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 and 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. Non conocdantur citationos priusquam caprimatur super qua re neri debet eitatio. 12 Coke, 47. Summonses should not be granted before it is expressed on what matter the, summons ought to be made.