Saturday, June 27, 2009

GEORGE DOWN - Pages TB 38-39 Lyon County KY Lunatic Inquest Book

38

STATE OF KENTUCKY } Call Term
County of Lyon
March 28 1914
COMMONWEALTH }
Versus } Lunatic
Geo Down

This day J S Hodges Attorney for the Commonwealth filed an information as follows, to-wit: To Hon. T P Gray Judge of the Lyon Court: I am reliably informed that George Down is a person of unsound mind and a lunatic (Lunatic or Idiot) and therefore ask that a Jury be impaneled to pass upon the subject.

J S Hodges
Attorney Lyon Court

Ordered by the Court, That E H James 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: Shelly Satterfield, W J Mills, Jim Lawrence, James Gresham, K P Brasher, Z?? Farless, R L Howard, Chas Hammer(?), S N Du??s, J M B??, D ??ick, and Whiti K??;
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 Geo Down is a person of unsound mind and a lunatic;
That the unsoundness of mind has existed since ____: that _he was born in ____ (State or Country) and resides in Ky Prison at Eddyville County and is 21 years of age; that _he was not brought into this State for the purpose of becoming a charge upon the Commonwealth; that _he owns ____ no estate of any kind; that ____ father is ____ [know nothing of them] and mother is ____ and reside in ____ and ha_ not estate ____ sufficient to support the person under trial; and said George Down is not capable of laboring either in whole or in part for ____support.

(Additional facts as per instructions of presiding judge.)


K P Brasher Foreman


39

Brief History of Case by the Presiding Judge:

Age? 21 Color? Black Sex: Male Married, single or Widowed? Prisoner
Occupation? ____ Occupation of Husband? ____ Habits? ____
Extent of Education ? None Number and date of previous attacks? ____
What relatives, if any, have been insane, peculiar or intemperate? Do not know;
Duration of present attack: 3 or 4 days; How exhibited and has it changed in character? Wild and excitable Hollering in sleep;
Supposed cause? Tuberculosis; Any delusions or hallucinations, and if so, what? Hollers names all night. Imagines he is driving cotton.
Subject to fits? no, if so, how long and from what cause: X____
Natural temper and disposition toward relatives: Bad; Any threat, attempt of tendency to injure self or others? No; Violent? Yes; Destructive? Yes; Cleanly? No; Periodic frenzy and lucid intervals and duration of each: every hour;
What restraints have been imposed and what treatment used: confine in cell; purg?? ??mide;
Any injury about the head ever received? No; Any bodily disease from suppression of evacuations, eruptions, sores or injuries? No; What estate have the parents, husband or wife of the person under trial? Do not know;
“Together with whatever else may be deemed material toward enabling the superintendent of the asylum to understand the case.”
Heard that he has been in asylum before.


Wherefore it is adjudged by the Court that said Geo Downs is a person of unsound mind and a lunatic (Lunatic or dangerous Idiot); it is ordered that _he be committed to the asylum for the insane at Hopkinsville Ky., and that the superintendent of said asylum be immediately notified and directed to send for said lunatic. Should the said George Down regain his right mind he is to be returned to this Kentucky B??? Prison at Eddyville, Ky

T P Gray Judge Lyon Co Court
Attest: N S King Clerk Lyon Co Court
Term Call Date March 28 1914
Book No. ____ Page ____

No comments: