Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-10-11
THE .rLLRGRD .fHUsRs I.V THR
FERN O.t'T .ISI'LU.N.

Mr.. II. Start of Burlington, one Of the
counsel for Col. Joseph A. Stockton, who
was released from the Vermont Insane
Asylum a few weeks ago, Judge Smaley
declaring him a sane man, has published
full history of the case in the Burlington
Free Press. Ho gives the following ac-
count of system of punishment or torture
practiced by the officers of the institution:
In investigating this case I found that
there is in this institution n punishment
called "bathing." The victims hands and
feet are tied aud usually gag inserted In
the mouth. He is then placed in the bot
tom OF the bath tub under the faucet
through which the water Is let into the tub.
The faucet is then opened aud the water
rushing through, falls directly on and into
the victims face, filling his nostrils and
!, mouth, producing all the sensation of sufTo-
cation by drowning. The operation Is
usually continued until degree Of sutfoca-
ton Is reached satisfactory to the brutal
attendants having the matter in charge.
He Is then taken out, weak and exhausted,
dragged 10 his room and left TO recuperate
as best he can. The Colonel, while there,
was subjected to this "bathing' process.
The patients, in charge of the attendants,
were out taking their usual morning walk
when patient by the name of Stearns
handed him a small piece of money, ten
cent piece, and told him that another pa
tient had sent it to him, but which Stcarns
had in fact stolen from another patient.
On returning to the asylum the patient
who had lost the money made complaint to
one of the attendants. Suspicion fastening
upon Stearns, to escape consequences he
reported that Stockton had stolen it from
the owner The matter coming TO the
notice of one Of the physicians he went to
the Coloneis room and inquired of him
| about the money, when he informed him
that he had the money, took it from his
pocket and handed it to him, at the same
| time informing him that Stearns had given
| 1t to him. The physicians left, and soon
after two OF the attendants came to his
room, he then being in feeble health, the
effect of his Imprisonment, seized him,
| tied his hands behind him, dragged him
10 bath room, and subjected him to the
| bathing process until Ire was nearly drown
ed. In addition to the drowning process,
they handled him in so violent a manner
as to severely injure him. From the eff
fects of both he did not recover for several
| months. That there might be no mistake
as to the fact of this "bathing' outrage, l
took the deposition of one of the attendants
who assisted in inflicting it. He test ities
| TO the fact. In answer TO a question, "What
| was it done for?' he replied, $50 make
him confess" | believe similar mode of
torture was employed by the Spanish In
| QUESTION, for similar purpose.
We have received from some one in Bos-
ton communication purporting to come
from former patient of the institution,
enclosing the above article and coroborat-
ing the general charges therein made, also
specifying other instances of n similar aud
even of a worse character; but insamuch
as the writer evidently a woman) has not
seen fit to make known her name to us, we
forbear publication, trusting that the COM
ing investigation by the legislature will re-
suit in bringing TO light the true state of af-
fairs in this important institution.