|
James Fears
Courtesy of
Ewing Best,
9/10/2007
Commonwealth of Kentucky
Owen County Court
At an inquest held by J. W. Greene
judge of Owen County at the courthouse in Owenton Ky
on the 23rd day of October 1879 on motion
of the County Attorney who represents that James
Fears is a person of unsound mind It is ordered that
a wn’t de lunatico inquirendo issue for the purpose
of inquiring into the state of mind of the said
James Fears and whether he has any estate, and if
any, the nature and extent thereof, and such other
matters and things as may then and there be given
then in charge concerning the person and condition
of the estate of said James Fears. The Court
thereupon appointed J. E. Elliston an attorney of
this court counsel for the deft James Fears and the
wn’t having been issued and the deft having been
brought before the Court, a jury was sworn to
inquire whether said James Fears is a person of
unsound mind, and if so, whether he is an idiot or
lunatic, and if he has lost his mind since his birth
the cause thereof. Also to inquire and state his
birth and residence and whether he was brought into
this state by any person for the purpose of becoming
a charge upon this Commonwealth and by whom, and to
find what estate and the value thereof he owns in
possession, reversion or remainder and whether his
parents are alive, where they reside and whether
they have estate sufficient to support said James
Fears and whether he is capable of laboring in whole
or in part for his support. And the jury having
heard the evidence returned the following verdict [
a few words not readable] the jury empanelled and
sworn to inquire into the condition of mind of James
Fears do say that he is a lunatic. That he was
first attacked or afflicted with lunacy about 25
years ago, having previously been of sound mind.
That the cause of his lunacy was probably grief at
the loss of his wife – We find that he was born in
Woodford County Ky and is now about 65 years old and
a widower. That he has no home but lives from hand
to mouth in Owen County Ky. That he has not been
brought into this State by anyone for the purpose of
becoming a charge upon the Commonwealth. That he
has no estate of any kind either in possession,
________ or remainder, that his parents are dead and
that he is not capable of laboring either in whole
or in part for his support. Witness our hands this
23rd Oct 1879
W. G. Ransdall, W. L. Lancaster, I.
E. Pace, G. S. Garnell, T. D. Jump, M.B. ______,
B. H. Sanders, G. W. Foster, A. T.
Suter, J.A. Moore, B. W. Ransdall, G.C. Nash
[Note: Jurors’ names were difficult
to transcribe in a few instances]
It is therefore considered by the
Court that James Fears is a lunatic and he be
confined in the Kentucky Lunatic Asylum at Lexington
Ky until discharged by proper authority. It is
further hereby certified that the first attack of
lunacy of said Jas Fears was about 25 years ago. And
these facts are certified that he may receive
attention at the said Asylum at the expense of the
Commonwealth.
A copy
Att:
J. W. Greene
Judge Owen County
Owenton Ky: Nov 17th
1879
Sup’t Eastern Lunatic Asylum
We send herewith one James Fears who has been duly
and legally adjudged a lunatic. It appears from the
evidence that he has been heretofore confined in
your Asylum and that evidence of his discharge
therefrom his reason has been again _________. That
his first attack was some 25 years ago – I can give
nothing in addition to the facts certified in the
judgement herewith transferred.
Respectfully
J.W. Greene County
Judge
Johnson Ballard is hereby appointed
to convey said James Fears to said Asylum with
____________ guard
J.W. Greene
Co
Judge
Take Fears at once to Lexington. The
necessary papers have been forwarded to Lexington.
|
