Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-11-27
BLIND TOM CUSTODY.
His Mothers Plea I,evives the Story
of the Prodigy's Life.

VI ZIG EfOtlSl bi'C'
NKw YORK, Nov. 26.-Dr. James W.
Ranney, as Comm ssloner in Lunaey, and
she-it's jury, heard testimony to-day in
the application of Charity Virgins, an
SO-year-old cOlored woman, who is the
mother of Blind Tom," the celebrated
negro pianist, to have her son adJudged
insane and incompetent to care for him.
sell. Blind Tom Is now in Virginia,
under the care of Gen. James n, Bethune,
who owned the Virgins family while
IN slavery and has had charge Of Blind
Tom for twenty years. The Virginia courts
nave decided in similar application in
mat STATE. that Tom was resident OF
thls state aud accordingly judge Dono-
nue. OF the Supreme Court granted the
application of Mrs. Virgins for COM
mIss' TO decide his sanity. Mrs.
Virgins is sung Gen. Bethune
Tor an accounting of the
moneys he has received during the last
tWenly-three years through exhibiting
puma Tom in this country and Europe.
MIS-. charity Virgins in her testimony
said she had twenty children, of whom
elZht are dead. Four died before the war.
Tom was born May -, 1919, in Georgia.
ne was born in slavery. Ills Iatber and
mo- per W. re both slaves. All toe children
were born liz slavery. Slaves could not
really contract marriage. but Fon's
parents were married. Tom lett GeOrg a
directly alter emancipation. Sac said
tLat Iom did not have the knowledge that
me other children mad, aud has not TO
TINS day. He was born blind. He never
could dress himself and always had t. be-
Icd around. lie Knew nothing about the
war, and the witness thought he Knew
noIhln@ alb ut rlsyery. When be was two
years old IL he heard dog bark or rooster
crow be would initiate it.
AT THE PIANO.
Ii he heard uIru sing ne wound go for
the noise. He had to be watched nights.
Inc family were astOnisbed by his 1rst
tfIal at The piano. While sittlns at d
table a piano was heard. The family ran
IhtO the room and found him playing.
Alter that whenever be heard the girls
play be would play as they did. Tom
could play anything. John G.. BethuBe
to6k Tom every day to havr him
taught. He was then little over years
old. When Tom was years old ne was
carried away. When any money was
civen TO Tom he would throw it away.
Inc witness and her family lett Georgia
IN March 1880. The witness said she be-
longt TO did Gen. John Bethune. When
The witness saw him last Tom knew no
more than when be lett Der as child.
Gen Bethune was to have charge OF him
until he was Il, and then bring him home,
but he never did. Tue witness could not
read or write. Tom was her only sup
port.
PROFESSORS EXPERIENCE.
Prof. Joseph P0znaucki, who taught
music to Tom, said that ne was an ezra
ordinary person, bus of uDsound mind.
He was rational only on points OF mus C
and eating. He ate win his hand. He
ha1 prodigious memory. Tne professor
wrote mis- compost IONS while Tom played.
Tom was mor0se and disliked society.
lie also played on the fiule.
Joseph EuDank, Treasurer of the Blind
Tom Company, was with MIN for twelve
FEARS, commencing in 1858. Tom DID
not know his own needs. He
was powerful man. Once be
was offended with the professor OF music,
and began TO rub his hands together. Tom
knocked the professor ot the -to0l and
threw tue witness out OF tue room. At
81. Louis the guests complained because
Tom played until late at night. The wit
ness was told 10 stop him. The witness
went into bis room and found Tom play
ing contentedly in the dark. He turned
around and threw the witness out of the
room.
BIG PROFITS.
The company took in an average OF
$4,000 per month clear profit. He be-
ileyed tie profit was 5000 per year. Tom
never receiy ed a cent from Inc company
Tom neN er would learn.
TOMS POVERTY.
Lawyer Albert j. lie, che, of Virginia,
testified that Tom was insane, and had
40 property except an interest in a suit
FOR S220,C00 IN Virginia, his flute, worth
81 70 and SO worth 'of clothes. Tee
Judge, In charging the jury, said thar
the case was au unusual one. There was
wonderful and remarkable memory.
musical ability which very few possess.
Tne question TO decide was II in the alb
Sence of all power or ability to provide
Tor himself and take care OF his property,
YET possessing musical power whether
that was sufficient TO class Blind Tom a
an idiot. Tue verdict of the jury was
that Blind Tom was mentally unsOuna
and incapable Of managing his OWE
affairs.