The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-01-01
is BLIND TOM ALIVE?
Curious Story Concerning the
Black Musical Wonder.
He Is Said to Be a Prisoner in q New
York Residence-NOt a Victim OF
the JohnstOwn Disaster.

NEW YORK, Dec. GA strange story
is told here concerning Blind Tom, the
black musical wonder, who for more than
three years has been supposed TO be dead.
He is said to be an unwilling prisoner UNI
der lock and key in an East-slde
His keepers are q man and a woman. The
latter, who has defied court after court to
take the musician from her, is the widow
of John G.. Bethune, Blind Toms former
master. To thwart justice and block liti-
cation Toms keepers had caused rumOr
after rumor to be circulated to the effect
that he was dead. Alleged confirmation of
the prodigy's demise was had at the time
of the Johnstown flood, when the body of
d negro was recovered and a woman came
forward and identified the body as that of
Thomas Virgins. which is Blind Toms
right name. As such the body was buried,
and a small marble tablet bears the date
and fact of Toms death. But it was not
the musicians body that had been laid to
rest. Blind Tom, who was then in the GUS
tody of his present keepers. was secretly
brought East, and has since been dead 10
the public. He was removed to this city
seven months ago, and has since been kept
in seclusion. Despite the precautions of his
keepers TO guard their secret, Blind Tom
has been found. with his wonderful musical
power undiminished.
The prison house is a four-story brown
stone front tenement in Twenty-hrst street.
His rooms, five in number, are on the third
floor. No one is ever admitted to the
prison, not even the grocery boy. His bas-
ket is placed outside the rear door Of the
apartment and the grocery boy goes away.
Then the door is opened, either by the for
mer Mrs. Bethune or by Albert J. Lerche.
her husband. who stealthily energies, and,
hastily snatching up the articles, disap-
pears inside. The mysterious conduct OF
the couple is the talk of the neighborhood.
AS to the furnishings of Blind Toms
apartments, little is known, as no stranger
Is ever admitted. There is a piano, upon
which Tom is heard playing at all hours
of the day. The neighbors have never
guessed the identity of the pianist. When
ever Tom plays the tenants crowd into the
Railways ana listen with rapt attention.
Sometimes he sings, and his voice blends
splendidly with the pianos notes. y dozen
attempts to gain access to the rooms have
been without success. Repeated knOckinSs
a. the door are Of no avail, although it
was known that Mrs. Lerche was inside.
Lerche, before he married the widow Be
thune. once opposed Mrs. Bethune's effort
TO obtain possession Of the negro. That
was in 1885. when he obtained a power of
attorney from Toms mother, Charity Wig
gins, to defend her sons interests in court.
The effort failed. and Mrs. Eliza Bethune,
then a widow, retained possession of Tom.
ISrche wOoed and won the widow. When
she obtained control of Blind Tom Mrs.
Eethune was required by the court to rem
der an accounting every year. For six
years she conducted the tours about the
country and reaped all the profit. She has
not made the accounting demanded by
law, and il is alleged that she has made at
least $4,000 out OF concerts in that time.
Contempt proceedings have been brought
against her, but she has successfully FOUGHT
off the lawyers and summons servers.
Blind Tom was born in Georgia. May -.
1919. so that he is forty-four years old. His
81 Nh - NfDgsDn
eighty years of age. is alive and living with
her children in MuScagee county, Georgia.
she had eleven children, all OF whom arc
said TO be living. Tom was an ;diOt from
birth. and at three years of age was sold to
j. n. Bethune, of Fauquier county. Virginia.
From his earliest years Tom showed n
wonderful appreciation of music. On the
Bethune plantation he first heard the notes
ear pressed to the wall of the house when
the piano was being played. and he sang
At four years of age Tom astonished the
Bethune family by his wonderful execution
on the piano. When the boy was eight
years OF age his master, j. n. Bethune,
toured the country with him and later went
TO Europe, where the musician played be
fore the crowned heads of the continent
over $4,000 was realized from the first
tour. When ]. y. Bethune tired Of making
money out of Blind Tom his son. John CT.
Bethune, assumed the management of the
colOred wonder and toured him throughout
the country from July 10. 1S70. vha3 his
father succeeded in having him Amounted
curator OF the blind idiots person bv the
courts of Virginia, until 1883, when the son
died.
In the intervening period young Bethune
married the present Mrs. Lerche. He es-
tabiished a valuable racing stable, known
as the Bethune stable OF Kentucky. out OF
Blind Toms earnings. During all this time
the idiot never received a cent for his SER
vices. 1t is said he was cu1ed and beaten
when he rebelled. The Bethunes success
fully fought every suit brought in Toms
behalf. The Virginia courts decided that he
was entitled to a portion OF his earnings,
and gave judgment for $4,000, and the Be
thune estate is still liable for that amount,
but the judgment has never been satisfied.
Since she acquired possession of Blind Tom
Mrs. Lerche has been enabled TO purchase
13 acres OF property at Navesink High
lands. y. J., for which she has paid $1,000.