Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1896-10-24
Naked Women FIogged.
Shocking Scandal at Waterbury Insane Asv
lum-lnhuman Treatment of Patients
CHARGED

| Wednesday the Washington count,
grand jury brought in an Indictment con
tanning five counts against Dr. w. f. Gid
dings, superintendent of the Vermont stat,
asylum for the insane at Waterbury.
All of the five counts in the indictmen,
are worded alike, except that in each one
the name Of the victim is different and the
actual nature of the offense differs in each
instance. The unfortunates whom it is
alleged DR.. tiiddings abused most shame
fully are all women. Their names are
Emma Hoyt. Lucy Williams, Emma
Str! k'and, Hattie Jockey. and Grace
Wright. DR.. Giddings is charged with
stripping naked the Hoyt and Williams
women and locking them up in room
without furniture or covering of any kind
and leaving them there to endure the chill
air OF the night. 1t is claimed that these
barbarities occurred during the last year
The other three women, Dr. Giddings is
accused OF having beaten most unmerci-
fully. The testimony went to show that
after stripping one of the women he tlogged
her II st with strap and afterwards with
cane. He is further charged with bav;no
struck all the women with bis fists when in
moments OF anger he seemed unable to
control himself 1t seem that at times the
doctor found no means of punishment too
brutal or inhuman to visit upon the per-
sons whom he was supposed to give tender
care. At other times the doctor is said to
have been more than ordinarily kind to the
patient In his charge. Another means of
punishment he is said to have used was
that OF stripping his subjects and then Dip
ping them ice-cold water.
he state asylum at Waterbury, where
1t is said these atrocities were committed.
was completed only last year at a cost to
the state of about $3OO,OOO. When the
lrst part was finished in 1898 few patients
we're taken there. The number has in
,reased since, and last summer nearly all
ne insane who were dependent upon the
tate were sent in. There were about 500
n all A few still remain at the Brattle-
'oro retreat. DR. Giddings became super
ntendent about two years ago. Before {
hat time he was practicing physician in
he village of Bakersfield
Dr. Glddings was brought into the
ounty court Wednesday and Judge Taft ,
A"u ho pai dt ploUU, Wnlcn is considered
omnal. Bail was furnished by two of a
Ih,e: ne trustees, Judge Hobson and Mr..
Wing. t
:, Thursday morning Gov. Grout sent the
blowing message to the General Assem-
~: ~ deem it my duty to inform the
!eneral Assembly that the grand Jury of
sashington county has indicted the super
,tendent OF the asylum at Waterbury for
legged cruelty to insane patients Of the Q
'sfltutlon, and ! would recommend the
'certainment of the facts upon which such il
'tlon OF said grand jury is predicated, by
JOINT special committee, composed of b
lch members of the senators and repre-
relatively, as in your wisdom p'
ay be considered best, or in such other
ay as may commend itself to your judg- fo
ent The report of such committee
ouid be made as promptly as is consistent Or
tn broad and complete investig alton of ~ ~
complaints, that an interested public
ay as soon as possible know the truth in F,
e premises" to
The charges will be thoroughly investi-
ted. The trustees Of the asylum are con- ha
ent that DIR. Giddings will be cleared. y