Mary Belle Ham - Maysville, KY - 1927

Contributed by Fanny Timmer; 12/19/2006

Transcribed from ESH & Circuit Court Records

Page 305 Mason Circuit Court October Term 17 day of October State of Kentucky County of Mason Commonwealth of Kentucky Plaintiff Versus Mary Bell Ham Defendant To the Judge of Mason County
The undersigned petitioner is reliably informed that Mary Bell Ham, is a person of unsound mind and a Lunatic. That her father is dead that her mother is living Lizzie Ward and resides at Maysville, KY., that Lizzie Ward is the person having the custody of said defendant, at Maysville, Ky.; that the said defendant is Married and the name of her husband is Sandford, Ham and resides at Colfax Fleming Co.,

Your petitioner asks that an inquest be held to pass upon the subject, and for all proper orders J. W. Melton (Signature of petitioner) Sworn to before me this 17 day of October 1927 Attest: Jas B. Key Clerk It is therefore ordered by the Court that Dr. A.G. Taylor and Dr. L.H. Long, Physicians, be and they are hereby appointed to examine said defendant and will certify to this court their findings in the case. It is further ordered that J.M. Collins Esq., and Attorney of this court, be and he is herby appointed to represent the said defendant. Whereupon the siad medical Examiners having made due examination of said defendant, filed their report as follows: "We, the undersigned, have examined the said defendant within the three days just prior to the date of this certificate; that in our judgment ____ he is an insane person, and requires supervision and control for his own welfare, which can best be provided by commitment to Eastern State Hospital, Lexington, Ky

Signed A. G. Taylor M.D. E. H. Long M. D. Sworn to before me this 10th day of October 1927 Attest Jas B. Key Clerk Thereupon on the 19th day of October 1927, to inquire, etc., comes a jury, to with A.P. Bramel, A.U. Dillion, R.T. Bouldin, W.W. Baldwin, W.B. Wells, C.W. Wood, C.L. Clift, Fred Wells, Dave Tomlin, J.W. Taylor, B.L. Tally, Joe Baber who having been duly empanelled and sworn, after hearing the evidence and report of physicians, returned the following verdict, viz: We the Jury (or the Court) find from the evidence that the defendant is a person of unsound mind and a Lunatic.

That the unsoundness of mind has existed since 18 months that he was born in Nicholas Co. and resides in Mason County, Ky., and is 47 years of age Page 306 that he owns no estate of any kind _____ that her father is Dead and mother is Lizzie Ward and resides in Maysvile, Ky and ha__ not estate sufficient to support the person under trial, and that he is not capable of laboring for self-support; that he is Married her Husband left her. A. H. Dillion Foreman Wherefore it is adjudged by the Court that said Mary Bell Ham is a person of unsound mind and a Lunatic, and that he be committed to Eastern State Hospital at Lexington, Ky for the insane, Signed H.P. Purnell Judge Mason County

Brief history of the case by the Presiding Judge, to be filled if the person is found to be Insane. 1. Age 47, Occupation housekeeper, Married;
Age when mental deficiency was first noticed 46 2. Has any effort been made to educate the patient Yes 3. Is patient capable of performing any labor No 4. Has patient ever had any sever illness NO Does mental deficiency date from said illness NO 5. Habits and morals of parents Good 6. Has either of patients parents or relatives the following diseases: Epilepsy NO Insanity NO Any kind of mental trouble NO 7. Does patient soil clothing NO 8. What illusions or hallucinations, if any See something 9. Any periodical frenzy or violence at times 10. What restraint has been imposed and what treatment used none 11. What injury, if any, about the head NO 12. What estate, if any, the person has in possession, eversion or remainder NONE 13. If a married woman, what estate her husband has Husband no estate 14. Give financial conditions of parents bad 15. Give name and address of correspondent or person to be notified in case of illness or death Lizzie Ward, Maysville, Ky Signed H.P. Purnell, Judge Mason County Attest Jas B. Key Clerk Ward Admission Record Name: Mary Belle Ham County: Mason Ward: One Admitted Oct 20th, 1927 at 4 P.M., Bathed at 4:14 P.M. Skin: Eruptions - all over bck, limbs & arms. Attendant: Pauline Hatcher Case No.: 18573 Year No.: 1927 Correspondent: Lizzie Ward, Maysville, Ky., (Mother) Residence: Maysville, KY.

Age: 47 Color: White Civil Condition: Married (Deserted by husband) Occupation: Housekeeper Birthplace: Nicholas County, KY Date of Birth: 1880 Name and Birthplace of father: Dead Maiden Name and Birthplace of mother: Lizzie Ward Name of Husband: Sanford Ham Education: Yes No. of Admissions: 1st Date of Onset: 18 months ago Diagnosis: Psychosis due to hemiplegia Admitted: October 20, 1927 Discharged: July 28, 1928 Condition on Discharge: Death Cause of Death: Cerebral Hemorrhage Place of Burial: Eastern State Hospital Applicant: J. W. Molton Examining Physicians: A. O. Taylor, L. H. Long, Mason County Court, Judge H. P. Purnell  

Note: The death certificate #19414