The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-02-24
Body of Mrs. Emily w. Bar
rett's Husband Seemed
to Be Disfigured
WHEN SHIPT } HOME
FROM b fTLEBORO
She rHa 5 opposed He Was
Doir 5 lell Till Informed
Of His Death

The legislative hearing OF charges of
alleged cruelty to patients at the Brat
tleboro Retreat is assuming considerable
breadth and is likely to last for two
weeks owing to the fact that witnesses
are being brought forward unexpectedly.
The hearing adjourned at Montpelier to-
day to Monday after Mrs Emily W. Bar
rett of st. Johnsbury had testified concern
ing her husband who was an inmate Of
the institution. She said that she re-
ceived reports from time to time from
officials of the Retreat, saying that her
husband was improving both mentally
and physically and just before his death
there she had a report telling of his
continued gain. DIR. Taylor wrote her
the reports, she said. But one letter she
got from Supt. Lawton declared that
her husband was failing. On the might
OF July II, 1918, she telephoned to Brat
tleboro from st. Johnsbury and learned
that her husband had died, and the body
was shipped home the following day.
When the body arrived she was struck
by the peculiar appearance of the face,
the nose looking as if it had been bent,
and there was slanting mark across
the forehead. She thought the marks
might have been made by blow. Mrs.
Barrett told also OF visiting the Retreat
at various times and finding her husband
in good health.
Fred Taylor of St. Johnsbury, a mer
chant, testified yesterday afternoon of
visiting Barrett at the Retreat and to
finding him apparently in good condI-
tion.
Miss Gertrude Graham of st. Johns
bury, who was patient at the retreat,
for seven weeks from Sept. /, 1915,
testified to being choked, forcibiy fed
strapped so tightly to her bed that sne
was in agony throughout the night, and
to being hurled out Of bed and ont of the
dining room by attendants and severely
injured. She also said that the attend
ants stole her best clothes, money and
fruit which was sent to her. Examina-
tion by Mr. Gibson disclosed the fact
that the witness had the morphine hab-
it, and that. according to her story. she
would have had to remain in the retreat
much longer than she did for all to have
transpired to which she testified.
Miss Graham said that she did not
want to go to the institution, but was
aiken there while in a ten-day stupor
rom two tablets given her by DR.. Fair
banks OF st. Johnsbury. She weighed
03 pounds when she entered and 63
when the left the institution
Mrs. Elizabeth Murray of st. Johns
,ury a friend of Miss Graham's, testi-
led to visiting the institution six times
turing the seven weeks Miss Graham
vas there and on one occasion staying
i've days. She saw the nurses choke
Iiss Graham and also witnessed another
ruel act.
Testimony concerning Mrs. Hattie
her condition prior to her con-
nement to the Brattleboro retreat and
uring her confinement there for Pc
iod of about two years and the treat
rent accorded her, was given yesterday
ftcruoon by her father, ex-senator f. f.
otter OF North Pownal and her hus-
and Z. +. Guilford of Williamstown,
lass.
Drs. C. f. Hunt and c. P. Chandler of
Iontpelier and Allston Fogg, representa-
We from Underhill, also testified as to
lie scars which Mrs. Guilford bears on
,r arms and body, the physicians hav
& made an examination of the woman
lring the noon recess.
DR. Potter told the committee that the
st he knew of his daughters alleged
{ra .sha hol
II mind, was mentally normal. and that
was amazed at the revelations. Re-
riding the scars he knew very little but
one thing was very sure, when Mrs.
lilford went to the institution her jaw
as intact and when she was discharged
ON the institution her jaw was broken.
He told of a visit 10 the retreat when
noticed a scar on his daughters fore
ad about an inch long and nearly as
de. He asked DIR. Taylor. assistant to
pt Lawton, as 10 the cause, and said
. Taylor said Mrs. Guilford had had
,uble with a nurse and that the nurse
d been dismissed.
DR.. Potter expressed his belief that
ne of the scars which existed on his
lighters body are the result of burns,
de with some kind of eaustic.
DR.. Potter said he visited the retreat
pt IA, 1914, and was impressed by the
t that the building was very poorly
,ted He remarked to those in charge
this fact and was informed that it
: because repairs were being made to
heating apparatus. During that visit
was unable to see DIR. Lawton, being
4 the superintendent was very busy.
Sed in regard to the broken jaw. DIR.
ter told the committee that Dr. Isadd.
North Adams, Mass, dentist, would
tify before the committee, Mrs Gull
d having visited him after her dis
rye to have two teeth pulled and the
tist filed them instead explaining
{ he feared the jaw would again be
rtured il the teeth were pulled.
ross examined by Atty Gibson, the
ness described Mrs. Guilford's condi-
before she was taken to the Albany.
Y. sanitarium for treatment. She
al that time. said DR. Potter, suf-
ng delusiOns that someone was TRYING
obtain possession Of her children and
feared the Black Hand society was
on doing harm 10 her. She was not
ent while at home and was not suffer
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