Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-07-16


Is BLIND Tom A SLAvE?-In the United
States Circuit Court at Alexandria, Va, last
Friday, the case of Blind Tom, which was
brought into Court on the previous day, on
a writ of habeas corpus sued out by his
mother, came up. Counsel of the mother
and others claimed that this court had nc
jurisdiction of the case, and that Fauquie1
county Court had not and never could have
acquired Jurisdiction. The Judge decided
that General Bethune became a resident o1
Virginia, in 1870, and that Tom, being then
in Bethune's possession, under contract, ne
also became resident, and that the Court
of Fauquier had Jurisdiction. The Judge,
delivering his opinion, said: 81 have moth
ing to do with the question of his lunacy.
My only inquiry is whether Tom is held as
Slave. | do not see how the petitioner, in
this case his mother, after her contract OF
1865, and her acquiescence for ID years IN
the action of the Fauquier Court in commit
ting Tom to Bethune, can now insist ne is
held as slave. Evidently he is not held as
slave.
81 therefore have no right or jurisdiction
to remove him from his present custody,
and feel bound. in the interest OF humanity,
to remand him to the custody in which he
was born, in which he has lived all his lie,
and in which he is anxious to remain"
During the trial Of the case, in order to
allow the Court to form an opinion as to the
mental condition of Tom, several questions
were propounded to him by the Court, to
all of which he gave fairly intelligibe an
sWers, but would invariably say he wanted
to stay with General Bethune and go back
to WarrentOn.
The Macon Telegraph gives the following
short history of Blind Tom, and the motives
Of hn litirotinp his p11rGlan-
ship: The people of this country are IA
miliar with Blind Tom, the musical prodi-
gy, but all of them have not marked the
Wonderful incidents in his career. Born a
slave and deprived of almost every sense
but that of sound, he has astonished and de-
lighted the people Of this country by his
wonderful power as pianist. He IS o
Georgian and must now be over 10 years
of age. His musical gifts began to attract
attention before the war. At its close it is
not wonderful that it was supposed that he
could be played as a great card. The GUS
tody of Blind Tom was given to Gen. Beth
une his former owner lie Travelled with
him for some time, and then turned him
over to one Of his sons, who contracted an
unfortunate marriage and was killed by the
railroad train something more than a year
since. The alleged widow is now trying to
get possession of Tom, and is using his
mother to effect this purpose, who must
now be quite aged. Toms parents enter
ed into an agreement as to his custody with
Gen Bethune, and this will play an impor-
tant part in the litigation that must ensue.
Without the care and attention Of his old
master and their children, Tom would new
er have had an opportunity of developing
his wonderful power of musical imitation.
He has just sufficient intellect to know
them and to entertain for them the atfec-
tfon exhibited by domestic animal. He
is utterly unable to care for himself, and it
any better prepared to look after him.