The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-02-02
Br' ieboro Retreat Is the
: Object of Attack in
the House
WILSON OF POWNAL
OFFERS RESOLUTION
And He Tells Outside of the
House One Reason for
His Action

| Legislative investigation of the Brat
tleboro retreat by joint special commit
tee to consist of three representatives,
and two senators, to look into and re-
port upon the management Of such insti
tuition and the care and treatment of per
sons who have been or are now confined
therein, is authorized by resolution in
troduced in the House this forenoon by
Mr.. Wilson of Pownal. The resolution
has been referred to the joint committee
on state and court expenses.
| Ii statements made this morning by
| the introducer of the resolution are to be
| given any credence whatsoever, condi
tions at the retreat have been and are in
a deplorable shape and the treatment of
persons confined there has been shameful.
Mr.. Wilson told the reporters this
morning the story OF woman, Mrs.
Guilford of North Adams, Mass, and
daughter OF ex-senator L. Il. Potter of
Pownal, in an endeayor TO describe the
conditions which caused him to present
the resolution. The woman was the wife
of DIR. Miner of Rutland, who accord
ing to Mr.. Wilson, deserted his wife to
run away with nurse The act of the
husband caused the wife TO become un-
seated mentally and she was taken by
her father to the Brattleboro retreat for
treatment.
She claims that while at the institu
tion a criminal assault was attempted
and that in an endeavor to subdue her
she was struck over the head with an
iron bar. At another time a chemical
solution was thrown onto her body, leav-
ing scars from her neck to her ankles.
Action was brought in United States
court against the retreat, of which DR..
S. E. Lawton is the head and Mrs. H. Z.
Gibson is matron, but the case was set
tied out Of court. The woman recovered
her sanity and is now married to Mr..
Guilford and resides at North Adams,
Mass, where she is a music teacher, be-
ing a graduate of the Boston Conserva
tory OF Music.
Governors Appointments.
Governor Graham has appointed Ar
thur W. Hewitt of Plainfield member of
the state board of education, delegate
from Vermont to the conference of the
National Society for the Promotion of
Industrial Education, to be held at In
disnapolis Feb. 2l "a.
Governor Graham has appointed Amos
Eugene Parlin, NJ. d., of Island Pond as
a member of the state board of medical
registration for the term of six years
from Feb. /. +. H. Godfrey, M. D., OF
Chelsea, former member of this board,
declined a reappointment.
Governor Graham has signed the fol-
lowing bills:
An act providing penalty for persons
escaping from the Vermont state hospital
for the insane, when committed thereto
under the provisions of Sec. 4 of No. 200
of the acts of 1912. as amended by No.
ia of the acts of 1915.
An act relating to solicitors fees in
foreclosure cases.
An act to amend Sec. 2,62l of the pub
lie statutes as amended by No. so of the
acts of 1908, relating to chattel mort
cages.
An act to amend Sec. ADS of the pub
lie statutes as amended by No. l6l of
-he acts of 1915, relating to the time of
sling annual statements by insurance
zion by voting to-day to come back for
session. Senator Steele of
county moved that when the
Senate adjourn it be to Monday evening
It 1880 O'Clock. Senator Russell of Or
cans offered an amendment that the
line be made Saturday at 10 O'Clock,
md the amendment prevailed by yea
md nay vote of IS to Z, the roll being
allied at the request of Senator Villas.
senators Brady, Demeritt. Fairchild,
'roctor, Kicker, Steele and Taylor voted
gainst the amendment.
Proposes Highway Commission.
Senator Dimond of Bennington county
by request bill to create
tate highway commission, consisting OF
hree members to be appointed by the
overnor Each member of the board
hall hold office for three years except
hat when the board is first constituted
he members shall be appointed for the
erms ending March /. 1918, 1919 and
92n. respectively Such commission
hall serve without compensation, but
he governor may remove member for
deficiency, malfeasance or neglect of
uty.
IL Ahdli oe Ihe uutA OF the engineer
nd his assistants to give advice, assist
nee and supervision with regard to road
nd bridge construction throughout the
ate. Annual reports to governor and
4 appropriations for the highway COM
ission shall be expended under its su-
arvision. The third Tuesday in june of
,ch year is designated as Good Roads
~"
All moneys appropriated by the state
IT highway purposes and bridges and
ny unexpended balance received from
nes and fees from the secretary of state
ON the automobile fund under Sec. 40
lall be expended by the highway com
ission.
Hearing on Liquor Sale Restriction.
The public hearing in representatives
III yesterday afternoon Immediately
flowing the brief afternoon session. on
e bill which would place Northfield,
and MiddlebuTy forever in the
v column inasmuch as il provides that
saloon shall be within FIVE miles OF
" institution of higher learning.
ought out as advocates of the Hunt