The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-02-27
SAID CONDITIONS
WERE REVOLVING
Miss Guyette Told About
Visiting Insane Patient
in the Retreat
WOMAN CONFINED IN
VERY FILTHY ROOM
Patients Husband Also Gave Similar
Testimony Mr.. and Mrs E. G.
Jones, Former Attendants. Made
Complaints Regarding Food
Especial to The Reformer.)
MONTPELIER. Feb y

MONTPELIER, Feb 81.
The two principal witnesses before
the Brattleboro Retreat investigating
committee this morning were Mr. and
Mrs f. c. Jones of Sheffield, who were
formerly employed as attendants at
the Retreat.
Mrs. Jones testified that during the
period She was an cmp4oyc at that in
stitution, from March to September
1912, that the food was very poor, that
no fresh meat was seen and that the
food was not appetizingly served She
testified that the employees were al
ways ordered to slick things up when
notice was received that the trustees
We're coming to VISIT.
Judge Tyler, for ~ years trustee.
voluntarily stated that the trustees
never informed the institution in ad-
vance Of any visitation
/ Mrs. Jcles also said that in the back
ward, mice, bcdbugs and eackroachcs
were very common. She made no COM
plant of the physicians except that
Dr. LaWton was never seen outside his
office.
Mr.. Jones, on the stald. contradict
ed the testimony OF Mr.. BatchaldeI
yesterday regarding Capt. Hai2h. He
stated that he WAS a very efficient su
peryisor. Mr. Jones corroborated his
wife 5 testimony and Attorney Gibson
was unable to shake his testimony by
any cross-examination
Joseph G. Jones. an attorney of Rut
land, who was patient at the Retreat
testified that whel there being treated
for alcoholism he was manhandled by
the attendant. He had no fault TO find
with the SANITARY conditions
Testimony Of damaging character wa,
given the joint committee yesterdas
afternoon in connection with the III
vestigation Of the Brattleboro Retreat
This testimony was not from insan,
patients or patients with a history d
drug habits but from persons a2par
entity sound OF mind and certain o.
their Impressions, received at frs
hand observation
The first testimony was gwen b,
Margaret Guyette, housekeeper 70
Foster X. Clement Of Burlington an,
Minneapolis. Miss Guycttc, an ex
tremely Intelligent woman, gave he
evidence without hesitation or any IN
usual show of feeling, but toll stor
of revolving conditions surroundin
Mrs Clement, a patient in the Retrea
in 1915.
Miss Guvette told OF finding this i
sane woman, who, bv the way, was
private patient, whose care was pal
for at the rate of $50 week. conf2e
III 2 room filthy bcFond all description
crawling with vermil with no sanitar
convenience whatever, the woma
meanwhile being perfectly nnde an
the room entirely without heat.
The witness visited Mrs. Gene
. twice and admitted that she was Vi
/. lentlv insane. She said She had
wait some time bc'ore seeing her 70
+ mer employer aud then found her
) a dark, cell-like room with no fur-
/. ture except a small stand aud kitcht
y chair, with cot absolutely devoid
. sheets. ,Dillow-cases or any provisio
for the patient 5 comfort,
e She begged me to give her n bath
Sdld MargaFct tu|cIFc, ana Hif
. the attendant allowed inc to do 50. 7
room was cod aad apparently she Ii
no clothing whatever. except the
bath robe which an attendant gave
when | went into the room.
Her body was cakod with filth 2
11 badly bruised | reported the con
4 ton to Mr. Clement
Y Judge Gibson was unable to sha
h lie witness in any wav but show
& Nv the records of the institution II
4 Mrs. Clement was an intensely vin'C
n patient, abusive, nrofa1c and given
fits DE- mgovernahlc mauia, il VIII
L she smashed up the furniture, dro
the attendants out of the room q
4 DESTROYED her own clothing and
u property of the Institution