Mary Belle Ham

Contributed by Fanny Timmer; 12/19/2006, sunflower047@windstream.net

transcribed from ESH & Circuit Court Records
 

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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

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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