The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-01-18
WOMAN CLAIMS
BAD TREATMENT
Weltha C. Todd Of Rutland
Appeals to Vermont
Legislature
TREATED HARSHLY
AT BRATTLEBORO
Petition Asks for Life Pen
sion Because of the Acts
Done

Half hour sessions of both houses dis
posed Of the business on the calendars
in the Vermont legislature for to-day,
it being mostly of routine nature, and
the remainder Of the morning was given
over to committee meetings. A joint
resolution adopted by both houses pro-
vided for an invitation to Calvin Cool.
idge to address the joint assembly at 3
O'Clock this afternoon. 1t is hardly ex-
pected that the vice president elect will
accept the invitation to speak this aft
ernoon, as he addressed the pupils of
the Montpelier high school this morn
ing and is to speak this evening in
representatives hall before the Yer
mont Historical society and representa-
tives and friends When asked by re-
porter this morning if he would speak
this afternoon, he replied that he
thought not.
In the House this morning, the com
mittee on federal relations was given
charge of the communication relative to
the 10Th amendment which Governor
Clement sent TO the House just before
his term of office expired.
A petition was received in the House
from Weltha C. Todd, an elderly lady
who is now in charge of the Overseer of
the poor in the town of Rutland. and
who claims that she was wrongfully
committed To the Brattleboro Retreat
and kept there for II years, treated in
l. r,aaa -nI s,, 4 bn
dead of the winter, Feb. @, 1920, great
ly to her discomfort and injury Her
petition asks for a life pension from.
the state on account Of the treatment
which she has received.
This woman claims that while at the |
retreat, she suffered broken arm. |
which was reset in such way that ii |
deprived her of the use of her left arm
and hand She says that in October,
1919, her arm was injured third time,
and that through treatment received at /
The retreat her head was bruised and
she suffered had rupture
The petition says that she was later
by the state board of super
risors of the insane and that it was
'ound that she ought not to be at the
retreat, that DIR. Lawton told her on
Ian. 80. 1920. he knew nothing about
ler release, but that she was released
IN Feb 6, and placed in the care of j.
J. Hickey, Rutland's overseer Of the
,oor.
Senator Bryant Talks Of Case
Senator w. n Bryant Of Ludlow,
member Of the present Senate, who is
.lsO member Of the board Of super
-isors and examiners for the insane,
vas one of the physicians who exam
ned the woman filing this petition.
When asked about the matter this
morning Dr. Bryant characterized the
roman as "a demented senile," who
vas not SO seriously insane as to be
angerous 10 the public welfare and,
therefore,, not lawfully kept at the re-
reat He said, however, that she was
here because she was not entirely in
er right mind, was intolerable TO live q
18th and had no other place 30 go, Her I
ase, he said. was one that should
ighfully be taken care Of bv the town :
he board Of supervisors hesitated for :
ome time before deciding what TO do
18th the case, but finally arranged with 9
he Rutland overseer Of the poor TO !
IKE charge of the case, thus releasing !,
er on parole. .
DR.. Bryant characterizes as absurd =
he statement Of this woman that she
ad been ill-treated at the Brattleboro
etreat. He said thas she was a hard :
ise to get along with, that she was :
,ntinually complaining. and that since =
ie had been released Mr. Hickey of :
utland had said that it was almost {
npossible to get along with her and :
lat Rutland would be glad to paw to =
i've her rc-committed to the retreat :
he board Of supervisors has not vet !,
.cided however. that her parole should =
revoked: but il would be possible to =
I've her Tc-committed to the institu- :.
on through the probate court =
House Routine. hi
The House passed this morning II L
fixing the legal weight Of a bushcl y
cmmer. II ordered to a third read Z
2 II. II. repeating the presidential pri - :,
arv. Two new House bills were in
pduced frelea-e n. 80 and II. 40 onlyl III
ven Senate bills were referred to i,
mmittees in the House. These were; ~
,. relating 70 the number of wit ~
sses H. = deed 5. 3. relating 10 med "
i inspection in schools. :. :. per :,
tting political advertising in newspa =, =.
~. :. ;. relating u qualification u -
ters in general elections. :. s, pro- :,
ling that Armistincc day shall b.
arter of the city of Rutland.
AZ a public hearing on II. = and u.
exempting ex service men from pay ~
. 4 poil tax. several members of the
ncrican Legion in the state ap
lred and spoke against the bills, L.
.ereat the committee voted 10 report -sl
m uufavorably- ~
Ssnste-MorniaE. ia
A iaiut resolu;iou introduced hy VI
-asr~ ~frrhsrrur 81 firarge and aFrrf a.