Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1870-02-18
The Brattlcboro starvation Case.

nave Detu Hueu With stutcuShss Nau
counter statements, relativeto the recent
alleged case of starvation in that place.
We have read all the statements and |
have come to very nearly the same con-
clusion as the Springfield Republican,
from which We copy the following;
"The case of the alleged starvation of
Flora Stoddard at Brattleboro, by her
half sister, Mrs. George c. Haskins, is
one of the most extraordinary that ever
darkened the criminal annals of Yer
mont. This girls home was at Worces-
ter VT, few miles north of Montpelier.
Flora went to Brattleboro, last August,
at the earnest solicitation of Mrs. Haskins
and from that time seems to have been
completely under the control of that
woman. The latter had just graduated
at the Hygeienic institute in New Jersey
where she had become infatuated with
the idea of living "higienically," that is
on oatmeal mixed up with cold water
This theory of diet seems to have driven
all else out Of the woman's mind and
heart, making of her cold, unfeeling.
Systematically cruel being, laboring I'M
der the 'best of intentions" Under her
treatment Flora began to lose flesh and
pine away, though her sister Ellen de-
clares that previously she was a pretty
healthy girl. Mrs. Haskins asserts that
Flora was free to leave at any time, but
declined to do SO, point which the sister
and mother do not discredit.
Early in November, her sister Ellen
visited her and found the family living
on this fare:
at about 8 o'clock we ate our break
fast, which consisted chiefly of potatoes,
a bowl of raw apples, some graham
cakes, which Laura told me herself she
mixed with water and shortened with
mashed up potatoes without any salt, and
dish of apple sauce without any seas
oning. We dined again at about two
and one-half o'clock We had the same
for dinner as wedid for breakfast, with the
exception of having some stewed beans,
cooked with nothing in them but clear
water, no salt, pork, or anything, and all
we had to eat on them was some of that
apple sauce without seasoning, instead OF
vinegar. Her pudding was rice cooked
in clear water, was not salted or butter
ed, with nothing to eat on it. We had
TO salt, butter, milk, meat, pepper, vim
egar or anything of the kind on the ia
bic. She would not allow Flora or Clara
cher child to eat anything, not so much
As an apple, between meals. They ate
twice day, the general time being
about 81 A. NJ, and q P. NJ. Laura
Mrs. Haskins) told me when she got
home from the hygienic institute at New
Jersey that she was intending to allow
her husband and Flora salt and cream
to eat on their potato, and let them live
as they had been living. But she said
that Flora declared that she would not
: live the hygienie style, she would starve
| first. Then Laura said that she was
bound Flora should live just as she did.
! She said she was quite turbulent at first,
r but she had got to be quite docile now
e had got to be pretty good girl, and so
on. She also said that she had a very
y good COW that was the greatest tempta-
:, tion to Flora she had, and she immedi-
> ately sold her.
Mrs. Haskin's treatment of Ellen was
# very rude. January II, the latter visit
q ed her sister again and was turned out Of
r the house by Mrs. Haskins, without be
- ing allowed to see her. This scene threw
. the invalid Flora into almost her last
h coughing fit, and as she begged to SEE
her sister Ellen, the latter was finally
sent for. With policeman she again
a. approached the house, and was allowed
!, to see and comfort her sister. The dy
s. ing girl was lying in fireless room, ane
If was still fed "hygienically" by the hal
4 sister, who took occasion to remark tina
a. the sufferer had given her clothes to her
d Ellen at once reused the selectmen, an'
ID Flora was moved on the following da.
Or to a neighbours, the sheriff and doctor as
r. sisting. After the most comfortable da.
it of the whole sickness, she died in the at
10 ternoon.
X From the evidence before us it seem
10 undeniable that the girl died through
n the hygienic diet. which her half siste
a. SO fanatically and cruelty, not to sa.
a. criminally, enforced. Mrs. Haskins dc
s. serves the lunatic asylum, to say til
t. least. and the town and medical author
of tiles must be very hard hearted, or the.
ep have slept i'll o nights over their crimI
is nal negligence"
4 ENocH ARDEN CAsE.-An Enoc
M Arden case has come to light in Vernon
n About thirty-five years ago, job
Clough and Fanny Gillet were marrie'