Saturday, October 25, 2008

JAMES W TOWNS - Pages 38-39 Lyon County KY Lunatic Inquest Book

Page38
Special Term
State of Kentucky ] SCT State of Ky, Lyon Co
Lyon County Court August 19, 1892
COMMONWEALTH
vs
Jas. W. Towns ] Lunatic

This day F A Wilson Attorney for the Commonwealth, filed an information as follows, to-wit:

To Hon. [name], Judge of the Lyon County Court:
I am reliably informed that Jas. W. Towns is a person of unsound mind, and a lunatic and therefore ask that a jury be impaneled to pass upon the subject.

F A Wilson County Attorney
Ordered by the Court, That Dan B Cassidy Esq, an Attorney of this Court, be and he is hereby appointed to defend for and on behalf of the person under trial. Viz: James W Town

To inquire, etc., comes a jury to-wit: T H Malloy, Clarence Joy, Ollin C Catlett, B F Groves, W M Robertson, G C Lester, Garrett Reed, Walter Timmons, M P Malloy, F S Lady, Elijah Timmons and C W Rucker

who being duly impaneled and sworn according to law, after hearing the evidence, returned the following verdict, viz: We of the jury find from the evidence that James W Towns is a person of unsound mind and a lunatic; that the unsoundness of mind originates from cause unknown to jury that he was born in Kentucky, and resides in Lyon County and is 50 years old; that he was not brought into this State for the purpose of becoming a charge upon the Commonwealth; that he owns a few acres of very poor ground, too poor to make a living on, that he owns no other estate of any kind;save a little household pl??, that his father is dead and mother is dead he has no estate except that above named which is not sufficient to support the person under trial; and said Jas. W. Towns is not capable of laboring either in whole or in part for his support.

[signatures of jurors listed above with foreman listed]
[foreman]

wherefore it is adjudged by the Court that said James W Towns is of unsound mind and a lunatic and that he be immediately conveyed to the asylum at Hopkinsville Kentucky, and D G W Williamson is appointed to convey him to said asylum and he is allowed one guard.

Attest: W L Crumbaugh Judge Lyon County Court

Page 39

Brief History of Case

1.(a) Age - 50
(b) Occupation - farmer
(c) Married or Single - married
(d) Habits - sober & good
(e) Educated - limited
2.(a) What relations have been insane -
3.(a) Date of first attack - about seven years ago. at first slight
(b) How exhibited - periodical spells of sullenness, then excitement, then recovery- the symptoms alternate at short intervals
(c) Has it changed in character at any any former period - periods of insanity of greater duration andmuch more violent
4.(a) Supposed cause - unknown
(b) Any peculiar illusions and what - imagines his family and friends are tired of him, wish to kill & poison him
(c) Subject to fits. no How long -
From what cause -
(d) Natural Temper - yes - even when sane
5.(a) Attempt at suicide - no, but threatens it
(b) Violence toward others -
6.Periodic frenzy - yes
7.(a) Restraint imposed - have had to use force to prevent injury to himself and others
(b) Treatment used - unknown
(c) Bleeding -
8. Injury about head - none
9.

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