Examine Davises as to Mentality
Title
Examine Davises as to Mentality
Description
Examine Davises as to Mentality
State Hospital Expert Finds Hurley Adult and Child Defective—
Commitment Proceedings Halted Until April 22
Application for the commitment of May Davis and Elizabeth Davis, alleged mental defectives, to
a state institution, came before Judge Joseph M. Fowler at county court chambers.
The application was made by Miss Martha Davis, county agent of the State Charities Association
for dependent children, after a number of residences of the town of Hurley had signed a
petition asking her to take such action.
The Davises live in the vicinity of Eagle’s Nest, on Old Hurley Mountain and are children of Belle
Davis, who lives with her step brother, John Henry Davis. They are negroes. May is 24 years old
and Elizabeth is 9 years old. According to tests by which mental ages of individuals are
determined, both May and Elizabeth are said to show a mental age of four or five years.
The examination of the Davises was made at the mental clinic held in this city held on St.
Patrick’s Day by one of the examiners connected with the Middletown State Hospital and took
place in the presence of Dr. Mary Gage-Day and Dr. Henry Van Hoevenberg.
As it was desired to have the Middletown Hospital examiner present as a witness before Judge
Fowler and also have the attendance of other members of the Davis family, the proceeding was
adjourned to April 22. District Attorney Traver appeared for the petitioner; Francis C. Merritt
appeared for the father of the two girls.
State Hospital Expert Finds Hurley Adult and Child Defective—
Commitment Proceedings Halted Until April 22
Application for the commitment of May Davis and Elizabeth Davis, alleged mental defectives, to
a state institution, came before Judge Joseph M. Fowler at county court chambers.
The application was made by Miss Martha Davis, county agent of the State Charities Association
for dependent children, after a number of residences of the town of Hurley had signed a
petition asking her to take such action.
The Davises live in the vicinity of Eagle’s Nest, on Old Hurley Mountain and are children of Belle
Davis, who lives with her step brother, John Henry Davis. They are negroes. May is 24 years old
and Elizabeth is 9 years old. According to tests by which mental ages of individuals are
determined, both May and Elizabeth are said to show a mental age of four or five years.
The examination of the Davises was made at the mental clinic held in this city held on St.
Patrick’s Day by one of the examiners connected with the Middletown State Hospital and took
place in the presence of Dr. Mary Gage-Day and Dr. Henry Van Hoevenberg.
As it was desired to have the Middletown Hospital examiner present as a witness before Judge
Fowler and also have the attendance of other members of the Davis family, the proceeding was
adjourned to April 22. District Attorney Traver appeared for the petitioner; Francis C. Merritt
appeared for the father of the two girls.
Creator
Date
Wednesday evening April 12, 1922
Original Format
newspaper article
Files
Collection
Citation
Kingston Daily Freeman,, “Examine Davises as to Mentality,” Hurley Mountain Stories, accessed January 23, 2026, https://hurleymtnstories.omeka.net/items/show/155.