Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-03-15
CANNOT FIND MRS.
GU|LFORD'SDUNCEON
Legislative Committee Cannot
Locate "Rat.Infested Celr'
at Brattleboro Retreat.

Brattlebor March 13.--Thc ieeisla.
tive committee engaged in invcstigat-
ing the conduct of the Brattleboro re-
trtat for the insane has given up try
ing to locate tho dungeon Mrs. Hattie
Guilford of North Adams. formerly
or Pownal, VT, says she was confined
IN while an inmate of the institution,
ana mas called upon her to show IL to
the committee. She Is to appear here
tomorrow and lead the committee to
1t. She made the offer when testify
ing in Montpelier before the commit
| tee and the members have accepted it
and await her appearance. There are
TWO more witnesses to he examined
| Tomorrow besides Mrs. Quilford and
then the committee will undertake the
preparation Of its report.
Mrs. Marion Shattuck, supervisor of the
women's department., testified to-day that
she spent much time in the ward where
Mrs. Guilford was during her stay in the
institution and saw her several times
daily. She testified that Mrs. Guilford
never received a broken Jaw at the re.
treat and was never abused there.
Superintendent Smaller T.. Lawton testi-
fed that he frequently visited the wards.
but that the reason why he was not seen
he had adopted a policy of seeing patients
In his office daily in order that examina-
tons might be made without having
other patients gather around and repeat
things they had heard. to the annoyance
OF other patients. He denied that Mrs.
Guilford ever was injured at the retreat.
DR.. Herbert Il. Taylor. first assistant
surgeon at the retreat gave important
testimony tending to contradict the sem
sationai evidence of Mrs Guilford and
the claims relative to the alleged abuse
OF Mrs. Foster r. Clement. He said all
violations of rules by attendants are made
known to retreat officials Immediately as
there are plenty of patients in condition
to give information Attendants are dis
charged II proof Of misconduct is estab-
lished. He denied that there was any sys-
tenn OF punishment In vogue at the
treat. There was no such thing as pun
ishment.
Mrs. Guilford. he testified. was always
suspicious of the food when a patient
at the retreat She once threw a parole
patient to the floor. tried to choke a
woman patient. and again nearly sue
ceeded in throwing nurse downstairs. At
the time when 1t was stated Mr.. Gull
ford's jaw was broken with an iron bar
by nurse who attacked her. DR.. Taylor
said. the attack was made by Mrs. Gull
ford. The nurse, Mrs Morrill,, in defense
forced the patient to her bed then
escaped from the room. Mrs. Guilford ad-
mitted not long afterward that the fault
was all hers, and made no complaint OF
a broken jaw
Mrs. Clement when she entered the in
stitution. DR.. Taylor said. was in a
maniacal state. excited. noisy, profane
and unable to control her bodily move
do mi kxr~ ,fv6k
were necessary for her case. with an
extra one always on call Frequently her
violence drove them all from the room.
Once she got rid Of the nurses, locked
the door, smashed the window, tied sheets
together and got out Later she pounded
on the door of the main building and was
admitted in a half nude condition and
one ankle sprained. DR.. Taylor said Ma.
Clement was "the most destructive. filthy
and abusive patient he ever knew"
Judge James NJ Tyler, chairman OF
the board Of trustees, said that the
papers are asking why the retreat paid
Mrs Guilford 1900 rather than be sued.
Mrs Guilford was discharged January y
and the following November Benning.
ton lawyer notified the witness that no
had case against the institution for
damages in behalf Of Mrs. Guflford. He
had never heard of any complaint from
her before and had an investigation made
and all the testimony taken down
geographically. This he submitted 10
the attorney.
The following April Attorney Joseph C.
Jones Of Rutland notified him that he
had the case and would settle for $4.0O.
After conference the witness said that
it was agreed to settle for s., 900 as -
matter Of policy" rather than have the
publicity. In conclusion he called the at.
tention Of the committee to the last clause
in the settlement agreement which ex-
pressly provided that there should be no