The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1886-12-04
BLIND TON.
Genius aad Lunacy IncsDprshsnsibly Min
glsd.

lVNts
Genius aad Lunacy Incs1prshsnsibly Min
glst.
New York, Nov. 26.-Dr. J. w.
Ranney, ss q commissioner In lu-
macy, and a sheriffs jury head tes-
timony to-day on the application
Of Charity wiggius, the eighty.
year-eld oolored woman, who is
the mother OF "Blind Tom," the
celebrated pianist, to have her son
adjudged Insane and incompetent
TO care for himself.
Blind Tom 10 now in Virginia
under care Of Gen. Jas. N. Beth.
une, who owned the Virgins fam.
ily while In slavery, and has had
charge OF Blind Tom for twenty
years.
The Virginia courts decided in q
similar application in that State
that Tom was a resident OF this
State, and accordingly Judge
Donohue, OF the Supreme Court,
granted tho application OF Mrs,
Virgins for a commission to de-
eide bis sanity. nld hafai1H
Mrs. Virgins 10 suoing Gen.
Bethuno for an accounting OF the
money he has received during tho
last twenty.threo years through
exhibiting Tom In this conntryand
in Europe. Mrs. wiggins, In her
testimony, said she had twenty
children, OF which eight ore dead.
Four died before 1.-The war. Tom
was born May 25, 1S49, in Georgia.
He was born in slavery. fHHn ih
Slaves could not legally con.
tract marriage, but Toms parents
were married.. Tom left Georgia
directly after the emancipation.
She said that Tom did not have
the knowledge that other children
had, and docs not to this day. lie
was born blind. Ho never could
dress himself and always had to
DO led around. lie know nothing
about tho war, and the witness
thought no knew nothing about
slavery. Uau aa
When he vas two years old If
he heard q dog bark he would i'm
itste II. The family we're aston.
ished by his first trial Of the piano.
While sitting st the table the piano
wae heard. Tho family ran into
tho room and found him playing.
After that whenever he heard the
girls play he would play ne they
did. Tom could play anything.
Mr.. John G.. Bethune took Tom
every day to have him taught. lie
was then q little over tive years
old. When Tom Was seven years
old he was carried away. He was
never taught anything but music.
When the witness saw him last,
one year ago. ho recognized her.
When any money was given him
he would throw itaway. He new.
or forgot anything when he learn.
ed II. lie 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.
In describing his way OF teach.
ing Tom, the professor said he
had two pianos in one room. Wit.
ness would play o selection on
ono, Tom would liston for awhile,
get up, walk around, stand first
on one foot, then on tho other,
pull his hair and knock bis head
against the wall, then he would sit
down and play a very good imita.
tion. lie had prodigious memo.
ry. E7H
Joseph Eubnnk, the treasurer
of tho Blind Tom Company, was
with him fer twelve years. Tom
wac o powerful man. He Was OF.
tended with a professor OF music
and began to rub his hands to.
geiher. Tom knocked the profes'
sor OF The stool and threw the
witness out OF the room. The
company took in an average of
$4,000 per month clear pron.. He
beloved ths profit was about $685.
600 per gear. Tom never received
q cent from the company. 'balsa
Lawyer A. j. Lesche, Of vir-
ginis, teotified that Tom is insane,
and had no property except an IN
terest In q suit for 100000 in vir.
ginin, his flute, worth 275, and $40
worth Of clothes.
Tho verdict Of tho jury was that
| Blind Tom was mentally uHB0und