The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-02-27
MORE ABUSE
OF PATIENTS
Testified to at Legislative
Investigation of Brattle-
boro Retreat
WOMAN WAS STRUCK
IN FACE WITH TOWEL
Foster r. Clement Tells of
Short Stay of His Wife
at Brattleboro

ton which made it difficult to relate the
story of alleged mistreatment of his
wife, Foster r. Clement OF Burlington
and Minneapolis, Mimi, -four manufac-
turer of means, appeared yesterday aft
ernoon before the special legislative COM
mittee which is conducting the investi-
CATION of the Brattleboro retreat, the
hearing being held in the city council
chamber of the Montpelier city hall Mr.
Clements story brought tears to the eyes
OF many of the women spectators and
deeply impressed the Others present,
more so, perhaps, than anything yet told
the committee during the preceding days
of the hearing. Mr.. Clement is an elder
ly man of fine appearance and his strong
affection for his wife, now patient at
the Waterbury asylum, was clearly
shown by the emotion he displayed while
testifying.
Mr.. Clement was preceded on the stand
by Miss Mary Guyette of Burlington,
housekeeper for the Clements for the
past IL years, and by Charles Batchelder,
an attorney whose home is in Bethel
Miss Guyette told her story clearly
and maintained remarkable composure
even under the sharp cross examination
of Atty. L. w. Gibson, On either side of
Atty. Gibson sat ex-Judge Tyler trus-
tee of the retreat, and DIR. Taylor, as
sistant to DIR. Lawton, superintendent.
DR.. Taylor has received nothing but
words of praise for his courteous man
ner from all who have testified so far
Turing the hearing,
Miss Guyette told of first visiting the
Institution Oct 8, 1915, to see Mrs. Glenn.
mt, who was taken there Sept. IL, 1915. |
She arrived at the retreat about |
,'clock in the afternoon and was not al /
owed to see Mrs Clement, returning the |
lext forenoon and was admitted. She /
vent to the room occupied by Mrs. Glenn
mt and said she found it to be very |
mall, the only furnishings being a cheap
ot bed with thin, dirty and uncom.
ortable mattress, small stand and
heap kitchen chair. The room, she said,
vas overrun with mice and swarming
With flies, explaining later on cross ex-
NINA tion that two mice scampered
cross the floor while she was visiting
irs. Clement. No pillow, sheet or blan-
ets we- in evidence.
Patients Face Bruised and Swollen.
Her second visit was made Nov. Q, 1915.
nd she found the patient with badly
ruised and swollen face, scratch on
er nose and bruises on her arms and
mbs and black and blue mark on her
orehead. Miss Guyette told the COM
littee that Mrs. Clement, asked for an
xplanation of her condition, said that
he night attendant had knocked her
own, kicked and pounded her. The day
had been kind.
The reason for her visit on that occa-
ion was because she received a letter
rom Mrs. Clement complaining about
he way in which she was treated Miss
uyette said she talked with DIR. Taylor
bout it and the doctor had said that if
ne charges could be proved the attend
Mt would be discharged.
On her second visit Mrs. Clement was
a downstairs ward and her attention
as attracted by Mrs. Clements voice
fled in plea for Dr. Tracy. Miss Guy
tie insisted on seeing Mrs. Clement at
low her and finally entered the room to
1d that Mrs. Clement had nothing on
,cept a bathrobe which the nurse had
cured before Miss Guyette entered the
om.
Room Dark and Cold
Mrs. Clement was crying and shivering
ON the cold and her feet, without even
e protection of stockings, were red with
Id. The room was dark and cold and
It bit of clothing was in the room.
! that time Mrs. Clement was supposed
have a special nurse but she was not
evidence. Her hands were dry and
I'd and Mrs. Clement asked her not to
lbraee her as she was filthy. One of
r fingers was badly damned and the
tient told her it was the result of the
ger being caught in the door, which
is slammed to by nurse.
The following morning she returned
the institution and was there when
IS Clements breakfast was brought, it
insisting of liver and black substance
itch she was unable to say was tea or
fee. Mrs. Clement could not eat the
ID and the nurse told Miss Guvette
1t the patient had been eating very
tie.
Mrs. Clement was committed to the in
tuition on Sept. III and removed to
iterbury Nov. Ia.
IN cross examination by Mr.. Gibson
witness said that she talked with DIR.
ylor about Mrs. Clement and told him
It she couldn't understand how il could
possible to mistreat a person as Mrs.
nent had been mistreated Miss GUY.
e admitted that she knew Mrs. Glenn
was destructive and tore plastering
m the wall, but she did not know that
5. Clement had smashed the furniture
Tawton hall so that she had to be re.
we'd from that building. the finest at
institution. Mrs. Clement. admitted
witness. when first taken i'll. had been
v abusive and nervous and used much
family. Miss Guyette told the com
tee in reply to questions asked by
y. Gibson that she could not imagine
worse case than that OF Mrs. Glenn
fiss Guyette scored a point and
nght slight ripple Of laughter when
reply TO a question asked by ATTY.
son If DIR. Tracy was kind. she said
| he admitted her without the usual
". and thought that was kind. Dr.
Tor. said Miss Guyette. with a smile
that physician seated within a few
Of her, was very gentlemanly and
to her
Physicians Praised.