ruth (Hylton) Helms) [helms] ............ Nolen, Lavina
9 yo w/f, b. VA. (may be Noles or Moles) 1880 Residence:
Floyd Co., VA, Burks Fork District, H203: …… Helms, Benjamin 60 yo w/m farmer, b. VA, parents
b. VA, HOH. ……… Nancy 70 yo wife, b. VA, parents b. VA, cancer
in the womb. ……… Joel H. 24 yo son, b. VA, parents b. VA, farmer. |
|
…+ Helms, Nancy |
Parents:
Isaac & Mary (Ferguson) Booth. 1811
Birth:
abt 1811 Montgomery Co., VA. 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 Residence: Floyd Co., VA with husband
Benjamin Helms. 1880
Death:
1-21-1880 Floyd Co., VA. COD: unknown cause. Parents: Isaac & Mary. 1880
Burial: |
|
…2. Helms, Isaac |
Parents:
Benjamin & Nancy (Booth) Helms. 1847
Birth:
abt 1847 Floyd Co., VA. 1850, 1860 Residence:
Floyd Co., VA with parents. 1867
Marriage #1: Isaac
Helms m. Ema Dowdy 11-23-1867 at Benjamin Helms',
Floyd Co., VA by H.P. Hylton. He 21 yo single farmer, b. & living in
Floyd Co., VA, s/o Benjamin & Nancy Helms. She single 21 yo, b. Kanhaway Co., VA & living in Floyd Co., VA, d/o
(blank) Dowdy. 1870 Residence:
Floyd Co., VA, Jacksonville Twp, H440: …… Helms, Isaac 23 yo w/m farmer, b. VA, $0/100,
cannot read or write, HOH. ……… Emma 21 yo w/f, b., keeping house, cannot read
or write. ……… Nancy E. 1 yo w/f, b. VA. …… Doudy, Rilla N. 14 yo
w/m, b. VA, cannot read or write. 1880 Residence:
Floyd Co., VA, Burks Fork District, H204: …… Helms, Isaac 33 yo w/m farmer, b. VA, parents b.
VA, HOH. ……… Emma 28 yo wife, b. VA, parents b. VA. ……… Nancy E. 11 yo daughter, b. VA, parents b. VA. ……… Sarah A. 9 yo daughter, b. VA, parents b. VA,
school. ……… Eliza A. 8 yo daughter, b. VA, parents b. VA,
school. ……… Luvina 7 yo daughter,
b. VA, parents b. VA, school. ……… James B. 4 yo son, b. VA, parents b. VA,
school. ……… Mary L.. 2 yo daughter, b. VA, parents b. VA,
school. |
|
……+ Helms, Emily J. “Ema” |
Parents: Newton Austin & Lucy Elizabeth (Smith) Dowdy.
[dowdy] 1852
Birth:
abt 1852 VA. 1870, 1880 Residence:
Floyd Co., VA with husband Isaac Helms. |
|
……3. Helms, Nancy E. |
Parents:
Isaac & Emma (Dowdy) Helms. 1868
Birth:
11-17-1868 Floyd Co., VA. 1870, 1880 Residence:
Floyd Co., VA with parents. |
|
……3. Helms, Sarah A. |
Parents: Isaac & Emily (Dowdy)
Helms. 1870 Birth: Sept 1970 VA. (src: 1900
Census) 1871 Birth: 9-15-1871 VA. (src:
tombstone) 1880 Residence:
Floyd Co., VA with parents. 1895
Marriage #1: Sarah
Helms m. Randolph T. Wade 12-17-1895 at Albert Gardner's, Floyd Co., VA by
Q.D. Weeks M.G. He 21 yo single w/m farmer, b. & living in Floyd Co., VA,
s/o Harvey S. & Arbelia Wade. She 25 yo single
w/f, b. & living in Floyd Co., VA, d/o Isaac & Emmy Helms. Randolph T. Wade, s/o Harvey S. & Arabella E.
(Thompson) Wade. [Wade_Isaac_Martha] 1954 Death: 3-13-1954. 1954 Burial:
Pleasant Hill Church Cemetery, on US 221 in Willis, Floyd Co., VA. (with
Randolph) |
|
……3. Helms, Eliza A. |
Parents: Isaac & Emily (Dowdy)
Helms. 1872
Birth:
9-5-1872, Burks Fork Twp, Floyd Co., VA. 1880 Residence:
Floyd Co., VA with parents. |
|
……3. Helms, Luvina |
Parents: Isaac & Emily (Dowdy)
Helms. 1873
Birth:
“Levina” b. 12-1-1873 Floyd Co., VA. 1880 Residence:
Floyd Co., VA with parents. |
|
……3. Helms, James B. |
Parents: Isaac & Emily (Dowdy)
Helms. 1876
Birth:
1-15-1876 Floyd Co., VA. 1880 Residence:
Floyd Co., VA with parents. |
|
……3. Helms, Mary L. |
Parents: Isaac & Emily (Dowdy)
Helms. 1878
Birth:
9-10-1878 Floyd Co., VA. 1880 Residence: Floyd Co., VA with parents. |
|
……3. Helms, Joel |
Parents: Isaac & Emily (Dowdy)
Helms. 1880 Residence:
Floyd Co., VA with parents. |
|
……3. Helms, Virginia |
Parents: Isaac & Emily (Dowdy)
Helms. 1883
Birth:
11-1-1883 Floyd Co., VA. |
|
…2. Helms, James B. |
Parents:
Benjamin & Nancy (Booth) Helms. 1848
Birth:
abt 1848 Floyd Co., VA. 1850, 1860, 1870 Residence:
Floyd Co., VA with parents. The Memphis
Daily Appeal, Memphis TN, Thursday, April 8, 1873 A
Desperado. Galveston, April 7. Last night at ten o'clock, a man calling
himself James Helm drew a knife and cut a boy, whose name is unknown, and in
his at tempt to escape, attacked and cut three unoffending
parties who happened to be in his way. Officer Ferguson, in attempting to
make his arrest, was next to receive the knife, and died in five minutes
afterward. W. Benison, an old and respected citizen, who was one of the
unfortunates, has since died, and it is thought that two others will die.
Henry Myers, driver for engine company "No. 2, it is believed, will die.
The firemen swear vengeance against Helm. Intense excitement prevails, and it
is believed he will never he allowed, by a mob. to have a trial. Some of the
police have already asserted their intention, if called on to defend the
jail. Helm gives his name as James Bennett Helm, of Floyd county, Virginia,
and a cousin to the notorious Jack Helm, of Texas. The
Memphis Daily Appeal, Memphis TN, Thursday, April 17, 1873 WHOLESALE
Murder. A Madman
is the Streets of Galveston Killed One Man and Wounds Five Others. The
Citizens in a Frenzy of Excitement -- Lynch Law and Mobbing Suggested. The
Criminal In Jail Takes It Coolly ,and Regrets he was not Able to Kill All he
Met. From the
Galveston Weekly Times Yesterday
was a day almost unparalleled in the history of Galveston. As soon as the
news of the bloody series of stabbings made by Helm became known, and as full
particulars were circulated through the medium of the Times extra, issued at
eleven o'clock in the morning, the excitement became intense, and many spoke
of lynching, mobbing, etc. The feeling in favor of this course was so great
that it was deemed inadvisable by the police and others to take the murderer
from the jail for examination. The immensity of the crimes committed appalled
our community, and as each fresh detail appeared, the indignation grew more in tense, until two o'clock active fears were entertained
in regard to the safety of Helm. THE
PARTICTLARS, which we here vouch for as correct in every fact stated, and
which we have, at much trouble, gleaned from every individual having the
least connection with the terrible tragedy, are presented below. We have been
to the trouble of interviewing every one of the parties assaulted, and
visiting them personally, with the view of getting at the facts, and here
they are: Helm arrived in our city on last Friday though we have heard it
said that parties have seen him here for the past month and stopped at the
Chicago house. On Sunday, the landlord heard a great outcry in the room
occupied by Helm, and going up, heard Helm crying "Murder murder!" in a tone of voice alarming to the
neighborhood. He quieted him, and nothing out of the way was done until Suuday night. About half past nine o'clock, Helm, who is
about twenty-five years old, five feet seven inches in hight,
with black hair and moustache and blue eyes, and or medium build, en tered the market-house from
the west side and passing through, stopped at the coffee-stall near the
entrance. He sat here awhile, and rising from his seat, passed down toward
the entrance. FIRST Victum. Mr. George N. Clemens, an employe
of Freeman & Deary, painters, corner of Market and twenty-second streets,
was sitting at the coffee-stand drinking coffee when Helm passed him, and as
he did so, drew his knife, and without saying a word struck Clemens under the
left arm, the blade entering between the two last ribs, the knile entered but a short distance, inflicting a wound
about three-quarter s of an inch long, and half an inch deep, a painful but
not a serious one. SECOND
VICTIM. Helm left the market-house, and proceeding across Twentieth street,
toward Mechanic, came up with Dan Mehan, who was
going to his home. He was in the middle of the street, when Helm passed him
upon the left hand, at the same time dealing him a blow with his right, lunicting a stab in the back, a little below the left shoul der, about an inch deep and an inch long. THIRD
VICTIM. Helm here started in a run up Mechanic. Between Twentieth and
Nineteenth streets he met Thomas Burns, an old gray-headed man, small in
stature. Him Helm met in the middle of the street. We will let him relate
what occurred: "I was coming from Geld-macher's saloon, going toward the
market, when a man passed me in the middle of the street. He turned as he
passed, and struck me with a knife, which I saw open in his hand. Felt that I
was wounded, and asked to be taken to the hospital, which was done. Never saw
the man before." Burns was also stabbed in the back, below the left
shoulder, three inches to the left of the spine, the blade of the knife
entering about an inch and a half or two inches, and making a wound about an
inch and a half long from which he bled considerably. FOURTH
VICTIM. Helm then came back to the south side of Mechanic street, and at Lousen's blacksmith shop, on the corner of Nineteenth
street, came upon a party of four, of which John Myers was one. His statement
is as follows: "I was walking on the inside, and the man passed between
me and the wall, inflicting as he passed, a stab in the back. 'Helm was not ninning, but walking very fast. I fell, when the man
passed out into the middle of the street. My friends who were with me, as
soon as I called out that I was stabbed, ran differeut
ways, but all soon came back, and I was carried to No 2's engine house. They
were umarmed. Mr. Myers, who has been driver of No.
2 engine, was cut in the back, the blade entering about an iuch and a half, in close proximity to the spine, and
right over the kidneys, narrowly missing them. He bled profusely. After
striking Myers, Helm passed down Mechanic street. Mr. Grifiln,
who was with Mr. Myers, ran up to the vicinity of the
"hobbyhorses," where he met Policeman Ferguson. He told the latter
that a man was stabbed up the street, and that the one who did it had a knife
in his hand, and advised Ferguson to draw his pistol. This the latter
declined to do fearing an indictment by the grand jury, should he he tempted to use it, even though he knew the man was
dangerous. FIFTH
VICTIM KILLED. Griffin left him, and Fcerguson
proceeded on alone, to his death, as it proved. He came up with Helm, on the
corner above the cotton-press, and stopping him, endeavored to arrest him,
holding his baton as though to ward off any blow that might be inflicted.
Helm instantly turned, and before the officer was aware of his intention,
stabbed him in the breast. He then knocked him down with a blow of his fist,
and while Ferguson was down, stooped and stabbed him twice more in the
breast. It was during his struggle with Helm that Ferguson, feeling himself
mortally wounded, called out "murder," which alarmed both Benison
and Donavan, and made them rush from different guarters
to the rescue. It was while Ferguson was being held and Helm had him down,
that Benison came upon the scene in response to Ferguson's call for help. SIXTH
VICTIM FATALLY WOUNDED. Next to Ferguson, Benison is the most seriously hurt.
He received two deep stabs, one an inch and a half long, between the
shoulders, to the left of the spine, penetrating the lung, from which he
bleeds internally. The other was further to the left and higher up, fully as
deep but not so dangerous. He suffers greatly from his wounds, but when we
conversed with him yesterday he spoke with great effort, and not above a
whisper. The physician expresses but little hope of his recovery. His name is
Walter Benison. It was while Benison was holding Helm that policeman Donovan
arrived upon the scene. This was on Seventeenth street, between Market and
Mechanic. A BRAVE
POLICEMAN! Donovan acted with great bravery and coolness, and proved himself
a thorough and efficient officer, fully equal to the emergency, as soon as
Benison was freed he staggered home, where he now is. Thus, ended one of the
most coldblooded, atrocious and inhuman series of crimes that it has ever
been our misfortune to recount. Tbe assassin, in
all his various attacks, was actuated but by one purpose, and that was not to
wound or disable, but to kill. He chose in every instance tbe
most vulnerable and mortal part in which to stab, and it will be noticed that
the knife was always plunged into the left side. That more men are not dead
is not his fault, and had it not been for plucky and determined Policeman
Donovan, there is no telling what his might have done. Not
Crazy. That Helm is not crazy, his circumstantial and minute account of all
he had done conclusively proves. It is supposed that he was recovering from
an attack of mania a potu caused by hard dring in New Orleans. It was a most horrible, cold
blooded attempt at wholesale murder, and unless actual insanity is proved
beyond the shadow of a doubt - proved so strongly that nobody dare doubt it –
an outraged and indignant public will his instant trial and condemnation. BIOGRAPHICAL
BY THE PRISONER. " My name is James B. Helm, and I am from Floyd county,
Virginia, where I have a father and mother. I started from Floyd county to go
to Collin county, Texas, where I have an uncle. When I got to New Orleans a
lot of men swindled me out of my money, aud the
stage-driver charged me eleven dollars for riding me a mile to the depot. l
came here Friday on a steamer, and stopped at the Chicago house; when I had
been there a few minutes, two men came in pretending to have a warrant for
me. They could not fool me, but the proprietor turned me out. Men, and
horses, and cabooses, and street cars, were all after me, trying to kill me.
They tried to smother me with fire in their fire proof houses. But I scouted round
till I came to the market-house and ate my supper at the coffee-stand, and I
drank three glasses of soda-water. The men and things were all after me, and
I saw no other chance of escaping, so thought I would give up. After sitting
there, I saw several or them priming their pistols,
and I drew out my knife and thought I would make away with one of them
anyhow. Then I lammed my knife into one of them, and the second one I stabbed
at the corner of the street and the market-house. I then started down the street
and stuck my knife into another. A policeman tried to shoot me, and I stabbed
him three times. There was an old man jumped up to take the policeman's part
after he fell down, and made a lunge at me and fell flat on his belly, and I
jumped on his back and lunged my knife in him; 1 think 1 stabbed him three
times in the back. He then got me under, and he was on top when the other
policeman came up and got my knife. I was carried up to the station-house, or
whatever you call it (you had better call it a slaughter-house). Anybody
would have done what I did. They had been trying to kill me for two days. If
I had had a good knife and plenty of time, I would "got away" with
lots of 'em. I kqew I was
gone up, and I was going to kill as many as I could. I came here to go to
Western Texas, Collin county. I am here now for murder, I suppose, and I want
to be dealt with according to law. I am under the United States law, and am
willing to submit to it. I was in the fifty-fourth confederate regiment
during tne last six months of the war. I am
twenty-five years old next October." |
|
…2. Helms, Drucilla |
Parents:
Benjamin & Nancy (Booth) Helms. 1852
Birth:
abt 1852 Floyd Co., VA. 1860 Residence:
Floyd Co., VA with parents. |
|
…2. Helms, Adaline |
Parents:
Benjamin & Nancy (Booth) Helms. 1854
Birth:
abt 1854 Floyd Co., VA. 1860 Residence:
Floyd Co., VA with parents. 1861
Death:
11-15-1861 Floyd Co., VA. COD: fever. Age: 7y 1m. 1861
Burial: |
|
…2. Helms, Joel |
Parents:
Benjamin & Nancy (Booth) Helms. 1856
Birth:
Sept 1856 VA. 1860, 1870, 1880 Residence: Floyd Co., VA with parents. 1880
Marriage #1: Joel
Helms m. Isabel Adeline Earles 12-29-1880 at Benjamin Helms', Floyd Co., VA
by H.P. Hylton. He 24 yo single w/m farmer, b. & living in Floyd Co., VA,
s/o Benjamin & Nancy Ann Helms. She 19 yo single w/f, b. & living in
Floyd Co., VA, d/o Rebecca Earles. Isabel Adeline Earles, 1861-1947, d/o Rebecca
Earles. [earles] 1940
Death:
2-22-1940 1940
Burial:
Needham Smith Chapel Cemetery, Hardin Co., KY.
(src: Find A Grave; photo added by Janice) |
|
1. Helms, Benjamin |
Parents:
Thomas & Mary (Weddle) Helms. 1821
Birth:
abt 1821 Floyd Co., VA. 1844 Marriage #1: Benjamin
Helms m. Nancy Booth 12-02-1844 Montgomery Co., VA. 1850 Residence:
Floyd Co., VA, H377: …… Helms, Benjamin 29 yo w/m farmer, b. Floyd,
$300, cannot read or write, HOH. ……… Nancy 39 yo w/f, b. Montgomery. ……… Isaac 3 yo w/m, b. Floyd. ……… James B. 2 yo w/m, b. Floyd. 1860 Residence:
Floyd Co., VA, Greasy Creek PO, H1200: …… Helm, Benj 39 yo w/m
farmer, b. VA, $500/205, HOH. ……… Nancy 48 yo w/f, b. VA. ……… Isaac 13 yo w/m, b. VA. ……… Jas. B. 12 yo w/m, b. VA. ……… Drusilla 7 yo w/f, b. VA. ……… Adaline 6 yo w/f, b. VA. ……… Joel 4 yo w/m, b. VA. 1870
Residence:
Jacksonville Twp, H439: ...... Helms, Benjamin 49 yo w/m farmer, b. VA,
$850/500, HOH. ............ Nancy 59 yo w/f, b. VA, keeping house. ............ James 22 yo w/m, b. VA, farmer, $110. ............ Joel 14 yo w/m, b. VA, cannot write. ............ Nolen, John B. 15 yo w/m, b. VA. (may
be Noles or Moles) ............ Helms, Celia A. 13 yo w/f, b. VA. (d/o
Peter & Ruth (Hylton) Helms) [helms] ............ Nolen, Lavina
9 yo w/f, b. VA. (may be Noles or Moles) 1880 Residence:
Floyd Co., VA, Burks Fork District, H203: …… Helms, Benjamin 60 yo w/m farmer, b. VA, parents
b. VA, HOH. ……… Nancy 70 yo wife, b. VA, parents b. VA, cancer
in the womb. ……… Joel H. 24 yo son, b. VA, parents b. VA, farmer. |
|
…+ Helms, Nancy |
Parents:
Isaac & Mary (Ferguson) Booth. 1811
Birth:
abt 1811 Montgomery Co., VA. 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 Residence: Floyd Co., VA with husband
Benjamin Helms. 1880
Death:
1-21-1880 Floyd Co., VA. COD: unknown cause. Parents: Isaac & Mary. 1880
Burial: |
|
…2. Helms, Isaac |
Parents:
Benjamin & Nancy (Booth) Helms. 1847
Birth:
abt 1847 Floyd Co., VA. 1850, 1860 Residence:
Floyd Co., VA with parents. 1867
Marriage #1: Isaac
Helms m. Ema Dowdy 11-23-1867 at Benjamin Helms',
Floyd Co., VA by H.P. Hylton. He 21 yo single farmer, b. & living in
Floyd Co., VA, s/o Benjamin & Nancy Helms. She single 21 yo, b. Kanhaway Co., VA & living in Floyd Co., VA, d/o
(blank) Dowdy. 1870 Residence:
Floyd Co., VA, Jacksonville Twp, H440: …… Helms, Isaac 23 yo w/m farmer, b. VA, $0/100,
cannot read or write, HOH. ……… Emma 21 yo w/f, b., keeping house, cannot read
or write. ……… Nancy E. 1 yo w/f, b. VA. …… Doudy, Rilla N. 14 yo
w/m, b. VA, cannot read or write. 1880 Residence:
Floyd Co., VA, Burks Fork District, H204: …… Helms, Isaac 33 yo w/m farmer, b. VA, parents b.
VA, HOH. ……… Emma 28 yo wife, b. VA, parents b. VA. ……… Nancy E. 11 yo daughter, b. VA, parents b. VA. ……… Sarah A. 9 yo daughter, b. VA, parents b. VA,
school. ……… Eliza A. 8 yo daughter, b. VA, parents b. VA,
school. ……… Luvina 7 yo daughter,
b. VA, parents b. VA, school. ……… James B. 4 yo son, b. VA, parents b. VA,
school. ……… Mary
L.. 2 yo daughter, b. VA, parents b. VA, school. |
|
……+ Helms, Emily J. “Ema” |
Parents: Newton Austin & Lucy Elizabeth (Smith) Dowdy.
[dowdy] 1852
Birth:
abt 1852 VA. 1870, 1880 Residence:
Floyd Co., VA with husband Isaac Helms. |
|
……3. Helms, Nancy E. |
Parents:
Isaac & Emma (Dowdy) Helms. 1868
Birth:
11-17-1868 Floyd Co., VA. 1870, 1880 Residence:
Floyd Co., VA with parents. |
|
……3. Helms, Sarah A. |
Parents: Isaac & Emily (Dowdy)
Helms. 1870 Birth: Sept 1970 VA. (src: 1900
Census) 1871 Birth: 9-15-1871 VA. (src:
tombstone) 1880 Residence:
Floyd Co., VA with parents. 1895
Marriage #1: Sarah
Helms m. Randolph T. Wade 12-17-1895 at Albert Gardner's, Floyd Co., VA by
Q.D. Weeks M.G. He 21 yo single w/m farmer, b. & living in Floyd Co., VA,
s/o Harvey S. & Arbelia Wade. She 25 yo single
w/f, b. & living in Floyd Co., VA, d/o Isaac & Emmy Helms. Randolph T. Wade, s/o Harvey S. & Arabella E.
(Thompson) Wade. [wade1] 1954 Death: 3-13-1954. 1954 Burial:
Pleasant Hill Church, on US 221 in Willis, Floyd Co., VA. (with Randolph) |
|
……3. Helms, Eliza A. |
Parents: Isaac & Emily (Dowdy)
Helms. 1872
Birth:
9-5-1872, Burks Fork Twp, Floyd Co., VA. 1880 Residence:
Floyd Co., VA with parents. |
|
……3. Helms, Luvina |
Parents: Isaac & Emily (Dowdy)
Helms. 1873
Birth:
“Levina” b. 12-1-1873 Floyd Co., VA. 1880 Residence:
Floyd Co., VA with parents. |
|
……3. Helms, James B. |
Parents: Isaac & Emily (Dowdy)
Helms. 1876
Birth:
1-15-1876 Floyd Co., VA. 1880 Residence:
Floyd Co., VA with parents. |
|
……3. Helms, Mary L. |
Parents: Isaac & Emily (Dowdy)
Helms. 1878
Birth:
9-10-1878 Floyd Co., VA. 1880 Residence:
Floyd Co., VA with parents. |
|
……3. Helms, Joel |
Parents: Isaac & Emily (Dowdy)
Helms. 1880 Residence:
Floyd Co., VA with parents. |
|
……3. Helms, Virginia |
Parents: Isaac & Emily (Dowdy)
Helms. 1883
Birth:
11-1-1883 Floyd Co., VA. |
|
…2. Helms, James B. |
Parents:
Benjamin & Nancy (Booth) Helms. 1848
Birth:
abt 1848 Floyd Co., VA. 1850, 1860, 1870 Residence:
Floyd Co., VA with parents. The Memphis
Daily Appeal, Memphis TN, Thursday, April 8, 1873 A
Desperado. Galveston, April 7. Last night at ten o'clock, a man calling
himself James Helm drew a knife and cut a boy, whose name is unknown, and in
his at tempt to escape, attacked and cut three unoffending
parties who happened to be in his way. Officer Ferguson, in attempting to
make his arrest, was next to receive the knife, and died in five minutes
afterward. W. Benison, an old and respected citizen, who was one of the
unfortunates, has since died, and it is thought that two others will die.
Henry Myers, driver for engine company "No. 2, it is believed, will die.
The firemen swear vengeance against Helm. Intense excitement prevails, and it
is believed he will never he allowed, by a mob. to have a trial. Some of the
police have already asserted their intention, if called on to defend the
jail. Helm gives his name as James Bennett Helm, of Floyd county, Virginia,
and a cousin to the notorious Jack Helm, of Texas. The
Memphis Daily Appeal, Memphis TN, Thursday, April 17, 1873 WHOLESALE
Murder. A Madman
is the Streets of Galveston Killed One Man and Wounds Five Others. The
Citizens in a Frenzy of Excitement -- Lynch Law and Mobbing Suggested. The
Criminal In Jail Takes It Coolly ,and Regrets he was not Able to Kill All he
Met. From the
Galveston Weekly Times Yesterday
was a day almost unparalleled in the history of Galveston. As soon as the
news of the bloody series of stabbings made by Helm became known, and as full
particulars were circulated through the medium of the Times extra, issued at
eleven o'clock in the morning, the excitement became intense, and many spoke
of lynching, mobbing, etc. The feeling in favor of this course was so great
that it was deemed inadvisable by the police and others to take the murderer
from the jail for examination. The immensity of the crimes committed appalled
our community, and as each fresh detail appeared, the indignation grew more in tense, until two o'clock active fears were entertained
in regard to the safety of Helm. THE
PARTICTLARS, which we here vouch for as correct in every fact stated, and
which we have, at much trouble, gleaned from every individual having the
least connection with the terrible tragedy, are presented below. We have been
to the trouble of interviewing every one of the parties assaulted, and
visiting them personally, with the view of getting at the facts, and here
they are: Helm arrived in our city on last Friday though we have heard it
said that parties have seen him here for the past month and stopped at the
Chicago house. On Sunday, the landlord heard a great outcry in the room
occupied by Helm, and going up, heard Helm crying "Murder murder!" in a tone of voice alarming to the
neighborhood. He quieted him, and nothing out of the way was done until Suuday night. About half past nine o'clock, Helm, who is
about twenty-five years old, five feet seven inches in hight,
with black hair and moustache and blue eyes, and or medium build, en tered the market-house from
the west side and passing through, stopped at the coffee-stall near the
entrance. He sat here awhile, and rising from his seat, passed down toward
the entrance. FIRST Victum. Mr. George N. Clemens, an employe
of Freeman & Deary, painters, corner of Market and twenty-second streets,
was sitting at the coffee-stand drinking coffee when Helm passed him, and as
he did so, drew his knife, and without saying a word struck Clemens under the
left arm, the blade entering between the two last ribs, the knile entered but a short distance, inflicting a wound
about three-quarter s of an inch long, and half an inch deep, a painful but
not a serious one. SECOND
VICTIM. Helm left the market-house, and proceeding across Twentieth street,
toward Mechanic, came up with Dan Mehan, who was
going to his home. He was in the middle of the street, when Helm passed him
upon the left hand, at the same time dealing him a blow with his right, lunicting a stab in the back, a little below the left shoul der, about an inch deep and an inch long. THIRD
VICTIM. Helm here started in a run up Mechanic. Between Twentieth and
Nineteenth streets he met Thomas Burns, an old gray-headed man, small in
stature. Him Helm met in the middle of the street. We will let him relate
what occurred: "I was coming from Geld-macher's saloon, going toward the
market, when a man passed me in the middle of the street. He turned as he
passed, and struck me with a knife, which I saw open in his hand. Felt that I
was wounded, and asked to be taken to the hospital, which was done. Never saw
the man before." Burns was also stabbed in the back, below the left
shoulder, three inches to the left of the spine, the blade of the knife
entering about an inch and a half or two inches, and making a wound about an
inch and a half long from which he bled considerably. FOURTH
VICTIM. Helm then came back to the south side of Mechanic street, and at Lousen's blacksmith shop, on the corner of Nineteenth street,
came upon a party of four, of which John Myers was one. His statement is as
follows: "I was walking on the inside, and the man passed between me and
the wall, inflicting as he passed, a stab in the back. 'Helm was not ninning, but walking very fast. I fell, when the man
passed out into the middle of the street. My friends who were with me, as
soon as I called out that I was stabbed, ran differeut
ways, but all soon came back, and I was carried to No 2's engine house. They
were umarmed. Mr. Myers, who has been driver of No.
2 engine, was cut in the back, the blade entering about an iuch and a half, in close proximity to the spine, and
right over the kidneys, narrowly missing them. He bled profusely. After
striking Myers, Helm passed down Mechanic street. Mr. Grifiln,
who was with Mr. Myers, ran up to the vicinity of the
"hobbyhorses," where he met Policeman Ferguson. He told the latter
that a man was stabbed up the street, and that the one who did it had a knife
in his hand, and advised Ferguson to draw his pistol. This the latter
declined to do fearing an indictment by the grand jury, should he he tempted to use it, even though he knew the man was
dangerous. FIFTH
VICTIM KILLED. Griffin left him, and Fcerguson
proceeded on alone, to his death, as it proved. He came up with Helm, on the
corner above the cotton-press, and stopping him, endeavored to arrest him,
holding his baton as though to ward off any blow that might be inflicted.
Helm instantly turned, and before the officer was aware of his intention,
stabbed him in the breast. He then knocked him down with a blow of his fist,
and while Ferguson was down, stooped and stabbed him twice more in the
breast. It was during his struggle with Helm that Ferguson, feeling himself
mortally wounded, called out "murder," which alarmed both Benison
and Donavan, and made them rush from different guarters
to the rescue. It was while Ferguson was being held and Helm had him down,
that Benison came upon the scene in response to Ferguson's call for help. SIXTH
VICTIM FATALLY WOUNDED. Next to Ferguson, Benison is the most seriously hurt.
He received two deep stabs, one an inch and a half long, between the
shoulders, to the left of the spine, penetrating the lung, from which he
bleeds internally. The other was further to the left and higher up, fully as
deep but not so dangerous. He suffers greatly from his wounds, but when we
conversed with him yesterday he spoke with great effort, and not above a
whisper. The physician expresses but little hope of his recovery. His name is
Walter Benison. It was while Benison was holding Helm that policeman Donovan
arrived upon the scene. This was on Seventeenth street, between Market and
Mechanic. A BRAVE
POLICEMAN! Donovan acted with great bravery and coolness, and proved himself
a thorough and efficient officer, fully equal to the emergency, as soon as
Benison was freed he staggered home, where he now is. Thus, ended one of the
most coldblooded, atrocious and inhuman series of crimes that it has ever
been our misfortune to recount. Tbe assassin, in
all his various attacks, was actuated but by one purpose, and that was not to
wound or disable, but to kill. He chose in every instance tbe
most vulnerable and mortal part in which to stab, and it will be noticed that
the knife was always plunged into the left side. That more men are not dead
is not his fault, and had it not been for plucky and determined Policeman
Donovan, there is no telling what his might have done. Not
Crazy. That Helm is not crazy, his circumstantial and minute account of all
he had done conclusively proves. It is supposed that he was recovering from
an attack of mania a potu caused by hard dring in New Orleans. It was a most horrible, cold
blooded attempt at wholesale murder, and unless actual insanity is proved
beyond the shadow of a doubt - proved so strongly that nobody dare doubt it –
an outraged and indignant public will his instant trial and condemnation. BIOGRAPHICAL
BY THE PRISONER. " My name is James B. Helm, and I am from Floyd county,
Virginia, where I have a father and mother. I started from Floyd county to go
to Collin county, Texas, where I have an uncle. When I got to New Orleans a
lot of men swindled me out of my money, aud the
stage-driver charged me eleven dollars for riding me a mile to the depot. l
came here Friday on a steamer, and stopped at the Chicago house; when I had
been there a few minutes, two men came in pretending to have a warrant for
me. They could not fool me, but the proprietor turned me out. Men, and
horses, and cabooses, and street cars, were all after me, trying to kill me.
They tried to smother me with fire in their fire proof houses. But I scouted
round till I came to the market-house and ate my supper at the coffee-stand,
and I drank three glasses of soda-water. The men and things were all after
me, and I saw no other chance of escaping, so thought I would give up. After
sitting there, I saw several or them priming their
pistols, and I drew out my knife and thought I would make away with one of
them anyhow. Then I lammed my knife into one of them, and the second one I
stabbed at the corner of the street and the market-house. I then started down
the street and stuck my knife into another. A policeman tried to shoot me,
and I stabbed him three times. There was an old man jumped up to take the
policeman's part after he fell down, and made a lunge at me and fell flat on
his belly, and I jumped on his back and lunged my knife in him; 1 think 1
stabbed him three times in the back. He then got me under, and he was on top
when the other policeman came up and got my knife. I was carried up to the
station-house, or whatever you call it (you had better call it a
slaughter-house). Anybody would have done what I did. They had been trying to
kill me for two days. If I had had a good knife and plenty of time, I would
"got away" with lots of 'em. I kqew I was gone up, and I was going to kill as many as I
could. I came here to go to Western Texas, Collin county. I am here now for
murder, I suppose, and I want to be dealt with according to law. I am under
the United States law, and am willing to submit to it. I was in the
fifty-fourth confederate regiment during tne last
six months of the war. I am twenty-five years old next October." |
|
…2. Helms, Drucilla |
Parents:
Benjamin & Nancy (Booth) Helms. 1852
Birth:
abt 1852 Floyd Co., VA. 1860 Residence:
Floyd Co., VA with parents. |
|
…2. Helms, Adaline |
Parents:
Benjamin & Nancy (Booth) Helms. 1854
Birth:
abt 1854 Floyd Co., VA. 1860 Residence:
Floyd Co., VA with parents. 1861
Death:
11-15-1861 Floyd Co., VA. COD: fever. Age: 7y 1m. 1861
Burial: |
|
…2. Helms, Joel |
Parents:
Benjamin & Nancy (Booth) Helms. 1856
Birth:
Sept 1856 VA. 1860, 1870, 1880 Residence: Floyd Co., VA with parents. 1880
Marriage #1: Joel
Helms m. Isabel Adeline Earles 12-29-1880 at Benjamin Helms', Floyd Co., VA
by H.P. Hylton. He 24 yo single w/m farmer, b. & living in Floyd Co., VA,
s/o Benjamin & Nancy Ann Helms. She 19 yo single w/f, b. & living in
Floyd Co., VA, d/o Rebecca Earles. Isabel Adeline Earles, 1861-1947, d/o Rebecca
Earles. [earles] 1940
Death:
2-22-1940 1940
Burial:
Needham Smith Chapel Cemetery, Hardin Co., KY.
(src: Find A Grave; photo added by Janice) |
|
1. Helms, Benjamin |
Parents:
Thomas & Mary (Weddle) Helms. 1821 Birth: abt
1821 Floyd Co., VA. 1844 Marriage #1:
Benjamin Helms m. Nancy Booth 12-02-1844 Montgomery Co., VA. 1850 Residence:
Floyd Co., VA, H377: …… Helms, Benjamin 29 yo w/m farmer, b. Floyd,
$300, cannot read or write, HOH. ……… Nancy 39 yo w/f, b. Montgomery. ……… Isaac 3 yo w/m, b. Floyd. ……… James B. 2 yo w/m, b. Floyd. 1860 Residence:
Floyd Co., VA, Greasy Creek PO, H1200: …… Helm, Benj 39 yo w/m
farmer, b. VA, $500/205, HOH. ……… Nancy 48 yo w/f, b. VA. ……… Isaac 13 yo w/m, b. VA. ……… Jas. B. 12 yo w/m, b. VA. ……… Drusilla 7 yo w/f, b. VA. ……… Adaline 6 yo w/f, b. VA. ……… Joel 4 yo w/m, b. VA. 1870
Residence:
Jacksonville Twp, H439: ...... Helms, Benjamin 49 yo w/m farmer, b. VA,
$850/500, HOH. ............ Nancy 59 yo w/f, b. VA, keeping house. ............ James 22 yo w/m, b. VA, farmer, $110. ............ Joel 14 yo w/m, b. VA, cannot write. ............ Nolen, John B. 15 yo w/m, b. VA. (may
be Noles or Moles) ............ Helms, Celia A. 13 yo w/f, b. VA. (d/o
Peter & Ruth (Hylton) Helms) [helms] ............ Nolen, Lavina
9 yo w/f, b. VA. (may be Noles or Moles) 1880 Residence:
Floyd Co., VA, Burks Fork District, H203: …… Helms, Benjamin 60 yo w/m farmer, b. VA, parents
b. VA, HOH. ……… Nancy 70 yo wife, b. VA, parents b. VA, cancer
in the womb. ……… Joel H. 24 yo son, b. VA, parents b. VA,
farmer. |
|
…+ Helms, Nancy |
Parents:
Isaac & Mary (Ferguson) Booth. 1811
Birth:
abt 1811 Montgomery Co., VA. 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 Residence: Floyd Co., VA with husband
Benjamin Helms. 1880
Death:
1-21-1880 Floyd Co., VA. COD: unknown cause. Parents: Isaac & Mary. 1880
Burial: |
|
…2. Helms, Isaac |
Parents:
Benjamin & Nancy (Booth) Helms. 1847
Birth:
abt 1847 Floyd Co., VA. 1850, 1860 Residence:
Floyd Co., VA with parents. 1867
Marriage #1: Isaac
Helms m. Ema Dowdy 11-23-1867 at Benjamin Helms',
Floyd Co., VA by H.P. Hylton. He 21 yo single farmer, b. & living in
Floyd Co., VA, s/o Benjamin & Nancy Helms. She single 21 yo, b. Kanhaway Co., VA & living in Floyd Co., VA, d/o
(blank) Dowdy. 1870 Residence:
Floyd Co., VA, Jacksonville Twp, H440: …… Helms, Isaac 23 yo w/m farmer, b. VA, $0/100,
cannot read or write, HOH. ……… Emma 21 yo w/f, b., keeping house, cannot read
or write. ……… Nancy E. 1 yo w/f, b. VA. …… Doudy, Rilla N. 14 yo
w/m, b. VA, cannot read or write. 1880 Residence:
Floyd Co., VA, Burks Fork District, H204: …… Helms, Isaac 33 yo w/m farmer, b. VA, parents b.
VA, HOH. ……… Emma 28 yo wife, b. VA, parents b. VA. ……… Nancy E. 11 yo daughter, b. VA, parents b. VA. ……… Sarah A. 9 yo daughter, b. VA, parents b. VA,
school. ……… Eliza A. 8 yo daughter, b. VA, parents b. VA,
school. ……… Luvina 7 yo daughter,
b. VA, parents b. VA, school. ……… James B. 4 yo son, b. VA, parents b. VA,
school. ……… Mary L.. 2 yo daughter, b. VA, parents b. VA,
school. |
|
……+ Helms, Emily J. “Ema” |
Parents: Newton Austin & Lucy Elizabeth (Smith) Dowdy.
[dowdy] 1852
Birth:
abt 1852 VA. 1870, 1880 Residence:
Floyd Co., VA with husband Isaac Helms. |
|
……3. Helms, Nancy E. |
Parents:
Isaac & Emma (Dowdy) Helms. 1868
Birth:
11-17-1868 Floyd Co., VA. 1870, 1880 Residence:
Floyd Co., VA with parents. |
|
……3. Helms, Sarah A. |
Parents: Isaac & Emily (Dowdy)
Helms. 1870 Birth: Sept 1970 VA. (src: 1900
Census) 1871 Birth: 9-15-1871 VA. (src:
tombstone) 1880 Residence:
Floyd Co., VA with parents. 1895
Marriage #1: Sarah Helms
m. Randolph T. Wade 12-17-1895 at Albert Gardner's, Floyd Co., VA by Q.D.
Weeks M.G. He 21 yo single w/m farmer, b. & living in Floyd Co., VA, s/o
Harvey S. & Arbelia Wade. She 25 yo single w/f,
b. & living in Floyd Co., VA, d/o Isaac & Emmy Helms. Randolph T. Wade, s/o Harvey S. & Arabella E.
(Thompson) Wade. [wade1] 1954 Death: 3-13-1954. 1954 Burial:
Pleasant Hill Church, on US 221 in Willis, Floyd Co., VA. (with Randolph) |
|
……3. Helms, Eliza A. |
Parents: Isaac & Emily (Dowdy)
Helms. 1872
Birth:
9-5-1872, Burks Fork Twp, Floyd Co., VA. 1880 Residence:
Floyd Co., VA with parents. |
|
……3. Helms, Luvina |
Parents: Isaac & Emily (Dowdy)
Helms. 1873
Birth:
“Levina” b. 12-1-1873 Floyd Co., VA. 1880 Residence:
Floyd Co., VA with parents. |
|
……3. Helms, James B. |
Parents: Isaac & Emily (Dowdy)
Helms. 1876
Birth:
1-15-1876 Floyd Co., VA. 1880 Residence:
Floyd Co., VA with parents. |
|
……3. Helms, Mary L. |
Parents: Isaac & Emily (Dowdy)
Helms. 1878
Birth:
9-10-1878 Floyd Co., VA. 1880 Residence:
Floyd Co., VA with parents. |
|
……3. Helms, Joel |
Parents: Isaac & Emily (Dowdy)
Helms. 1880 Residence:
Floyd Co., VA with parents. |
|
……3. Helms, Virginia |
Parents: Isaac & Emily (Dowdy)
Helms. 1883
Birth:
11-1-1883 Floyd Co., VA. |
|
…2. Helms, James B. |
Parents: Benjamin
& Nancy (Booth) Helms. 1848
Birth:
abt 1848 Floyd Co., VA. 1850, 1860, 1870 Residence:
Floyd Co., VA with parents. The
Memphis Daily Appeal, Memphis TN, Thursday, April 8, 1873 A Desperado.
Galveston, April 7. Last night at ten o'clock, a man calling himself James
Helm drew a knife and cut a boy, whose name is unknown, and in his attempt to
escape, attacked and cut three unoffending parties who happened to be in his
way. Officer Ferguson, in attempting to make his arrest, was next to receive
the knife, and died in five minutes afterward. W. Benison, an old and
respected citizen, who was one of the unfortunates, has since died, and it is
thought that two others will die. Henry Myers, driver for engine company
"No. 2, it is believed, will die. The firemen swear vengeance against
Helm. Intense excitement prevails, and it is believed he will never he
allowed, by a mob. to have a trial. Some of the police have already asserted
their intention, if called on to defend the jail. Helm gives his name as
James Bennett Helm, of Floyd county, Virginia, and a cousin to the notorious
Jack Helm, of Texas. The
Memphis Daily Appeal, Memphis TN, Thursday, April 17, 1873 WHOLESALE
Murder. A Madman
is the Streets of Galveston Killed One Man and Wounds Five Others. The
Citizens in a Frenzy of Excitement -- Lynch Law and Mobbing Suggested. The
Criminal In Jail Takes It Coolly ,and Regrets he was not Able to Kill All he
Met. From the
Galveston Weekly Times Yesterday
was a day almost unparalleled in the history of Galveston. As soon as the
news of the bloody series of stabbings made by Helm became known, and as full
particulars were circulated through the medium of the Times extra, issued at
eleven o'clock in the morning, the excitement became intense, and many spoke
of lynching, mobbing, etc. The feeling in favor of this course was so great
that it was deemed inadvisable by the police and others to take the murderer
from the jail for examination. The immensity of the crimes committed appalled
our community, and as each fresh detail appeared, the indignation grew more
intense, until two o'clock active fears were entertained in regard to the
safety of Helm. THE
PARTICTLARS, which we here vouch for as correct in every fact stated, and
which we have, at much trouble, gleaned from every individual having the
least connection with the terrible tragedy, are presented below. We have been
to the trouble of interviewing every one of the parties assaulted, and
visiting them personally, with the view of getting at the facts, and here
they are: Helm arrived in our city on last Friday though we have heard it
said that parties have seen him here for the past month and stopped at the
Chicago house. On Sunday, the landlord heard a great outcry in the room
occupied by Helm, and going up, heard Helm crying "Murder murder!"
in a tone of voice alarming to the neighborhood. He quieted him, and nothing
out of the way was done until Sunday night. About half past nine o'clock,
Helm, who is about twenty-five years old, five feet seven inches in height,
with black hair and moustache and blue eyes, and or medium build, entered the
market-house from the west side and passing through, stopped at the
coffee-stall near the entrance. He sat here awhile, and rising from his seat,
passed down toward the entrance. FIRST
Victim. Mr. George N. Clemens, an employee of Freeman & Deary, painters,
corner of Market and twenty-second streets, was sitting at the coffee-stand
drinking coffee when Helm passed him, and as he did so, drew his knife, and
without saying a word struck Clemens under the left arm, the blade entering
between the two last ribs, the knife entered but a short distance, inflicting
a wound about three-quarter s of an inch long, and half an inch deep, a
painful but not a serious one. SECOND
VICTIM. Helm left the market-house, and proceeding across Twentieth street,
toward Mechanic, came up with Dan Mehan, who was
going to his home. He was in the middle of the street, when Helm passed him
upon the left hand, at the same time dealing him a blow with his right,
inflicting a stab in the back, a little below the left shoulder, about an
inch deep and an inch long. THIRD
VICTIM. Helm here started in a run up Mechanic. Between Twentieth and
Nineteenth streets he met Thomas Burns, an old gray-headed man, small in
stature. Him Helm met in the middle of the street. We will let him relate
what occurred: "I was coming from Geld-macher's saloon, going toward the
market, when a man passed me in the middle of the street. He turned as he
passed, and struck me with a knife, which I saw open in his hand. Felt that I
was wounded, and asked to be taken to the hospital, which was done. Never saw
the man before." Burns was also stabbed in the back, below the left shoulder,
three inches to the left of the spine, the blade of the knife entering about
an inch and a half or two inches and making a wound about an inch and a half
long from which he bled considerably. FOURTH
VICTIM. Helm then came back to the south side of Mechanic street, and at Lousen's blacksmith shop, on the corner of Nineteenth
street, came upon a party of four, of which John Myers was one. His statement
is as follows: "I was walking on the inside, and the man passed between
me and the wall, inflicting as he passed, a stab in the back. 'Helm was not
running but walking very fast. I fell when the man passed out into the middle
of the street. My friends who were with me, as soon as I called out that I
was stabbed, ran different ways, but all soon came back, and I was carried to
No 2's engine house. They were unarmed. Mr. Myers, who has been driver of No.
2 engine, was cut in the back, the blade entering about an inch and a half,
in close proximity to the spine, and right over the kidneys, narrowly missing
them. He bled profusely. After striking Myers, Helm passed down Mechanic
street. Mr. Grifiln, who was with Mr. Myers, ran up
to the vicinity of the "hobbyhorses," where he met Policeman
Ferguson. He told the latter that a man was stabbed up the street, and that
the one who did it had a knife in his hand and advised Ferguson to draw his
pistol. This the latter declined to do fearing an indictment by the grand
jury, should he be tempted to use it, even though he knew the man was
dangerous. FIFTH
VICTIM KILLED. Griffin left him, and Ferguson proceeded on alone, to his
death, as it proved. He came up with Helm, on the corner above the
cotton-press, and stopping him, endeavored to arrest him, holding his baton
as though to ward off any blow that might be inflicted. Helm instantly
turned, and before the officer was aware of his intention, stabbed him in the
breast. He then knocked him down with a blow of his fist, and while Ferguson
was down, stooped and stabbed him twice more in the breast. It was during his
struggle with Helm that Ferguson, feeling himself mortally wounded, called
out "murder," which alarmed both Benison and Donavan, and made them
rush from different quarters to the rescue. It was while Ferguson was being
held and Helm had him down, that Benison came upon the scene in response to
Ferguson's call for help. SIXTH
VICTIM FATALLY WOUNDED. Next to Ferguson, Benison is the most seriously hurt.
He received two deep stabs, one an inch and a half long, between the
shoulders, to the left of the spine, penetrating the lung, from which he
bleeds internally. The other was further to the left and higher up, fully as
deep but not so dangerous. He suffers greatly from his wounds, but when we
conversed with him yesterday he spoke with great effort, and not above a whisper.
The physician expresses but little hope of his recovery. His name is Walter
Benison. It was while Benison was holding Helm that policeman Donovan arrived
upon the scene. This was on Seventeenth street, between Market and Mechanic. A BRAVE
POLICEMAN! Donovan acted with great bravery and coolness, and proved himself
a thorough and efficient officer, fully equal to the emergency, as soon as
Benison was freed he staggered home, where he now is. Thus, ended one of the
most coldblooded, atrocious and inhuman series of crimes that it has ever
been our misfortune to recount. Tbe assassin, in
all his various attacks, was actuated but by one purpose, and that was not to
wound or disable, but to kill. He chose in every instance tbe
most vulnerable and mortal part in which to stab, and it will be noticed that
the knife was always plunged into the left side. That more men are not dead
is not his fault, and had it not been for plucky and determined Policeman
Donovan, there is no telling what his might have done. Not
Crazy. That Helm is not crazy, his circumstantial and minute account of all
he had done conclusively proves. It is supposed that he was recovering from
an attack of mania a potu caused by hard dring in New Orleans. It was a most horrible, cold
blooded attempt at wholesale murder, and unless actual insanity is proved
beyond the shadow of a doubt - proved so strongly that nobody dare doubt it –
an outraged and indignant public will his instant trial and condemnation. BIOGRAPHICAL
BY THE PRISONER. " My name is James B. Helm, and I am from Floyd county,
Virginia, where I have a father and mother. I started from Floyd county to go
to Collin county, Texas, where I have an uncle. When I got to New Orleans a
lot of men swindled me out of my money, aud the
stage-driver charged me eleven dollars for riding me a mile to the depot. l
came here Friday on a steamer, and stopped at the Chicago house; when I had
been there a few minutes, two men came in pretending to have a warrant for
me. They could not fool me, but the proprietor turned me out. Men, and
horses, and cabooses, and street cars, were all after me, trying to kill me.
They tried to smother me with fire in their fire proof houses. But I scouted
round till I came to the market-house and ate my supper at the coffee-stand,
and I drank three glasses of soda-water. The men and things were all after
me, and I saw no other chance of escaping, so thought I would give up. After
sitting there, I saw several or them priming their
pistols, and I drew out my knife and thought I would make away with one of
them anyhow. Then I lammed my knife into one of them, and the second one I
stabbed at the corner of the street and the market-house. I then started down
the street and stuck my knife into another. A policeman tried to shoot me,
and I stabbed him three times. There was an old man jumped up to take the
policeman's part after he fell down, and made a lunge at me and fell flat on
his belly, and I jumped on his back and lunged my knife in him; 1 think 1
stabbed him three times in the back. He then got me under, and he was on top
when the other policeman came up and got my knife. I was carried up to the
station-house, or whatever you call it (you had better call it a
slaughter-house). Anybody would have done what I did. They had been trying to
kill me for two days. If I had had a good knife and plenty of time, I would
"got away" with lots of 'em. I kqew I was gone up, and I was going to kill as many as I
could. I came here to go to Western Texas, Collin county. I am here now for
murder, I suppose, and I want to be dealt with according to law. I am under
the United States law and am willing to submit to it. I was in the
fifty-fourth confederate regiment during the last six months of the war. I am
twenty-five years old next October." |
|
…2. Helms, Drucilla |
Parents:
Benjamin & Nancy (Booth) Helms. 1852
Birth:
abt 1852 Floyd Co., VA. 1860 Residence:
Floyd Co., VA with parents. |
|
…2. Helms, Adaline |
Parents:
Benjamin & Nancy (Booth) Helms. 1854
Birth:
abt 1854 Floyd Co., VA. 1860 Residence:
Floyd Co., VA with parents. 1861
Death:
11-15-1861 Floyd Co., VA. COD: fever. Age: 7y 1m. 1861
Burial: |
|
…2. Helms, Joel |
Parents:
Benjamin & Nancy (Booth) Helms. 1856
Birth:
Sept 1856 VA. 1860, 1870, 1880 Residence: Floyd Co., VA with parents. 1880
Marriage #1: Joel
Helms m. Isabel Adeline Earles 12-29-1880 at Benjamin Helms', Floyd Co., VA
by H.P. Hylton. He 24 yo single w/m farmer, b. & living in Floyd Co., VA,
s/o Benjamin & Nancy Ann Helms. She 19 yo single w/f, b. & living in
Floyd Co., VA, d/o Rebecca Earles. Isabel Adeline Earles, 1861-1947, d/o Rebecca
Earles. [earles] 1940
Death:
2-22-1940 1940
Burial:
Needham Smith Chapel Cemetery, Hardin Co., KY.
(src: Find A Grave; photo added by Janice) |
End Benjamin &
Nancy (Booth) Helms Family.