H. B. Luckehe

H. B. Luckehe
Born	c. 1858 California
Died	29 June 1901 (aged 42–43) Stockton, San Joaquin Co., California

Henry Bernard Luckehe (c. 1858 - June 29, 1901), also known as "King" Henry Bea Luckehe, was an eccentric resident of Sutter County, California whose exploits received coverage in regional newspapers, including reports of experiments with perpetual motion and his claim to have discovered the "Mysterious Key by which the Great Universe is Controlled", which he detailed in charts posted publicly in the display window of the Golden Rule Bazaar at Marysville, California. His increasingly unstable behaviour, including claims of dream-visions of rich mining stakes, a confrontation during which he shot his brother, common public outbursts, and the harassment of local women, eventually culminated in Luckehe's arrest in 1892, after which the court adjudged him insane and had him incarcerated at the Insane Asylum of California at Stockton, where he remained until his death in 1901.

Press Coverage

• "A SCIENTIFIC WORK. A Production Which Baffles Description.", Marysville Evening Democrat (Marysville, CA): 1, 27 Mar. 1891, https://www.newspapers.com/image/608429934 
• "KING LUCKEHE. An Interesting Personage at a Marysville Hotel. Some Account of His Peculiar Experiences - Love Affairs and Matters of Business.", Marysville Daily Appeal (Marysville, CA): 3, 28 Mar. 1891, https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=MDA18910328.2.11&srpos=6&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN- 
• "KING HENRY'S HAIR CUT. Flowing Locks Sacrificed for a Crystal Palace.", Marysville Daily Appeal (Marysville, CA): 3, 25 Apr. 1891, https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=MDA18910425.2.16&srpos=7&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN-Henry+Bea+Luckehe-------1, "King Henry Bea Luckehe came to town yesterday to get his hair cut. He ha’ed, he said, to part with his flowing locks, but as he had dreamt of unforseen riches that were in store for him if he parted with them, he had made up his mind to do it. He had been promised in a dream that he would soon dwell in a palace made of crystal diamonds, provided he was meek and humble, and as a test of his penitence an angel asked him to get rid of his locks, in which were vested all his strength. A mountain had been pointed out to him, situated twenty-three miles from Marysville, in which was a cave that contained $10,000,000 worth of diamonds. With these precious stones he would build a crystal palace, but would employ no architect, as he promised to do the work himself. In structure it would resemble King Solomon's temple, and the entrance gates would be made of solid gold. This diamond palace, he said, he would build on the top of the Buttes. As a large amount of money has recently been left him, he hoped to be able to commence work soon. He said he would first construct a railroad to the Buttes, to convey the diamonds more easily. He said his work would be all done at night, as the spirits could lend a helping." 
• "Trouble Among the Luckehe Brothers", Sutter County Farmer (Yuba City, CA): 3, 13 Nov. 1891, https://www.newspapers.com/image/627797303/?terms=%22King%20Henry%22&match=1 
• "LUCKEHE'S MAD INFATUATION. He Persists in Following a Young Lady AND IS IN THE CITY PRISON On a Charge of Lunacy - The Irrational and Unintelligible Chatter of the Demented Fellow Caused Those Who Heard to Laugh - He Is Considered by Many to be Dangerous.", Marysville Daily Appeal (Marysville, CA), 26 Apr. 1892, https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=MDA18920426.2.30&srpos=4&e=-------en--20-MDA-1--txt-txIN-Henry+Luckehe-------1 
• "Adjudged Insane", San Francisco Call (San Francisco, CA): 1, 27 Apr. 1892, https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SFC18920427.2.25.12&srpos=4&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN-Henry+Luckehe-------1, "MARYSVILLE, April 26. — Henry B. Luckehe, a young man whose hallucinations have made him quite a noted character, was examined for insanity to-day and he was ordered taken to Stockton. Recently his infatuation with various young ladies has caused him to make himself so disagreeable that he had to be watched. Last night he endeavored to force his attentions upon one and was arrested. At times he become wholly irresponsible and was dangerous." 
• "THE DETHRONED KING. He Causes Trouble on the Way to Stockton Asylum.", Marysville Daily Appeal (Marysville, CA), 29 Apr. 1892, https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=MDA18920429.2.30&srpos=3&e=-------en--20--1--txt-, "King Henry B. Luckehe made himself very conspicuous on his journey to the Stockton Asylum and caused Deputy Sheriff J. G. McLellan considerable trouble before he was safely installed in the home for shattered minds. At the jail here Sheriff Saul and Under Sheriff Bevan were obliged to call on the prisoners for assistance before the leather restraints could be fastened on the muscular maniac's hands. At the train the dethroned 'king' delivered a long address to his subjects, calling for their assistance to help him out of his difficulty. He imagined that he was being kidnaped. After the train pulled out he was quiet for a time, but finally broke forth with another bitter denunciation of those whom he supposes are engaged in the attempt to take away his crown. The change of cars at Sacramento was accomplished after considerable persuasion, but at Stockton he absolutely refused to leave the train and it required the combined strength of six men to remove him from his seat. Once off the train he became subdued again and the drive to the asylum was made without further trouble." 
• "H. B. Luckehe died at Stockton last Saturday, June 29th.", Sutter County Farmer (Yuba City, CA): 6, 5 July 1901, https://www.newspapers.com/image/627735142/