The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-10-27
AT Hearing for Release of
Mildred Brewster, Who
Killed Annie Wheeler
HAS BEEN IN ASYLUr
NEARLY 20 W SIS
She Was Found Guilty
by Reas of
lnSarll.y

Testimony of experts in nervous and
mental diseases was introduced in Wash
ington county court yesterday afternoon
and to-day during the hearing on the
petition brought by the supervisors of
the insane to secure the release from the
state hospital at Waterbury of Mildred
Brewster, who shot and killed Annie
Wheeler in Montpelier nineteen years
ago last May. Miss Brewster was tried
and found not guilty by reason of insan-
! ity and was placed in the state institu-
tion. Eight years ago she was released
on an order by Judge A. A. Hall follow
| ing hearing, but was ordered returned
| by Judge Taylor after she had resided
for a short time at Hardwick. William
A. Lord, one of the attorneys who de-
tended the woman during the murder
trial and also at the hearing in 1908, is
counsel for the petitioners and the state
is represented by States Attorney Fred
E. Gleason.
The counsel for the petitioners an
nounced at 10 O'Clock this morning that
he had finished and witnesses were placed
on the stand by the states attorney.
DR.. Berry of Burlington, for five years
a member of the hospital staff at Water
bury, was the principal witness this
forenoon. He told OF his observations of
Miss Brewster while he was connected
with the institution, 800 to 1904. and
as the result of close and frequent OBJ
servations made during that period was
of the opinion that she was not insane
at that time and assuming that her con
dition was not materially changed since
then believed she is now sane and not
dangerous to community should she be
released.
Constitutional inferiority, condition
between that of sanity and insanity,
caused the act which placed Miss Brew
ster in the hospital, said the witness,
but despite her lack of intelligence as
compared with a normal person, he did
not believe her to be moral degenerate.
Dr. Berry said that he had been told
at the hospital the circumstances about
the murder but was inclined to think
that those who told him about it were
prejudiced.
In answer to Hypothetical questions
propounded by Attorney Lord and States
Attorney Gleason the witness testified
that it is possible for an insane person
not to exhibit any symptoms and make
any untoward acts and admitted that
such persons under restraint might. if
given their freedom, be dangerous to
the community. He had never heard
of any person not exhibiting any signs
of insanity while in an institution and
on being released committing some un
toward act.
Questions asked by the attorneys hint
I'd that Miss Brewster attempted to com
nit suicide several years ago, but DR..
Berry insisted that such an attempt
made by a person of constitutional in
,eriority would not necessarily prove in
sanity as conditions might do much to-
ward causing the act.
New Cases Entered in County Court.
The following cases have been entered
With the county clerk; State vs.. Pas
Iuale Gaia assault with intent to kill;
State vs.. Wilbur Thornton, assault and
obbery; Hallett & Davis Piano com
,any vs. Giovanna Rossi and Augustus
sossi Julia Griffin VS.. Town of Water
Jury; John s. Maloney, vs. Lewis Stew
ms ct al.