Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-12-10
Feeble Minded Blind Tom.
HIS OLD MOTHER TELLS WHAT A QUEER
PICKANINNY HE WAS

A Sheriff's jury. of which Dr. Jnmes W.
Ranney was the Commissioner, decided
last evening that Thomas Virgins. the
piano player, known as blind Tom, is of
unsound mind and unable to look after
himself. Tom is in Virginia, under the
care of Gen. James U. Bethune, who
owned the Virgins family in slavery days
and has had charge of Tom for more than
twenty years. AS the Virginia courts
decided that Tom is resident of this
State and CITY, upon the application Of his
moths r, Mrs.. Charity Virgins, Judge DON
ohue Of the Supreme Court appointed this
commission to determine his mental con-
dition. The Cid colored woman is also
suing Gen. Bethune in Virginia for an ac-
counting OF the money which he has re-
ceived during the past twenty three years
by exhibiting Tom in this country and
Europe.
Blind Toms mother was the first wit
ness in the proceedings to determine
TOMS mental condition. She testified
that she is about so years old, and has had
twenty children, of whom eight died at
various ages-''some walking and some
crawling" as she put it. She was slave
and all her children were born in slavery.
Tom was born in Georgia on May 25, 1S49.
Q-Tom was not the same as other chill
drenp A-Oh, no. He did not have the
knowledge that other children have. He
hncy MT mil d.vY ~ q mos 90
blind as possible. There was no more
white about his eyes than there is now on
the back of my hand.
Odd be have sufficient capacity to
know you? A-SOmellmes.
Q--Tell US about his musical abilities
A-Well, if he heard a chicken or roos-
Ter crow he would make the same kind
Of noise. II he heard dog bark be would
do the same. If he Eeafd bird sing he
would 60 for the noise, and we had to
watch him nights.
Q-How old was he then? A-About 2
years.
CAT what age did he show any ability
Ia the line of music2 A-When be was
little child.
Q-How did he get up to the piano to
play? A-Well, that is what astonished
US all. We had been sitting at the table,
when we heard some one playing the piano.
| We ran in and saw Tom sitting there play
| ing. That was the first time that he had
ever been seeu there. Afterward, when
ever he heard the girls play, then he would
play as they did. We had to fix him upon
the piano stool so that he could play. Tom
would play anything. Mr.. John 4. Be-
thune took him to town every day to take
lessons.
GLOW old was he then2 A Little
over two years.
Cat what age did he begin to play for
the public? AIT about three years of
age.
Q-Has he ever been taught anything
else but music2 A-Nothing else but
music.
Q-When you saw him last, about a
year ago. did be recognize your voicep A
Oh, yes.
Q-Can he talk on any subjectp A-.Not
at all.
Q-Has he had anything to do about the
| investment Of money? A-When we gave
him any money he would throw it away.
OFF be was ever taught anything did
he forget itY Ale never forgets any
thing.
Q-When you punished the other chill.
dren did he like it7 A-Oh, yes, very
much. He was very much amused to
hear them cry.
Odd he ever churn for youp A-Oh.
yes; the noise seemed to give him great
pleasure. He would also listen to the rain
drops as they battered upon the roof, and
would play on the piano to initiate it.
Toms mother testified that he was TAX
en- away from her about three weeks after
the emancipation. John Bethune. son of
Gen. BeGhune, her master, took him away.
Gen Bethune was to have charge Of Tom
till he was q years old, and then bring
him back to her, but he did not bring Tom
back.
Prof. Joseph Poznanaki, who taught
| Blind Tom music two hours day for
nine years, testified that he believes Tom
| is of unsound mind. But he IS rational
in respect to two things, the Professor
said-music and eating.
Q-How did you instruct him? A
Well, we had two pianos in one room.
| would play for him and after listening q