Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-02-08
AIMED At RETREAT
IN BRATTLEBORO
Resolution introduced at Mont
pelier Calling for an In
vestigatiOn.
INHUMANITY CHARGED.
IIorrifying Tale Told by Woman In
mate II Ia Sai,k-Bill Presented 10
Abolish Municipal Courts.

| the treatment of the insane patients ut
! Brattleboro Retreat was related this
morning b. Representative Wilson of
| Pownal, who introduced in the House a
| joint resolution calling for the appoint
ment of special committee to investi-
gate the conduct of affairs at this ins,i-
tuition which is under the charge of DIR.
s. T. Lawton, as superintendent, and
Mrs. H. T.. Il. Gibson as matron.
The proposed investigation is a result
of terrifying disclosures made by Mrs.
| Hattie Gulford. daughter of DR.. u. Il.
| Potter of pownal. who was u patient at
| the Brattleboro Retreat some two years
| ago Mrs Guilford has stated to Repre-
sentative Wilson that. while at the re-
! treat, she was confined in "A subtcrranean
dungeon, overrun with rats and mice cum
nngly concealed beneath the basement
| floor that she was struck on the head
| with a club by a guard. who attempted
criminal assault. the latter practice be-
| ing alleged to be IA common occurrence
| at the institution. And that, when she
heard signs of n struggle between Il wom-
an patient and several guards, she climb
| ed on to chair, looked over the transoin
! of "A door. and saw the woman drop dead
! from a blow inflicted by an attendant.
1t was given out the next morning that
the patient had died of apoplexy. Mrs.
| Guilrord herself bears scars, which
| never he efraced, on all parts of her body
! caused 10y acids and chemicals, which, it
| is alleged. were thrown upon her by the
| attendants.
The suit which was fled against the
! Br.ittlehoro Retreat by Mrs. Guilforu
and her father. who was former nem-
! her of the Vermont senate and one Of
! the leading citizens of Pownal, was
| promptly settled by the institution au-
| hC
motive IN causing the investigation is said
| 10 be to secure better treatment Of the
| patients ut the ietreat
! Representative Wilson, who ia also u
deputy sheriff was himself an eye witness
! Of an act of brutality on the part Of one
of the attendants ut the retreat A stat
| Wart guard dragged a patient from n con-
lVeyance, and hurled him against the
! steps, cutting n fearful gash in his head.
| Prominent people at the state House are
agreed that the retreat should he inves
| tigated.
INVESTIGATION INVITED.
Dr. +. T.. Steele of Montpelier, senator
from Washington county and n member
of the state hoard of supervisors of the
Brattleboro Retreat, the other members
being DR. W. n. Bryant of Ludlow and DR.
R. NJ. Pelton of Richford, said that he was
sure a full investigation would be vel
coined by the institutions authorities and
by the board OF supervisors, if any con-
siderable number Of people were con-
WINGED that the retreat was not being
conducted in a proper manner. No dun
geons are used at the retreat said DR..
Steele although there might have been
some used when the establishment was
| first founded. DIR. Steele has been n
member of the board of supervisors for
II years but never saw Mrs. Guilford
when she was patient at Brattleboro.
as his work is only with the state pa
tents.
| The Brattleboro Retreat Is Il private
| institution founded about 1885 and con-
trolled by a self-perpetuating board of
directors. BY an agreement with the
state. however, the institution cares for
insane patients who have been commit
ted to the state asylum at Waterbury,
but cannot bee accommodated there, and at
present approximately 100 of the 800 pa
tients Mt Brattleboro are state patients.
The State pays 81 weekly for the care
Of State patients.
a private detective Is understood to
have been employed for some months by
Senator Potter on this case and it is also
understood that a Rutland attorney, JO-
seph Jones, is looking after Mrs. Gull
fords interests. States Attorney c. V.
Poulin of Rutland county is said to have
been asked To cooperate with Mr.. Jones.
Both of these gentlemen refused to say
Anything regarding the matter yesterday.
TO ABOLISH MUNICIPAL COURTS.
The administration measure establish
ing district courts ana aboishing all city
and municipal courts ana changing The
jurisdiction of the justices OF the peace
VIII be introduced in the Senate on Mon
day by Senator Morse Of Caledonia
county, chairman of the Senate judiciary
committee. The act also provides for some
minor changes in the drawing Of the jury
in the district cour. and provides that
attorneys on both sides shall be furnished
with q list Of the taesmen, from whom
the jury which is 90 sit on any case shall
be drawn.
BY the provisions or this act the STATE
is divided into thirteen districts each OF
which will have a district court with
the same power and jurisdiction as a
municipal court and with financial
jurisdiction up to $50. The county courts
. are also given concurrent jurisdiction Of
cases involving amounts between $500 and
$500. The district judge will have power
to accept pleas OF guilty in all cases
of felones except those punishable by
Imprisonment for life, and will have trial
jurisdiction in all cases where the maxi
mum penalty is five years in STATE
prison.
The removal of causes from the district
= court to the county court is also pro.
vided for on the motion Of the defcndan,
, and in cases whero the addondum Is be,
| tween $500 and 5000. Criminal jurisdiction
is taken away from Justices or the peace
and their civil jurisdiction is limited &c
/ 800. The provisions OF the act also create
trial magistrates t. have jurisdiction anC
to accept pleas OF guilty in prescntmonts
originally under tho jurisdiction Of "A jus
!. tlce OF the peace,
THE THIRTEEN DISTRICTS.
Tho thirteen districts into which Tho
state h divided are rs 'c an of the fol
lowing towns; DiStri,t y, |: All of tn,
towns in Addison county, except Gran
5 Vile and Hancock District No =: Thu
. towns Of Bennington county. District No
l 49, All OF the towns in Caledonia county
e except Fiardwick, Walden and Stannard
10 also Bradford and Newbury in Orang,
county and Concord. Lunenburg, Vic
G tory Guildhall, CRANKY. Maidstone Fas
Y iiiaNen, Brunswick, Bloomfield. Leming
ton and Canaan. District No. L. Chitten
, den ana Grand Isle county towns exccp
II Alburg District No. :, Franklin county
towns and Alburg in Grand Isle county
i'stflcl NO i, l.arGoille county towns
ana craftsbury and Greensboro In Or
', leans county, Hardwick, STANDARD and
walden in Caledonia county and wood
I" bury IN Washington county. District No
- orleans county towns, except Crafts
y bury. also Ferdinand. Brighton, Louis