The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-02-02
TO PROBE RETREAT
MANAGE MEhT AT
BRA1TLEB0RO
Sensational Charges in peso'ution
By POwnaI Representative
INMATES MU ,DEN IATIXATED
Allegations Base on Statements Of
Former Pownal Woman Once
Patient at Institution.

tale of the treatment of insane patti
ents at the Brattleboro retreat was re-
lated this morning by Representative
Frank A. Wilson of Pownal who intro
duced in the House of Representa-
tives a joint resolution calling for the
appointment of a special committee
to investigate the conduct of affairs
at this semi public institution which
| Is under the charge of DR.. S. e. Law
ton. superintendent and Mrs. H. E..
B. Gibson, matron.
The proposed investigation is the
result of terrifying disclosures made
, by Mrs. Hattie Guilford, daughter Of
| ID. Z. K. Potter of Pownal who was a
patient at the Brattleboro Retreat
some two years ago. Mr.. Guilford has
stated to Representative Wilson that
while at the Brattleboro Retreat she
was confined in subterranean dun
geon overrun with rats and mice, cum
ningly concealed. that she was struck
over the head with club by guard
who attempted criminal assault, the
latter practice being alleged to be
common occurrance at the institution.
Mrs. Guilford also states that when
she heard the sounds of struggle be-
tween a woman patient and several
guards, she claimed on to chair,
looked over the door transom and saw
the woman drop dead from blow in
ficted by an attendant. 1t was given
,t-,sy hot q Mt
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 1t is alleged were
thrown upon her by the attendants.
A suit which was filed against the
Battleboro retreat by Mrs. Giulford
and her father who Is former of
the Vermont senate and one OF the
most prominent citizens of Pownal
two years was settled by the insttu-
ton before it came to trial. 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 also
deputy sheriff was an eye witness
of an act of brutality on the part OF
one of the attendants at the retreat
stalwart guard, who dragged a pat
lent from a conveyance and hurled
him against the steps, cutting fear
full cash in his head. Prominent Brat
tleboro people at the capital are will
ing that the retreat should be investi-
gated
The senate yesterday rejected SEN
ator Dunton's bill which would have
made it punishable offensive for
manager OF moving picture theatre
to admit children under the age of 15
years unless accompanied by parents
or guardians, and amended the SEN
ator's other movie bill which provides
sever punishment for the showing of
films depicting a burglary or any 9TH
er offensive classed as a felony, so
that the bill now reads: "a person who
exhibits to the public motion pictures
presents an abscene or imoral show,
vaudeville, or entertainment, shall be
imprisoned not more than three
months or fined not more than 5000,
or both"
The house bill putting the licensing
OF peddlers and auctioneers in the
hands of the state tax commissioner
was passed by the senate today, as
was the bill authorizing the town or
Richford to issue bonds not exceed
ing $4,000 for the purpose of paying
its floating Indebtedness.
An increase in the pay OF the adju-
tant and inspector general. an office
now held by Lee S. Tillotson, of st.
Adams, is asked for in bill introduc-
ed this morning by Mr.. Smith of st.
Adams. Seventeen hundred dollars a
year. instead of the present $1,000 as
asked for, with expense when away
from home, as we'll as allowances for
clerical assistance and office ex-
pense.