Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1857-10-16
From the Glcns Falls o.. Y) Messenger.

The brightness win renew.
From the Glens Falls o. VI Messenger
HoRIcoN, April 8, 1857.
RLv A. D. milne;
DEAR SR-Having noticed that many are
inclined TO discredit the statements. given in
your paper. over the signature Of "S. c. Dick
inson. respecting the case Of Mrs. Hays. Of
this town, have taken the trouble to asser-
tain the facts in this case, and to present ;hem
verified by those who have been personally
cognizant Of them as they have occurred.
Mrs. Betscy Hays wife of Simeon Hays. Of
Horizon. was taken sick on the 8th day Of
November 1854. and remained In feeble state
until the fore part Of June S55, az which
time she was taken With symptoms Of an
alarming character, which entirely bafllcd the
skill Of the attending physician, and has re-
manned from iAa. time tot ~ present, in
state Of almost entire Inconsistencies, and
without having partaken Of any solid food,
and hardly of anything in the form or nature
Of nourishment From the first day Of June
1856, she has taken nothing but occasionally
a spoon full OF cold water, or a few drops Of
laudanum She has fits of a singular character.
and at times remains in one continuous ft
from II to is days from the 10th day of
January last 90 the 80 day Of February, she
remained ina fit On the first day of January
1896 she threw herself backward and forward,
bringing her head and feet nearly together,
3l5 times without intcrmission. From the
10th day Of August last to the 26th of No
vember, period of three months and eleven
days, she took only five spooufulla Of water
and twenty drops Of laudanum. She has been
at different periods from fifty 20 one hundred
and fifty days without evacuation of the
bowels, and nearly the same time without
urinary excavations She has been blind from
tho first of June 1886. and has been in a state
of almost entire unUonsciousuc-s. and uotwith
staneing she thus lives. she Las during the
whole time been subject 90 commissions Of a
most wonderful character. in which every
nerve iu the system seems strained 90 its mt
most capacity She is young being only
about % years of age, and previous 10 the
period of the sickness abevc mentioned, was
OF a robust constitution. have known her
from her childhood have seen her at different
times during her present prostration, and have
every reason to believe that the foregoing
statements are' fully correct. am further
informed at the moment of writing. that at
the present time and for some time past she is
subject to commissions of few moments dura-
tion, with intervals of only few moments,
and at the end OF each conyulsion remains
from four TO ten minutes before catching her
breath, which is produced by constantly fam
ming her during that period. ! WIS there in
company with some others. not long since.
and saw her. and witnessed one Of her con-
vulsions. and in my judgment when she fell
back az each time which was frequent during
and commissions witnessed her head being
thrown back so thatil She struck back upon
the top of her head. each blow was sufficient
TO have fractured her skull, If she had fallen
upon a hard substance instead OF the pillows
placed beneath her Yours sc.
w. !. SMITH.
J.. S. At this date she has swallowed
nothing, even water since the 10th of Feb
ruary last.
WAEHrN CoCNrY, SIS simeon Hays, be-
ing duly sworn, deposes and says. that ho is
the husband of the above named Betsy Hays,
that hc has been iu attendance upon her all
most continually during The sickness above
alluded 20, and the foregoing statement is true
in every essential particular
SIMEON HAYS.
Subscribed and sworn, April 9th, 1857, be-
fore me, w j. SNuH.
Justice OF the Peace.
This may certify that we the undersigned,
are and have been acquainted with the above
named Simeon Hays from bis childhood, and
believe him fully entitled TO belief in the fore