Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-12-09
BDTyD TOMS srornER.
Interesting Points Brought Out In
Tenti many.


A late issue of the New York Times
says: Judge Boud of the United States
district court, In Virginia, having de-
clared that "Blind Tom was a citizen OF
this state, Judge Donohue recently |
granted o commission for the determine |
ton Of the mental condition of the famous |
musician. The applicant for the ocm-
mission YVES Mrs. Charity Virgins, the
mother of Blind Tom. Az his prochein
ami she is now suing his present GUS
todian. Gen. james N. Bethune, in Viz
einia, to compel him to account for the
money he has received for the perform
ances given by the prodigy in the last rs
years.
Her purpose is TO put herself in posi-,
ton TO dispute the custody of her son
with General Bethune, pending the suit,
through verdict rendered here that he
il insane, General Bethuue WAS the
owner Of Charity Virgins and her
husband and all their progeny prior to
the emancipation proclamation going into
effect in Georgia Since then be or his son
has had control of Blind Tom under
some sort of an agreement made under
the supervision of the Freedman's Bureau
and under declaration of a Virginia
court he was lunatic.
Mira Virgins, through her attorneys,A.
j. Lerche and d. Il. Holland, insists that
Bethune has kept her son in practical
slavery. She is o shTewd little colored
woman, more active mentally aud physi
cally at 80 years of age than most women
are at middle age. She ia the mother OF
30 children. of whom eight are dead
This she told to Commissioner j. w
Ranney and sheriff's jury yesterday
Tom, she said, was born in Georgia OF
May 25th, 1849.
ssHe was not the same as other childrehr'
remarked her counsel, interrogatively.
'sOh, no He did not have the knowl
edge of other children. lie has not unit
this day! He was born biiud. He neve
had any white to his eyes. They were q
black as my hand"
''Tell us about his musical abilities.n
eff he heard d chicken clow before b
was year old he would make the sam
noise. If he heard dog bark he woul
bark. And if he heard bird sing
wouldstry TO sing. He would try to fol
low any noise that pleased him. So W
had to watch him. would sit up PAL
of the night and my husband the othe
part, watching him. But he would g
away from us. And it was when he e
away once that his music talent wi
found out. He crawled into the parlC
when oil of the Bethune family were
dinner and got at the piano. The whit
people heard the sounds and they went
see who made them. They found To-
playing"
"How did he get up to the piano ?"
"That's what 'stonished u.s.
'How old was he p
tAbout q year"
Then she told how John G. Bethur
had had Tom taught pieces of music, no
he began to exhibit him at years of ag
and how he took him away about mont
after the emancipation proclamation
Tom, she said, had never any educatic
except in music. He knew nothing abo,
money. When he was given any he tire
ii away. Mrs. Virgins supposed tn
John G. BetEuEs took Tom away becau
there was money in him" When 81
saw him last Tom knew no more thu
when he left her years ago. He was h
sole support in her old age.
. Prof. joseph Poznanski testified tn
he taught musical pieces to Blind To
every summer for nine years, In |
opinion Tom was deficient of all sens
except that of music, and that viii
He was an inordinate eater. Prof. Pt
nansli said he would play on piano q
Blind Tom would caper around the TO,
meanwhile. When he was done 4
would seat himself at another piano a
reproduce the sounds he had heard.
never forgot piece he had thus learn
Joseph Eubank, who travelled "
Blind Tom as an assistant of John
Bethune for IL years, beginning in 10
testified that Tom twas entirely differ
from other people" He could never
when he was hungry nor how much fl
was sufficient for him. He would or
enough for dozen persons. He wa
powerful fellow. Once he knocked on
Louisville music teacher whom he
liked, and also pummeled the witness
trying to protect the teacher. I
played horn one night in his room il
st. Louis hotel very much to the disco
fort Of other occupants of the hoI
Mr.. Eubauk strove to stop him and
thrown out Of his room. Mr.. Eub
estimated that the managers of Z
cleared So, 900 month on him, but 4
never got any of the money.
Other witnesses testified that Tom
not n sound mind. The sherti's
Hsnd3rad a verdict that he was mean
of managing himself and his affairs.