WAUPACA COUNTY POST

August 12, 1920

 

LOCAL ATTORNEY RESPONDS TO GOVERNOR  J.A. WATROUS

ON CONTROVERSY IN COURT

Court Records Feature In Response of Atty. J.C. Hart In Behalf of Old Friend and Client

Who Was Expelled From the Wisconsin Veterans’ Home By the Home Surgeon

           

Editor of the Waupaca County Post:

            On July 29^th, you published a news item written by me, wherein it was stated that the Surgeon of the Home had paid a fine of $25 and costs on his plea of “guilty”, for calling Mrs. Hutchinson profane names.

            I ask your readers to turn back and read that item and compare it with the libelous article written in defense of the Surgeon and appearing in your last issue.

            You could have signed my name to the news item, but you chose to sigh the “three stars”, which is made so much of in the Governor’s article, backed up by fourteen employees and fourteen inmates of the Hospital.

            Every fact stated in that news item was correct.  It is true that Dr. Lothrop pleaded guilty and paid a fine and costs.  It is true that Mrs. Hutchinson’s mother is ninety-six years old and an inmate of the Hospital.  It is true that since Dr. Lothrop took charge of the Hospital, there was a rule that no visitor could enter the Hospital, except on Tuesdays and Fridays.  It may be that Rule has been changed by the Governor.  It is true that she was driven away from the Hospital and abused by the Surgeon.  It is true that Mrs. Hutchinson is a woman of culture and refinement and the wife of a government official.  It is true that she intended to arrange to take her mother away from the Home and have her live with a daughter in Oshkosh, but serious illness in that daughter’s family has prevented her doing so.

            It is also true that Mrs. Hutchinson came from Kansas to visit her mother and has gone back to Kansas crushed and broken hearted.  I feel as well acquainted with her as with my sister.  We attended the same village school.  She and her sister have visited my home from time to time as they came to see their parents.  So when she came to me with her experience, I believed it my duty to bring the matter into court and let the public know the kind of surgeon now in charge of the Home.

            They call her the “dishwasher”.  I believe every woman in Waupaca washes her dishes and the management at the Home has the same license to brand the Waupaca women as a lot of “dishwashers”.

            From the way the Waupaca women did all kinds of menial work for the Red Cross to help the boys “over there”, during the war, I believe every one of them would if necessary wash dishes to be near her helpless mother.

            In the law business we sometimes find that children will turn down their old parents, but Mrs. Hutchinson is not that kind of a daughter.  Her sister who lives at Oshkosh made frequent visits to her mother but on account of illness, she has been unable to come here for several months.  Mrs. Hutchinson, hearing of the deplorable condition of her mother, came on to see if she could not be of some help and comfort to her.  She took menial employment in the Hospital to be near her mother and it may be to help on her expenses.  I do not understand she is a woman of means and her husband is on a salary.  She was discharged from her employment and forbidden to enter the Hospital again.

            Her father served his country in the Civil War and after his family was raised, he and his wife came to the Home and made it their home.  They always spoke highly of the Home.  Others complained, but they never complained.  I have always felt that the Trustees of the Home had much to contend with.  They take every means in their power to make the old people at the Home comfortable; and for that reason I do not believe that those Trustees will take much stock in the cod of honor of one of their officers who is ready to call a woman a “Liar”.

            Here is the case of a Surgeon being in charge of a Hospital, having the power to bar the daughter of a soldier who fought to preserve the Union, from looking on the face of her helpless mother.

            The following is a copy of the Surgeon’s record in Justice Scott’s Court:

                                                            “Justice’s Court

State of Wisconsin, Waupaca County, City of Waupaca.

State of Wisconsin, Plaintiff, Against Chas. A. Lothrop, Defendant.

Before M.B. Scott, Esq., Justice of the Peace.

July 26, 1920. Delia Hutchinson being duly sworn says that on the 25^th day of July, A.D. 1920, at he town of Farmington in said county, one Charles A. Lothrop, did unlawfully and maliciously, use in reference to and in the presence of one Delia Hutchinson, abusive and obscene language intended by the said Chas. A. Lothrop and naturally tending to provoke an assault and breach of the peace in this to-wit, that said Charles A. Lothrop did then and there of and concerning the said Delia Hutchinson, in her presence and hearing use the following abusive and obscene language, to-wit:  “You (meaning the said Delia Hutchinson) are a liar.  You are a God damn liar”, intending thereby to provoke an assault and breach of the peace.

Complaint on file and warrant issued and delivered to Sheriff Swenson.

Warrant returned in due form.

Defendant pleads guilty to the charge in the complaint, whereupon the Court orders that the defendant pay a fine of $25.00 and costs taxed at the sum of Seven Dollars, or in default of payment thereof he be committed to jail for 30 days or until fine and costs are paid not to exceed said term.

Fine and costs paid and defendant discharged.

                                                                                                            M.B. SCOTT,

                                                                                                Justice of the Peace.”

I do not try law suits in the newspapers, but when an officer attempts to justify himself for insulting a woman, I am willing to let the court record speak for itself.

The Wisconsin Veterans’ Home has done much for the Boys in Blue.  Its history has been one of service to them.  It is too big an institution to set its stamp of approval on such conduct.  A public reprimand would be more appropriate for the guilty official, rather than this bitter attack on this helpless woman, whose only offense was too much love and affection for a helpless mother.

                                                                                                            JOHN C. HART.

                        Letter From Mrs. Hutchinson, to Mr. Hart

Dear Friend –

            Yours of the 3^rd and 6^th inst. With newspaper clipping and Col. Watrous article reached me today and I’m certainly surprised at Watrous “write-up”.  He was kind and courteous to me and I’m sure sympathized with me, though of course did not say much, - his job or politics are probably back of this new stand he has taken.

            Almost every word he says in regard to me, is an absolute falsehood.  I’m preparing a reply but it will probably be a day or so before I can get it to you.  Today is the first day I have sat up for a week and his old write-up has affected me and muddled my brain (what there is of it) till I can’t say anything straight.

            One of the members of the Home wrote me that “every one” was tickled that he was fined, and said he (the doctor) had scarcely shown himself since.  I certainly appreciate all you have done and know how busy one in your position is.  I feel that I have been imposing upon your kindness.

                                                                                                Yours truly,

                                                                                                            Delia Hutchinson.