Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1917-03-02
WITNESSES TELL
ABOUT RETREAT
Conflicting Testimony Given Be-
fore Investigation Committee
Former Patients and Attendants Re-
view Experiences-Lack of Sufficient
Funds Is Suggested.

Funds Is Suggested.
The Brattleboro Retreat investigat-
ing committee which returned to Mont
pelier from its inspection of the in
stitution, Feb. %, started its public
hearing in the court house the next
day, Friday, Mrs. Hattie Guilford
Of North Adams Mass, was ques-
toned by the committee as to the
charges which she brought against the
Retreat, which charges prompted Repre-
sentative Wilson to introduce a resolu-
ton calling for the investigation. Mrs.
Guilford, who is very good appearing
woman, reiterated the statement which
Representative Wilson made to the
press at the time he produced the reso-
luton. She told of the poor food served
at the institution, and exhibited the
sears on her neck and arms which she
charges resulted from the use of an
acid iron by the attendants at the in
stitution. She also maintained that her
jaw was broken, being struck with an
iron rod by an attendant.
Under a sharp croSseXaminatiOn by
f. w. Gibson for the Retreat Mrs. Gull
ford stated that she considered the doe
tors men of the highest type and she
doubted if they knew anything about
the brutal treatment of inmates and
the moral condition at the institution.
Attorney Gibson in his cross-examina
ton sought to show that Mrs. Guilford,
at the time of her stay at Brattleboro,
was subject to decisions. She admitted
that her physical condition was such
that she feared people and did have de
lusions regarding her family and other
matters. Then Attorney Gibson sought
to prove that the scars on Mrs. Gull
ford s arm were caused by her scratch
ing and picking pimples or testers
which came on her arms; that the sears
were the result not of burns but of cuts.
DR.. Potter, Mrs. Guilford s father,
stated that it was possible for physi-
clan to determine whether it was the
result of burn or cut, and he main
tanned that they were largely the result
of burns.
Miss Gertrude Graham of st. Johns
bury, who was a patient at the Re-
treat for seven weeks from September
!, 1915, testified during the afternoon
to being choked, forcibly fed, strapped
so tightly to her bed that she was in
agony throughout the night, and to be-
ing hurled out of bed and out of the
dining room by attendants and severe
w injured. She also said that the at
tendants stole her best clothes, money
and fruit which were sent to her. Elk
animation by Mr.. Gibson disclosed the
fact that the witness had been NOR
phine user and that according to
her story, she would have had to re;
main in the Retreat imuch- IoHgef than
she did for all to have transpired to
which she testified.
DR.. Z. E. Potter of North Pownal.
father, and +. E. Guilford of North
Adams, Mass, husband of Mrs. Gull
ford, testified regarding Mrs. Gull
ford's condition wnen she entered the
Brattleboro institution and on several
occasions when they visited her there.
She weighed $50 pounds when she entered
and 112 when she left. Mrs. Guilford
is u tall and heavy woman, now weigh
ing about $50 pounds They did not
protest to the institution regarding hel
treatment because she did not tell then
of it for several months after she fin
ally left there.
On Saturday, Mr.. Wilson admitted
his memory was poor as to his tax
ing different patients to the institution
in his capacity as deputy sheriff ant
stated that he had never inspected thu
institution nor made complaint to any
official. The one point in his testimony
was that certain man whom he tool
to the institution was hurled against tn,
stone steps by an attendant when h,
took him from the carriage.
The two principal witnesses hear,
Tuesday morning were Mr.. ant
Mrs. Z. C. Jones of Sheffield who wer,
formerly employed as attendants a
the Retreat
Mrs. Jones testified that during tn,
period she was an employee at that in
stitution, from March to Septembe
1912, that the food was very poor, tina
no fresh meat was seen and that tn
food was not appetizingly served. Sh
testified that the employees were al
ways ordered to slick things up whel
notice was received that the trustee
were coming to visit.
Judge Tyler, for Al years trustee
voluntarily stated that the trustee
never informed the institution in ad
vance of any visitation.
Joseph c. Jones, an attorney of Rut
land, who was patient at the Retreat
testified that when there being treate'
for alcoholism he was manhandlcd b.
the attendant. He had no fault to fin
with the sanitary conditions.
Foster X. Clement of Burlington tol
of receiving reports from his houst
keeper, who visited his wife at the rC
treat in 1918. His wife was a violen
patient He said she received bruti
treatment and that personal belong
ings valued at $500 to $40O had bee
reported destroyed
Judge Gibson was unable to shak
Mr.. Clements testimony but offere
the correspondence in evidence While
showed that the condition had bee
fully reported to him and that ID