Friday, October 17, 2008

VIRGINIA E SMITH - Pages 22-23 Lyon County KY Lunatic Inquest Book

Page 22

State of Kentucky ] SCT State of Ky, Lyon Co
Lyon County Court June 20, 1890
COMMONWEALTH
vs
Virginia E smith ] Lunatic

This day E H James, Attorney for Lyon County Ky filed an information as follows, to-wit:

To Hon. T J Watkins, Judge of the Lyon County Court:
I am reliably informed that Mrs Virginia E Smith is a person of unsound mind, and a lunatic and therefore ask that a jury be impaneled to pass upon the subject.

E H James County Attorney Lyon County
Ordered by the Court, That John D Lester Esq, an Attorney of this Court, be and he is hereby appointed to defend for and on behalf of the person under trial.

To inquire, etc., comes a jury to-wit: T J Lohr, T C Warfield, Garret Reed, S H Morten, S W Howarton, O C Catlett, J W Cassidy, Caswell Nuckolls, W A Linelly, George C Hodges, G C Lester & M P Malloy

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 Mrs. Virgie E Smithis a person of unsound mind and a lunatic; that the unsoundness of mind was produced by cause unknown to jury that she was born in Columbus, Miss. , and resides in Eddyville, Ky and is about 40 years old; that she was not brought into this State for the purpose of becoming a charge upon the Commonwealth; that she owns city property in Columbus Miss. worth $2500 incumbered by a $500 to $600 lien; that her father is dead and mother dead and said Virgie E Smith is not capable of laboring either in whole or in part for her support.

[signatures of jurors listed above with foreman listed]


wherefore it is adjudged by the Court that said Virginia E smith is of unsound mind and a lunatic and that she be immediately conveyed to the asylum at Hopkinsville Kentucky, and Dick Calloway is appointed to convey her to said asylum and he is allowed one guard.

Attest: T J Watkins Judge Lyon County Court

Filed in my office June 20, 1890: T H Malloy, Lyon Cn Ct

State of Kentucky
Lyon County
Her affiants A Calloway and J H Hussey state that they are practicing physicians and that they have personally examined Mrs. Virginia E Smith [??] to [??] of unsound mind and that they verify believe [sic] her to be a lunatic and that her condition is such it would be unsafe to bring her into court.
A Calloway
J H Hussey
Subscribed and sworn to before me by A Calloway and Hussey this the 20 day of June 1890
T J Watkins Judge LCC


Page 23

Brief History of Case

1.(a) Age - 40 years
(b) Occupation -
(c) Married or Single - married
(d) Habits - industrious when sane
(e) Educated - yes
2.(a) What relations have been insane - She has an aunt, sister to her mother, who at times has shown indications of insanity
3.(a) Date of first attack - Has shown some indications of insanity for two or [??] years post but not confined until six months ago
(b) How exhibited - Sometimes about religion and at other times about business and other things
(c) Has it changed in character at any any former period - She is continually growing worse, though some times she has partially lucid intervals
4.(a) Supposed cause - unknown
(b) Any peculiar illusions and what - She frequently imagines sha has done wrong about various things and blames herself
(c) Subject to fits. No How long -
From what cause -
(d) Natural Temper - When sane even temper, though excitable and very sensitive
5.(a) Attempt at suicide - no
(b) Violence toward others - no
6.Periodic frenzy - yes
7.(a) Restraint imposed - She is constantly watched by members of the family. Have had to fasten doors to keep her from leaving home at night
(b) Treatment used - Have given her medicine to quiet her more and produce sleep
(c) Bleeding - no
8. Injury about head - Several years ago she had a fall and struck the back of her head but seemed to produce no serious results
9. T J Watkins Judge LCC

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