The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-02-17
QUESTION is ONE
OF TREATMENT
Thompson Trustees Deny Request-Brat-
tIeboro Working Girl Asks Aid Be
cause Of an Injury.

Brattleboro, Feb 1.-THE application
Of Miss Blanche NJ. Howard Of thil
town for aid from the Thomas Thomp
son win fund, on account Of injuries
received Dec 20, when she fell and brok'
both kneepans, and the refusal Of Tho
trustees, Laurence Minot and Il. NJ
Bradley Of Boston, TO render her assis
tance, il likely TO be made a test case
to see whether persons not awaiting
themselves Of the Memorial hospita
privileges can be excluded from the ben
eiits q the trust Frank II. Howard
uncle Of Miss Howard, stated Saturday
that he had taken counsel In the matter
and would take action to secure what
he thinks his niece is Justly entitled to
Mr.. Howard is a well.known business
man. II ame not asking for charitv.'
said lie, but | Shall try TO secure fol
the girl that to which she has a leaiti.
mate right"
Miss Howard's father died when she
was seven years old, and her uncle fur
nished her home and clothed and
schooled her until she became Of age
IN her application for aid she said
Since then ! have worked in the overall
factory for Donnell & Davis and others
at needlework, nearly five years. For
the past two years / have worked in Il
w. Kench's store"
After the accident Miss Howard mn
derwent surgical operation at her home
at the hands OF her regular physician
who is not member Of the staff Of the
Brattleboro memorial hospital. which il
largely maintained BY the Thompson
fund, Her injuries have improved so she
can bend her knees little, but she is
still confined to her bed No question
is raised but that she II Of the class Of
people for whose benefit the Thompson
will was specifically drawn.
In their letter to their agent the true-
tees say they regret that Miss Howard
did not see fit 20 avail herself Of the
facilities Of the memorial hospital.
(which now il and always has been at
her disposal" and they say, in declining
to give assistance, that they believe that
she and her family have been the vic.
Tins Of mistaken advisers
III &tfiftIE ~ Atie CtuttueiOHs TIC tiue-
tees state their position as follows:
Even from a time prior to the com
struction OF the hospital, the trustees,
after obtaining impartial and competent
advice on the subject, have continually
maintained that they would not have
anything to do with, nor render any as
sistance to surgical cases that did not
come under the supervision Of some re-
sponsible medical staff approved by them.
This course has been justified not only
by the well. known conditions OF surgical
practice, but also by the actual expert
cnce Of the trustees in the exercise Of
their trsllt.
These facts being matters Of common
knowledge, Ii Is net material to the pres
ent case whether the means chosen to
procure surgical relief for Mics Howard
are or are not proper and adequate
Those IN charge Of Mss Howard have
chosen 10 take means Of helping her
outside Of the hospital. and without in
any way consulting either the agent Of
The Thompson trustees OF the hospital
board. and they have done this entirely
regardless Of the fact that the trustees
arc supporting at great expense an ade.
quate means Of getting such aid.