The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-27
BLIND TOM.
Interesting Facts About the Famous Pianist
He Is Declared Mentally UnsOund.

New YORK, Nov 26-Dr j. W. Rannev. as
commissioner Ia lunacy, and sheriffs jury
neard testimony to-day in the application Of
Charity Virgins, the eighty ysar-old colored
woman who is the mother of Blind Tom,r the
celebrated negro pianist, to have her son adj
judged insane and ncompetent to care for
himself Blind Tom is now in Virginia. under
care of General Bethune. who owned
the Virgins family in slavery and has had charge
of Blind Tom for twenty years. The Virginia
courts decided in a similar application in that
State that Tom was @ resident Of this State,
and accordingly Judge Donohue, of the Su-
preme Court granted tho application of Mrs.
Virgins for a commission to decide his sanity.
Mrs. Virgins is suing General Bethune for an
accounting of the money he has received during
the last twenty-thr years through exhibiting
Tom In this country and in Europe. Mrs. Wig
gins. in her testimony. said she had twenty chill
dren, of whom eight are dead. Four
died before the war. Tom was born
May %, ls49, in Georgia. He was born
in slavery. Slaves could not legally
contract marriage, but Toms parents were mar
rled. Tom left Georgia directly after the emau.
cipatlon. She said that Tom did not have the
knowledge that otner children had and does not
to this day. He was born blind. He never
could, dress himself, and he always had to
the war, and the witness thought
that he knew nothing about slavery.
When he was two years old if he heard dog
bark he would initiate it The family were as
tonished by his first trial on the piano. While
sitting at the table the piano was heard. aud the
family ran into the room and found him playing
After that, whenever he heard the girls play, he
would play as they did. Tom could play any
thing. Mr. John g. Bethune took Tom every day
to have him taught He was then a little over
two years old. When Tom was seven years old
he was carried away. He was never taught any
thing but music When the witness saw him
last. Que year ago. he recognized her. When
any money was given him he would throw IL
away. He never forgot anything when he
learned it. He was always amused by hearing
other children cry when they were whipped
Tom always listened carefully to the ticking
of the clock. He would initiate the
pattering of rain drops on the
piano. Prof Joseph Poznaucki, who taught
music to Tom, said that he was extraordinary
person, but of unsound mind In describing his
way of teaching Tom, the professor said he had
two pianos In one room; the witness would play
q selection on one Tom would listen for while
get up, walk around, stand first on one foot,
then on the other pull his hair and knock his
head against the wall. Then he would sit down
and play very good imitation, with additions
of his own. He had a prodigous memory.
Josepn Euoank, the treasurer or the Blind
Tom Company. with him for twelve years
Tom was powerful man. He was offended
with professor of music, and began to rub his
hands together. Tom knocked the professor off
the stool and threw the witness out of the
room. The company took in an average of
$4,000 per month clear profit. He believed the
profit was about $25, 900 per year Tom never
received cent from the company.
Lawyer A. j. Lerche. of Virginia. testified
that Tom is insane and had no property except
an interest in suit for 1920 900, in Virginia his
flute worth $l75 and $40 worth of clothes.
The verdict of the jury was that Blind Tom
was mentally unsound and incapable of man
aging his own affairs.