Non Compos Mentis

Lat Not sound of mind; insane. This is a very general term, embracing all varieties of mental derangement. See Insanity. Coke has enumerated four different classes of persons who are deemed in law to be non compotes mentis: First, an idiot, or fool natural: second, he who was of good and sound mind ana memory, but by the act of God has lost it; third, a lunatic, lunaticus -qui gaudet lucidis intervallis, who sometimes is of good sound mind and memory, and sometimes non compos mentis; fourth, one who is non compos mentis by his own act, as a drunkard.

Co.. Litt. 247a; 4 Coke, 124.