The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-02-08
DR.. E. K. Potter Tells of In
juryMrs. Guilford Received
at Brattleboro Retreat
INVESTIGATION IS
EXPECTED TO FOLLOW
Representative Wilson Gives
Sensational Testimony
to Committee

That-the joint committee on state and
court expenses, following hearing at
$3.50 o'clock this morning, will recon-
mend to the House the adoption of the
Wilson resolution asking for an investi-
CATION OF the Brattleboro retreat seems
to be the prevailing opinion.
Mr.. Wilson of Pownal, who introduced
the resolution, related to the committee
details Of the alleged inhuman treatment
of certain patients at the institution and
he was supported by ex-senator f. Il.
Potter, whose daughter, Mrs. Guilford
of North Adams, Mass, formerly of Rus-
land was private patient at the insti-
| tuition for year, during which time it Is
alleged she was mistreated
| Both OF the above persons urged the
committee to recommend an investiga
| tion and Senator Eddy of Windham said
that ex-Judge Tyler of Brattleboro, a
member OF the board of trustees of the
retreat, had requested him to ask the
committee to recommend an investiga
| tion in view of the charges made. Rep
resentative Dunham of Brattleboro told
tAit Npt1iilAitE tiidb itis I4hMt tOlis HNhu u
the institution, wished the investigation.
ii one il ordered, to be held at Brattle
boro, in order that the officers and at
tendants might not be forced to leave
their work.
The committee adjourned without tax
ing action but in view of the stories told
and the fact that member of the board
of trustees courts an inquiry it is to be
presumed that it will be conducted.
Mr.. Wilson said in opening that in his
opinion patients at the retreat were not
given treatment that dumb beasts are
entitled to receive He told of the treat
ment of Mrs. Guilord, whose jaw, he
alleged, was broken while she was a pa
tient, and of the sears she received de
couldn't see why an investigation of such
a cruel place should not be made.
He told the committee of an instance
when he took an insane pauper from
Readsboro TO the institution and that
the handling of the man by an attend
ant. which he witnessed, caused wound
to be inflicted in the mans head which
he believed resulted in his death a week
later.
Mr. Wilson said he was the recipient of
letters from persons who have relatives
at the retreat who want an investiga
tion.
He said the trouble with the institr- !
tion is that the heads are a pack of old |
men who have seen their best DAYS and |
that they hire attendants whom they |
can get eheaply This fact, he said, was
proven when detective was able to get /
a position and the detective is in posses
sion OF facts gathered while there.
DIR. Potter said that he was in the city |
to attend the reunion of the legislature
of 1908 and for that reason did not have
with him certain records and data to
bear out his statements. He said that |
his daughter was at the institution for
about a year, that when she went there
her Jaws were intact and when she was
discharged in the winter of 1915 that her
jaw had been broken. When discharged,
she weighed only ll2 pounds, although
nearly six feet tall and she now is nor
NAL and well and weighs 200 pounds.
He said that the retreat had paid his
daughter 81 900 when she threatened to
bring suit year ago
Marriage License Bill Passed.
II tAN NAtIh
passed the House this morning after but
.wo speeches, one by Mr.. Aiken of Put ,
ley against the measure and the other ,
BY Mr.. Durham supporting it, receives
he approval of the Senate, Brattleboro
md Bellows Falls. which have been the
mecca of out of-the-state parties in
hurry to get married, will lose their pop ,
ilarity and incidentally the ministers J
ind justices of the peace will lose the ,
ees which they have been receiving since ,
Bellows Falls sprang into the limelght (
IS modern Gretna Green year ago. /,
The bill as amended and passed pro- ,
-ides that out of the state parties must
ave their application for marriage Ii
ense posted for five days before the !
eremony may be performed, but does :
ot affect Vermont persons. :
Mr.. Aiken of Putney didn't believe the /;
eople wanted the bill or would have it, /;
nd that if referendum was held on the :
uestion that-it would never carry. He !,
vas from the part of the state from :,
rhieh the agitation came and read ex-
racts of letters from that vicinity op-
osing the bill. He thought there was
ust as much sense in advertising the
oming of an heir as to advertise mar Y
iages.
Mr.. Stearns of Burlington favored the
Ill and thought the legislature should
ot strew roses in the path of clipping f
ouples, and that an end should be put a
D the Gretna Green business. i
Mr.. Condor OF Pittsford favored the 3
i'll, thinking that it would help solve o
be divorce question. d
Mr.. Dunhsm urged the passage OF the 6
i'll. saying that the Federated Women's II
ub. churches and press generally were t
pr IL. He called attention to the fact
nat Vermont was the only New Eng
md state where people could be married
ithout five days notice and advocated
with other states; he said he L
as ashamed OF some of his townsmen
no were willing to barter the good
anne Of the state for money.
Bills introduced in Senate. is
By Senator Proctor Of Rutland an act q
amend SECS. p, p and % of No. les at
the acts Of 1910 and TO repeal No. l53 -
the acts Of 1915, relating to unclaimed e