Idiot

A person who has been without understanding from his nativity, and whom the law, therefore, presumes never likely to attain any. Shelf. Lun. 2.

A person who has been without understanding from his nativity, and whom the law, therefore, presumes never likely to Attain any. Shelf. Lun. 2; 3 Wltth. & Beck. Med. Jur. 371. It is an imbecility or sterility of mind, and Abr. Idiot (A); Brooke, Abr.; C!o. Lltt. 246, 247; 4 Co. 126; 1 Bla. Cora. 302; Tayl. Med. Jur. 688. When a man cannot count or number twenty, nor tell his father’s or mother’s, name, nor how old he is, having been frequently told of it, it is a fair presumption that he is devoid of understanding; ^tzh. N. B. 233. See 1 Dow, P. Cas. N. S. 392; 3 Bllgh. N. S. 1. Persons bom deaf, dumb, and blind were presumed to be idiots; for, the senses being the only Inlets of knowledge, and these, the most important of them, being closed, all ideas and associations belonging to them are totally excluded from their minds; Co. Lltt. 42; Shelf. Lun. 3. See State V. Howard. 118 Mo. 127, 24 S. W. 41. But this is a mere presumption, which, like mo.st others, may be rebutted; and doubtless a person born deaf, dumb, and blind, who could be taught to rend and write, would not be considered an idiot. Remarkable instances of such are found in the persons of Laura Bridgman and Helen Keller who have been taught how to converse, and even to write. See Locke, Hum, Und. b. 2, c. 11, §§ 12, 13; Ayllflfe, Pand. 234; 4 Comyns, Dig. 610; 8 id. 644. See Deaf and Dumb; Deaf, Dumb and Blind; Idiocy. Idiots are Incapable of committing crimes, or entering into contracts. They cannot, of course, make a will; but they may acquire property by descent,

ideot, ideota, idiota, two kinds are mentioned, natural fool; and an nativitate: an idiot from idiot from sickness or inquire by a jury of twelve In the civil law. An man; a man not in office.

A person who has been without understanding from his nativity, and whom the law, therefore, presumes never likely to attain any. Shelf. Lun. 2. See Iniocy,

persons, is a person who has been without understanding from his nativity, and whom the law therefore presumes never likely to attain any. Shelf. on Lun, 2. It is an imbecility or sterility of mind, and not a perversion of the understanding. Chit. Med. Jur. 345, 327, note (s.); 1 Russ. on Cr. 6; Bac. Ab. h. t. (A); Bro. Ab. h. t.; Co. Litt. 246, 247; 3 Mod. 44; 1 Vern. 16; 4 Rep. 126; 1 Bl. Com 302. When a man cannot count or number twenty, nor tell his father’s or mother’s name, nor how old he is, having been frequently told of it, it is a fair presumption that he is devoid of understanding. F. N. B. 233. Vide 1 Dow. P. C. new series, 392; S. C. 3 Bligh, R. new ser. 1. Persons born deaf, dumb and blind, are presumed to be idiots, for the senses being the only inlets of knowledge, and these, the most important of them, being closed, all ideas and Co. Litt. 42; Shelf. on Lun. 3. Vide Locke on Human Understanding, B. 2,c.11, §§ 12,13; Ayliff ’s Pand. 234; 4 Com. Dig. 610; 8 Com. Dig. 644. Idiots are incapable of committing crimes, or entering into contracts: they cannot of course make a will. But they may acquire property by descent. Vide, generally, 1 Dow’s Parl. Cas. new series, 392; 3 Bligh’s R. 1; 19 Ves. 286, 352, 353; Stock on the Law of Non Compotes Mentis.