The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1870-03-18
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HYGIENIC STARVATION At
BRATTLEBOROe

The case of the alleged starvstio6
Of Flora Stoddard at Bratfleboro, by her
half sister Mrs. George G. Haskius, il
one OF the most extraordinary that ever
darkcned the criminal apnnIs ofVcrment.
Tbs girls home was at Worchcster, w.,
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 We.
man. The latter had just graduated az
the HygieDic institute in New Jersey,
where she had become infatuated with
the idea Of living bygicnically."
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. uu@
feeling, systematically cruel being, lahore
ing under the best OF intentions" I'm.
der her Treatment Flora began to loose
flesh and pine away, though her sister
Ellen declares that previously she was
pretty healthy girl. Mrs. Haskins as
serts that Flora was free to leave at any
time. but declined to do so-a point
which the sister and mother do not
discrcdit.
Early in November, her sister Ellen
visited Ter and found the family on this
| fare:
At about o'clock we ate our break
fast, which consisted chiefly of potatoes.
q bowl ofraw apples, some graham cakes
which Laura told me, herself, she mixed
yytf mi 81 IL L.
up potatoes without any salt, and dish
Of apple sauce without any seasoning.
We dined again at about two and one
half O'Clock. We had the same for din
ner az we did 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 cat 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 buttered
with nothing to cat on it. We had no
salt, butter, milk, meat, pepper, vinegar
or anything of the kind on the table.
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. m, and 81 p. M. Laura (Mrs.
Haskins) told when she got home from
the hyaenic 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 de-
clared that she would not live the hygen-
ic style, she would starve first. Then
Laura said that she was bound Flora
should live just as she did. She said she
was quite turbulant at FIRST but she had
got to be quite dociIe now-had got to be
pretty good girl, and SO on. She also
said that she had a very good COW that
was the greatest temptation to Flora and
she Immediately sold her.
Mrs. Haskins's treatment of Ellen was
very rude. January Il, the latter visit
ed her sister again aud was turned out of
the house by Mrs. Haskins, without being
allowed to see her. This scene threw the
invalid Flora into almost her last cough
ing ft, and as she begged to see her sister
Ellen, who was finally sent for. With
a policeman she again approached the
house, and was allowed to see aud comfort
her sister. The dying glrl was lying in
fircless room. and was still fed ''hygieni-
cally" by the half sister. who took occa-
sion to remark that the sufferer had given
her clothes to her. Ellen at once reused
the selectmen, Flora was moved on the
following day to nciyhbor's, the sheriff
and doctor assisting. After the most
comfortable day of the whole sickness.
she died in the afternoon
From the evidence before US it seems
undeniable that the girl died through the
hygienic diet, which her half-sister SO
fauatically and cruelty. not to say crimi-
nally, enforced. Mrs. Haskins deserves
the lunatic asylum, to say the least, and
the town aud medical authorities must be
very hard hearted, or they have slept i'll
o nights over their criminal negligence.