The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-05-12
Washington County Court.

State V. w. Fl. Giddings. Assault The
trial began Thursday morning with Judge
Rowell as the presiding judge. The charge
against respondent was assaulting Grace
Wright at Waterbury on April 1, 1895 by
striking her with strap OF leather. The
testimony OF the State tended to show at
sometime Grace Wright, who was a patient
confined at the asylum at Waterbury and
who was sometimes violent, had become
free from her restraint and that the occur
renee which gave origin to this prosecution
occurred while the restraint was being put
upon her again AT which time the testi-
mony Of the two principal witnesses for the
State tended to show that DR.. Giddings
struck the aforesaid Grace with a strap of
leather which was portion OF the restraint.
The State relied upon the testimony of two
attendants on the second floor of the female
department whose names were, at the time
OF the incident, Mrs. Hamel, now Mrs. Girls
void and Miss Watts, now Mrs. Russell.
Testimony was also given by Mrs. Perry,
who had charge OF the work on the second
hall where the affair occurred, concerning
the bruises and marks she had noticed on
the limbs of Grace but was not present on
the occasion of the alleged assault The
date Of the affair was not clearly brought
out. The respondent introduced DIR. Platt.
a trustee OF the asylum, who testified con-
corning Grace Wright and the kindly feel
ing she had had towards the doctor Mrs.
the time, and Miss Hutchins gave testi-
mony tending to show that Grace was not
struck by the doctor while the restraint
was being put on, and DR.. Ballard, then as
sistant physician, testified TO the absence of
marks upon the limbs Iof Grace atathe time
he had made an examination of her in the
presence of Mrs. Larabee. DR.. Giddings in
his testimony denied having struck Grace
Wright and stated that he was not angry
with her. His testimony tended to show
the occurrence to have been in the last of
the summer at 1894. Mrs. Russell and Mrs.
Griswold testified in rebuttal for the State
Friday morning to the effect that Mrs. Lar
abee and Miss Hutchins were not present
when the striking was done. The testi-
mony in the case tended to show that the
incident happened in the hall near the
door of the room which Grace had, who
came out Of the door when it was opened,
that she threw herself on the floor, that the
doctor was near her head, that she resisted
the restraint being put upon her, that the
two State witnesses assisted the doctor, and
the testimony of the defence tended to show
that Miss Hutchins was trying to prevent
Grace from kicking by holding her feet OF
legs. States Attorney Fred A. Rowland
for the State; W. b. @. Stickney of Bethel,
George W. Wing and W. A. Lord for res.
pendent. The jury failed to agree, and
were discharged Saturday morning.
State V. L. A. Streeter. Intoxication, was
mol pressed.
First National Bank of Montpelier v. G
N Arms, ct al. General assumpsit and
note and same v. Consolidated Granite Co.
ct al, two cases, one an appealed case
both general assumpsit, and note, were ali
discontinued.
Wealthy j. Sawyer v. Orange M. Holden
and Vermont Mutual Fire Insurance Com.
pany, trustee. General assumpsit, discon.
tinued.
Hiram Skeels, apt v. Daniel #. McGov.
ern and trustee claimant. Debt in judg.
ment Judgment on stipulation.