Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1917-02-07
THE..LECISLATURE
{ Continued from Page One)


suit of terrifying disclosures made by
Mrs. Hattie Guilford, daughter of
DR.. E. E. Potter of Pownal, who was
patient at the Brattleboro Retreat
some two years ago. Mrs. Guilford
that, while at the retreat, she was
confined in a subterranean dungeon,
overrun with rats and mice cunningly
concealed beneath the basement floor;
that she was struck over the head
with club by a guard, who attempt
ed criminal assault, the latter prac-
tice being alleged to be common oc-
currence at the institution. And that
when she heard signs of struggle
between a woman patient and sever
al guards, she climbed onto a chair,
looked over the transom of door,
and saw the woman drop dead from a
blow inflicted by an attendant. It
was given out the next morning that
the patient had died of apoplexy.
Mrs. Guilford herself bears. scars,
which can never be effaced, on all
parts of her body caused by acids and
chemicals, which, it is alleged, were
thrown upon her by the attendants.
The suit, which was filed against
the Brattleboro Retreat by Mrs. Gull
member of the Vermont Senate and
one of the leading citizens of Pownal,
was promptly settled by the institu-
ton authorities before it came to tri-
al. The sole motive in causing the
investigation is said to be to secure
better treatment of the patients at
the retreat
Representative Wilson, who is al
so deputy sheriff, was himself an
eye witness of an act of brutality on
the part of one of the attendants at
the retreat. A StalWart guard
dragged a patient from conveyance,
and hurled him against the steps, cut
ting fearful cash in his head. Prom
inent people at the state house are
agreed that the retreat should be in
vestigated.
From Brattleboro comes the state
ment that the case of Mrs. Guilford,
came to public attention late in July,
1915, when Mrs. Guilford, who was
then a resident of North Adams,
Mass, stated that she had decided to
sue the Brattleboro Retreat for dam
ages of $4,000 for alleged abusive
treatment, which included acid burns
and the breaking of her jaw.
At that time Judge James M. Tyler
s1lAO hSN. L. ". OSSOOu OIL JuS DO5EQ
OF trustees stated that one morning
Mrs. Guilford seemed very nervous
and excitable and ordered the nurse
out Of her room. The nurse, wo-
man, naturally refused to go, where
upon Mrs. Guilford seized her with
the evident purpose Of throwing her
out. The nurse, armed with nothing
but her bare hands, the trustees said,
succeeded in getting the woman on
the bed and quieting her. Later the
nurse accompanied her to her home,
which was then in Pownal, and re-
NAMED with her few weeks.
A year after that, according to the
trustees, lawyer made a claim for
damages, alleging that in the scuff1e
Mrs. Guilford's jaw was broken. DR..
S. E.. Lawton had an investigation
made, as did the trustees. Their
conclusion was that no in
jury was inflicted, but in order to
avoid expense of a lawsuit and the
consequent publicity they agreed to
pay small sum and arranged terms
satisfactory to both sides. and set
Element was made, although the trus-
tees denied any responsibility.
Senator Dimond of Manchester has
bill creating a highway
commission composed of three mem
bers appointed by the governor who
serve without compensation. The
would be allowed a sec
and practical road builder. This bill |
covers some thirty printed pages and
seems to follow the suggestions made |
oy J. G.. Wilbur of Manchester before
The road meeting at Hotel Vermont in |
several days ago. =,
The senate held a Saturday session
through the determinat ion of Senator
Russell of this county. When a mo-
Ion was made Friday to adjourn un-
Ill Monday, Mr.. Russell amended the
notion to make the adjournment until |
and roll call was demand |
I'd. Mr.. RusselPs stand for Satur-
lay session prevailed by vote of Is
% seven and the precedent of no Sat-
1rday session was broken
A resolution passed the House
Thursday without dissenting vote,
Which retains both the Randolph and
lyndon agricultural schools and
hereby puts aside the discussion as
% the wisdom of one or more schools
# this nature being supported by the
state.
At hearing on the bill which
"ouiu pIoHlDlC Inc issuing OF licenses
or the sale of intoxicating liquors in
| saloon less than five miles from an
Institution of higher learning, Presi-
lent Benton of the University of Yer
mont, and President Reeves of Nor
vich appeared in support of the bill
Is did others. There was also oppo-
'ition. The passage of the bill would
automatically place Burlington in the
dry" list as it would NOrthie1d and
as the business section of
Zach place is within five miles of the
college in each place.
A bill to establish district courts
md to abolish all municipal and city
courts and which would change the
Jurisdiction of justices of the peace
vas introduced in the senate Monday
~ Senator Morse of Caledonia coun-
y. The act also provides for some
minor changes in the drawing of jur-
eS and provides. that ATTORNEYS on