The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-02-24
ALLEGED ABUSES
DESCRIBED BY
PATIENTS
Committee Continues Hearing on
Retreat Investigation
MRS. GUILF0RD STAR WITNESS
Former PoWnal Woman Repeats
Story of III Treatment and
Mismanagement.

Montpelier, Feb. 24-At the con-
tinued hearing today before the COM
mittee which is investigating the
Brattleboro retreat Mrs. Emily Bar
rett of st. Johnsbury testified that
her husband died at the institution
and that at the time of his death he
had scare on his head which he did
not bear at the time he was admitted.
Judge Fry of st. Johnsbury testified
that two witnesses from his town who
testified at the hearing yesterday
were reputed morphine habitues.
Representative Frank A. Wilson of
Pownal, who introduced the resolu-
tion which brought about the investi-
CATION, also testified that he saw a
patient thrown against the steps Of
the retreat when he took him to the
institution from Bennington.
Montpelier, Feb. 24.-During the
hearing yesterday before the commit
tee that is investigating the Battle
boro retraet, Mrs. Hattie Guilford
the principal witness, made number
of material additions to the story that
she had previously given to the news
papers regarding her treatment while
patient at the institution.
She claimed she had been kept in
an underground dungeon two days
without food or water, that after she
had witnessed the alleged murder OF
a woman patient she had been given
the third degree. This she said con-
sisted Of being strung up by the
wrists to hook in the ceiling of a
punishment room. from some time in
the morning until the lights were
lighted at night, she being unconsci-
Gus all day. s'' fa.g
The witness also testified to certain
conditions of immortality, said to ex-
ist in the institution, but even after
the spectators left the room she was
reluctant to give the full details to
the committee. Ia Na
Sharply cross examined by Judge
Gibson, she declared that she could
not remember dates, admitted that
the troubles from which she had suf-
fered in the retreat existed only in
her mind. admitted further that such
delusions had gradually faded away,
returning only at times, but still in
sisted that the story she told of mis-
use, ill-treatment and bad food was
not due TO delusions, but to sane
knowledge of the facts.
Dr. Z. E. Potter, father Of the wit
ness, corroborated his daughters tes-
timony and swore that her jaws were
intact when she went to Brattleboro
and broken when she returned. He
also said there was no scar on her
right temple before she went to the
retreat He alleged that the scars ON
the woman's brest and arms were
probably due to some kind of caustic.
Cross-examined by Judge Gibson,
DR.. Potter admitted the continuation
of delusions, both objective and sub
jective and also admitted that the
witness had scratched small sore on
her nose and another on her cheek
Montpelier, Feb. 24.-The senate
adjourned this forenoon after the
adoption of resolutions on the death
of the late Hermon L. Eddy and re-
marks by Lieut. Gov. Hulburd. Simil-
lar resolutions were also adopted in
the house.
Senators Dewitt and Foote were
appointed a committee from the SEN
ate to attend the funeral and Repre-
sentatives Dunham, Cudworth and
Tenney were similarly delegated by
the house.