Friday, July 17, 2009

WILL KNIGHT - Pages TB 48-49 Lyon County KY Lunatic Inquest Book

48

STATE OF KENTUCKY } Call Term
County of Lyon
July 25 1914
COMMONWEALTH }
Versus } Lunatic
Will Knight

This day J S Hodges Attorney for the Commonwealth filed an information as follows, to-wit: To T P Gray Judge of the Lyon Co Court: I am reliably informed that ________ 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 Co Court

Ordered by the Court, That N W Naley 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: John Gaego, T L Cash, Joe Hall, Ben Freeman, Jim Fitts, Brook Patterson, John Dupass, James Gresham, Ollie Fitts, Clyde Freeman, Sam Cash, Walter Scott;
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 Will Knight 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 Fayette County and is 23 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 Will Knight is not capable of laboring either in whole or in part for his support.

(Additional facts as per instructions of presiding judge.)


Sam G Cash Foreman


49

Brief History of Case by the Presiding Judge:

Age? 23 Color? Black Sex: male; single or Widowed? ________
Occupation? Common Labor; Occupation of Husband? ________ Habits? ________
Extent of Education ? Limited; Number and date of previous attacks? Every day;
What relatives, if any, have been insane, peculiar or intemperate? Do not know;
Duration of present attack: three months; How exhibited and has it changed in character? Been growing worse; Supposed cause? Pyhilis (?) & kidney trouble; Any delusions or hallucinations, and if so, what? yes
Subject to fits? No;, if so, how long and from what cause: ________
Natural temper and disposition toward relatives: bad; Any threat, attempt of tendency to injure self or others? Yes; Violent? Yes; Destructive? Yes; Cleanly? No; Periodic frenzy and lucid intervals and duration of each: Two to four hours; What restraints have been imposed and what treatment used: Confined in cell; Iodidie Potash Mercury & etc;
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? ________
“Together with whatever else may be deemed material toward enabling the superintendent of the asylum to understand the case.”
Sent to prison. House braking [sic]. 2 charge. 2 to 10 in each case. He is a dangerous man.


Wherefore it is adjudged by the Court that said Will Knight 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. He is to be returned to the Eddyville State Prison if he is restored to his right mind.

T P Gray Judge Lyon Co Court
Attest: N S King Clerk Lyon Co Court
Term Call Date July 25 1914
Book No. 3 Page 48

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