Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-05-11
Outside People Claim Some Of
the Patients We, e.
Treated.
DENIAL By OLD r .0YES
-------- 80
say Harry stevens Wns Not Nisuscd
as Observation-Disclosures Men lmrcach
Testimony of I.yOns-Dr. Andrews
md Othcra Say Supt. Hutch.
insOn Exceeds Authority.

Waterbury, May l0.-Thc investigating
committee nictattho pathological building
of the hospital for insane this morning
snd resumed their work of looking into
The affairs of the Vermont state hospital
Tor the insane. II. f. Brigham of Bakers
ti,ld. the third member Of the commits.
sion, was not present nor the governor,
who has been present at the previous
hearings.
The first witness was Mrs. G.. II. Ste.
,cus OF st. Adams, who testified in regard
to the care and treatment of her son,
Harry Stevens who was committed to tho
hospital three times during the past three
years.
She sa id that during the time he was at
the hospital she had no reason to think
that he was i'll used or improperly cared
for until the last time he was in the hos
pitdl rs patient about six months ago
lie complained of being abused by one OF
the attendants. Said that he would choke
him and use force in other ways.
She said that she had committed her
son as private patient. paying 81 per
week for his board and care. During the
last time h. was at the hospital she COM
planned because he did not have enough
:N'ItlSt OUT bl UOcIS. S,IIc SI'ht ~ Svl'N
of the doctors about it, and was told
that he could get more exercise out Of
doors by paying moro for his care. She
did not know how much different tho
,,comin odations were between the state
md private patients. Mrs. Stevens said
That she did not consider her son danger
pus only at times, when he would be quite
violent. lie had been partially insan"
tircc Il child. He had been taken home
several times, but it was found neces-
vary TO recommit hiin. fIc was taken
frcm the hospital at Waterbury last
January to the insane hospital at Brattlc-
poro.
The next witness was ii. NJ. stevens of
ST. Albans grandfather of Harry Stevens
Mr.. Stevens said that he had visited the
boy several times while he was "a patiens
1T The hospital. At one time the boy COM
planned to him of being i'll used by one Of
the patients. lie had no fault to hnd
with the food or the care given the pa
ticnts by the physicians. He said that
the quality of the food was good and
seemed to be plenty of it, During the
arst time he was at the hospital as a pa
dent. Mr.. Stevens said he had no reason
10 complain of the treatment received by
mis- nephew. The physicians seemed to
Townsend, who was that time supervisor
ut the hospital, seemed TO take much in
tcrcst in the boy. 1t was during the last
line he was there as a patient, about SIX
months ago that the boy complained Of
tc..lg i'll used. Mr.. Stevens reported the
pff.ir to one of the physicians, and soon
after took the 10y to the hospital at Brat
tlcboro He did not know the name CT
tho attendant, but understood he did not
remain AT the institution but short time
nftcl the boz was removed.
WAS HIRED BY HUTCHINSON.
G. 4. Allen WAS the next witness, who
destined in regard to his relations with
Patrick Lyon while he was employed
rs mason at the hospital. He said that
he was not under the supervision OF Mr..
l.vou, and had never been discharged by
him He had been employed by Dr.
Hutchinson, to whom he was entirely
arswerablc regarding his work at the
Institution. He said he had worked at the
hospital as mason at two different times,
and he had been employed hv the super
intendent and that Mr.. Lyons had MOTH
Ing to do regarding the amount OF his
wages. The first time he had received
$40 per day aud the last time he had
been pad $500.
GEORGIA PATIENT DIED.
The next witness was Nj. II. Alexander
of Georgia. He said that in the capacity
Of constable he had taken two patients
to the hospital during the past three
years. The last one was Mike O'Conley.
n town charge, who was paraliZed on
one side, and quite violently insane.
lie said there had been some feeling
nganst the way he was cared for at
the hospital. lie said he had been a bed
ridden patient for about a year when he
MAS brought to the hospital and the first
lay he was strapped in 4. chair He did
,ot consider it quite proper treatment
for an old man between % and 10 years
Md who had been in such a hard con-
Alton but did not know that the care he
had received had anything To dn with
his death, which resulted in about three
weeks. He said that everything at the in
ptitution seemed to be in first class con.
aition. and he had never entered any
complaints in regard 10 the treatment OF
Mr.. Conley. lie said he did not know
mat he was not able to sit up. but no
knew he had not for tho past few
months.
II. o. Pierce. who had been one Of
The selectmen in Georgia at the time OF
The commitment OF Michael O'Coniey
was next put on the stand. who testified
In regard to the condition of the patient
before being committed to the hospital.
Hc said that II became necessary IN
place him in an institution owing to the
violent nature Of his case. tie said that
he had been confined to the bed for sew.
eral months and was scarcely able to
make himself understood. One side was
paralzed.
TESTIMONY nv FORMER EMPLOYEES
Thomas Kelly Of Richmond was the
next witness. lie had served In the ca.
Iicity Of nurse ut tho hospital Tor 10
months ON first nnd third wards. He
said he always found the food all right
both in quality ard quantity. He never
heard any complaints about the milk not
being suitable that was dealt out 10 the
nurses and patients ON the wards. Occa.
sionally the milk gave evidence OF hav-