Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-12-03
BLIND TOM.
The Mother Of the Celebrated Mu-
sioian Wins Her Suit.

NEW YoRK, Nov. 26.-Dr. D. w.
Ranney, as a commissioner in lunacy,
and a sheriil's jury heard testimony
to-day in the application of Charity
Virgins, the 80-year-old colored wo-
man who IS the mother of "Blind
Tom," the celebrated negro pianist.
to have her son adjudged insane and
incompetent to care for himself.
Blind Tom Is now in Virginia, under
the care Of Gen. James N. BethCne,
who owned the Virgins family while
IN slavery, and has had charge of
Blind Tom for twenty years. The
Virginia courts decided in similar
application in that STATE that Tom
was residence of his State, and ac-
cOrdinglY Judge Donohue, of the
Supreme Court, granted the applica-
ton OF Mrs. Virgins for conmis-
sion to decide his sanity. Mrs. Wig.
gins is sueing Gen. Bethune for an
accounting of the money he has re-
ceived during the last twenly-three
years through exhibiting Tom in
this country and in Europe.
Mrs. Virgins, in her testimony,
said she had twenty children, OF
which eight are dead. -Four died be-
fore the war Tom was born May
%, 1919, in Georgia. lie was born
in slavery. Slaves could not legally
contract marriage, but Toms par
ents were married. Tom left Geor-
gia directly after the emancipation.
She said that Tom did not have the
knowledge that other children had,
aud does not to this day. lie was
born blind. lie never could dress
himself and always had to be led
around. lie knew nothing about the
war, and the witness thought lie
knew nothing about slavery.
When he was 2 years old if he
heard a dog bark he would initiate it.
The family were astonished by his
first trial at the piano. While sitting
at the table the piano was heard.
The family ran into the room and
found him playing. After that, when
ever he heard the girls play he would
play as they did. Tom could play
anything. Mr.. John G. Bethune took
Tom every day TO have him taught.
lie was then little over 2 years old.
When Tom was 7 years old, he was
carried away. lie was never taught
anything but music. When the wit
ness saw him last, one year ago, lie
recognized her. When any money
was given him he would throw It
away. lie never forgot anything
when he loapned it. lie was always
amused by hearing other children
cry when they were whipped. Tom
always listened carefully to the tick
ing Of clock. He would initiate the
patting of rain drops OH the piano.
Prof. Joseph Poznaucki, who taught
music to Tom, said that he was an
extraordinary person, but of unsound
mind. In describing his way OF
teaching Tom, the professor said he
had two pianos in one room. Wit
ness would play selection on one.
Tom would listen for a 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 a
very good imitation with additions
of his own. lie had prodigious
memory.
Joseph Eubank, treasury of the
Blind Tom Company, was with him
for twelve years. Tom was power
ful man. lie was offended with a
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 $4,000 per year.
Tom never received a cent from the
company.
Lawyer A. j. Lerche, Of Virginia,
testified that Tom is insane and had
no property except an interest in a
suit for s220,000 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 managing his own
affairs.