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6/2/1977 - In the Matter of Alberta Lessard-VII by Jeffrey L. Steingarten

NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT WRITER S CONSENT INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS JLS In Matter Alberta Lessard VII West Street New York New York i0011 June Mr Richard H Nolte Institute Current World Affairs Fifth Avenue New York New York 10017 Dear Mr Nolte In April West Allis police Alberta North Division Mental Health Center I telephoned Ward D happened I little confused myself details Alberta began I remember I neighbor Mr Pickert I pulled tulips rhubarb Then I middle street right front house I people driving I figured thirty miles tulips people I figured going anywhere thirty hundreds I these people rhubarbs They thank drive It after I picked Rhubarb leaves poisonous I pointed Yes poisonous Alberta conceded sheepishly Anyway Mr Pickert neighbor called Jeffrey Steingarten until recently Institute Fellow interested relationship among psychoanalysis psychiatry This newsletter department I lying street I pulled tulips Alberta laughed He anything about rhubarb It department called police They dealings before I mentally police decide But interesting thing department Rescue Squad Now report I lying street department wouldn their Rescue Squad I think little negligent because I could Were lying street Alberta Yes I That I I But perfectly Alberta thought herself seconds Now I I still I something She giggled uneasily But I Anyway there I asked Alberta handing rhubarb tulips first place She explained after visit previous February collect every document transcript could federal previous spells North Division dismissal school teacher innumerable arrests nights spent Every several weeks calls West Allis police department Milwaukee County sheriff office federal county courthouses state civil service department Day Care Cent hospital Almost always I problem sheriff removing building According federal court I should allowed reasonable access records court medical But matter where I police chased building times county courthouse three times Day Care Center The officers West Allis police headquarters refused Alberta information asked dates arrests charges against herbut actually names arresting officers She there quite atime The policemen would record cards reach letting touch information So Alberta ascertained command bottom violating rights They reacted Alberta amusement At civil service department I people filling application whether mental hospital would jeopardize opportunities getting Then I turned around people maybe there would thirty forty those questions You their right seemed appre ciate I doing But people behind They I disrupting I right demonstrating Alberta thought herself moment Of course I I going Judge Seraphim mentally examined Each Alberta removed Day Care Center hospital would trying records again The sheriff deputies refused drive herself instead squad My still hospital Alberta continued eight miles I tting there Well I could taken transferred I So I apartment going these along I tried riving They would money I dollars Do They drove money I remember thinking about sheriff depriving getting records supposed there directing traffic Alberta began giggle That I Mr Pickert pulled tulips rhubarb middle street What I asked I In I thought funny And I think I because records I I would I angry I Maybe I degree I think I angry easily I while often I I Alberta stopped think several seconds I remember fighting trying police vehicle But I remember I kidded police hospital One U S uniform I deserve because doing right I should He I couldn I I settle Anyway I wearing hospital Now I mustn irritated wouldn They emergency admissions I remember It seems there struggle about taking medicine either about staying there I which Later someone I threw Anyway ugged restraints seems forever They above ceiling shines while Your leathers stretched other stretched Now I leathers position Their together I wonder restraints Did cause ruckus Well thing I figure wanted punish refusing medicine You I terribly allergic medicine The three I treated nicely I haven punished But prior I telling I rights So I still outside diarrhea almost while I fifteen pounds And garden Your garden One aides knows I garden I talked bringing I plants different kinds squash cucumbers vegetables I going But kitchen where I couldn Alberta became confidential I sneak there couple times water Now garden They complain about having garden I I upset Unless something See making I sneaked stairs patients there I asked Alberta whether interviewing about Lessard reviving interest details I indirectly responsible latest North Division Yes I believe Alberta chuckled about Do lawyer Alberta Bob Blondis little while I hearing Bob would I stipulation Bob suggested I along As explained really Russian roulette because hearing could committed I happen I overly happy about because really those situations where being coerced something approve I asked Alberta about stipulation It would simply I would agree contact Dr Holbrooke I necessary Alberta explained It coercion It government saying I psychiatrist I throw mental hospital And I there treatment I I mentally anything And though written anyone reads would think I I would admit I stopping traffic fortk sheriff department brought Alberta continued But after I shouldn information I supposed incriminate myself I incriminating myself They right period because I supposed innocent until proven guilty So I think instead saying things I Bob I would I think I going judge I kidnapped I falsely imprisoned I subjected cruel unusual punishment being drugged drugs physically damaging brain damaging I think better But I think I should hearing And another thing I restraints drugged probable cause hearing Now judge would certainly insane Lessard decision wouldn But really following Lessard Milwaukee I pointed They And Bob doesn hearing I asked No doesn Alberta admitted I think until You always problem But thing I things spontaneously They question without thinking answer because because really happened Alberta paused moment What think I should Jeff If I Alberta I wouldn anything without clearing Bob I little worried about happen hearing There hospital Bob experience cases knows judge react But I afraid I might shout courtroom Alberta It definitely injustice It amounts thing bargaining There found guilty crime commit I guilty anything really trying rights And where I appear uilty something I always being accused things I guilty It against grain There Alberta voice You tough Alberta I iknow I At other someone talking Alberta returned phone anxiously They I phone Can uggest something quick Alberta began laugh I joined phone In Alberta agreed along stipulation Bob Blondis worked She behaved decorously hearing immediately released North Division Alberta celebrated lunch Judy mother former first grader Hazel Edith contemporaries Madison Wisconsin committed years hospital there occupy their agitating against hospital director The Alberta ventured North Division retrieve garden clothing forgot haste return I hardly piece clothing doesn Mental Health Center marked times I there Alberta To recompense Mr Pickert rhubarb tulips pulled Alberta vegetables hospital garden She planted vegetable squash along thirty tomato plants zucchini carrots cucumbers parsley The squash conceived mental hospital produced beautiful vines never ripened others thrived September abundant harvest Alberta There though weeks summer Alberta suspend gardening weeks forced again North Division It seems after month recuperation rhubarb tulip affair Alberta collect records On June Thursday removed twice West AlliS Administration Building On Friday sheriff department ejected Safety Building downtown Saturday Sunday Alberta rested On Monday sheriff deputies chased City Hall On Tuesday police leave mental hospital On Wednesday West Allis Administration Building Alberta accused government stealing depriving livelihood meant began removing boxes officials This looks check Alberta Saying policeman appeared arrest He locked Alberta squad walked around front Alberta sprang driver The officer charged attempting steal police Down station house there altercation about whether Alberta would spend night there somehow accused trying steal policeman And women overnig Alberta points In evening Alberta whiled monkeying Nothing would And swung Alberta sneaked through station house around front casually walked A prisoner escaped Alberta announced breathlessly officers You better catch prisoner The policemen looked other looked Alberta pounced I think cracked three Alberta recalls laughing hardly speak One policeman grabbed I stealing their And I thought Boy I myself There reason treat rough They threw Alberta morning finger printed photographed found public defender brought before judge Her trial place spring I getting criminal Alberta You I going I already court times front different judges Now I quadruplet jeopardy The released recognizance Alberta headed straight welfare department I curious while I there I passed sweetPeas They threw hospital Now there nothing wrong Is Alberta I Well I singing I I telling Judge Seraphim should committed I Three times sheriffs But wouldn I right The third hospital That simple To weeks later Bob Blondis managed Alberta release This Alberta I unconstitution imprisoned fifteen June July The hospital fourteen I always count I I As I concerned incarceration count If paying hotel count Alberta laughs She seems relieved hospital again I getting awfully I there forever But still I wanted You always feeling getting chance heard I always feeling Alberta first after leaving North Division parking welfare office where remained The stolen radio thrown nearby vacant there ticket weeks overparking I argued ticket myself Alberta proudly That hearing I On snowy evening November I Alberta visit West Allis She lives three apartment ground floor frame house Street corner Grant Her livingroom decorated predominantly shades brown walls three piece sectional chair bench under window frayed edges seams Alberta careful things apart chaos files papers corner appear progress Alberta meticulously Today wearing brown slacks fuzzy sweater Scandanavian pattern Her light playful short auburn grayer I Standing seven weighing scarcely hundred twenty pounds figure lithe woman fifty Alberta offers coffee square right Oven topped freshly whipped It delicious Alberta spent months compiling exhaustive history wrongs feels inflicted twenty illegal arrests unconstitutional spells mental hospital unjustified dismissal fromthe West Allis school Marquette University refusal continue doctoral program inadequate repre sentation received lawyers worked matter another twenty years Alberta collected estimates thousand newspaper clippings documentation hundreds legal cases precedents And preparing monumental petition submit federal district court Milwaukee Already stretches sixty eight pages I volumes stuff everyone It those pople things wrong after other nobod anything about SO I Iigure I court stopped Among things Alberta wants mandamus legal administrative records still lacks She going prove never mentally She petitioning Judge Christ T Seraphim mentally examined hospitalized dangerous others And wants Jimmy Carter removed presidency complicity National Education Association which endorsed during campaign which Alberta still feels responsible dismissal West Allis school system You should never voted Carter tells scoldingly And going You Alberta three nights working petition strains fatigue effort A Alberta first petition Bob Blondis advice Bob about looking He interesting eresting He argument federal court But puzzled He couldn figure I going federal court Of course always gives those arguments He always wrong first I Alberta begins laugh I I Ii because I going I going represent myself coattorney under As I people going I really though Alberta pours another coffee Another thing I argue federal court there should thing involuntary mental commitment You think _anyone should forced mental hospital I No involuntarily If voluntarily ferent And commit crime dangeorus imprisoned Then North Division never patient could properly committed Not I would certainly I afraid people there people supposed taking afraid patient there Even shoved stairs there aSsault You playfully Alberta stops moment reconsider answer Well I there patient I little afraid I whether involuntarily committed otherwise though I think involuntarily A dozen times would blankets other patientS night Just sudden someone putting blanket I little afraid trying suffocate scares Of patients I really But shouldn people attempt suicide hospitalized their I opposed seeing someone their Alberta replies I If there could could another Anyway I imagine anyone really committing suicide although I accused myself But I suppose person weaker I might tried treatment I I guarantee Now someone doing something dangerous himself right appeal If sympathetic I think chances killing themselves going But actually commit I The usual rationale committing I people themselves because mentally receive psychiatric their outlook improve longer themselves thank forcing hospital first place I agree there thing mental illness Alberta replies To degree But I whether I would mental illness I I would rather depression angry those terms I think describe fully I agree people problems better putting But I think those normal problems I think normal people while depressed angry And I concerned about people Those people I concerned about But haven patients normally angry depressed Haven across severe catatonics North Division I I really anyone would severe catatonic I would stiffen little maybe three minutes That longest I anyone catatonic state And honest about I I would catatonic state See maybe actually resting something It would position could comfortable How I Have asked Well talked But I think I asked stiffened You different outsider Then think psychiatrist anyone Not really Not psychiatrists function today Almost psychiatrists doing either state personal getting going people really right And their reports exactly things about everybody You doing person In first place diagnosing accurately wouldn report And second place treatment going Now people going treatment They treat human beings They treat objects But people You treat treated going somewhere And I going human being loves people thousand times psychiatrist I Alberta continues You surprised people always It unbelievable Like these people committed constantly whenever problem They little afraid psychiatrist their records there alone And records understand bring Just woman called She these psychiatrists satisfied She wanted another wanted along She Well examined Alberta begins laugh I Now maybe close mental illness could Because doesn understand herself She dependent other people She feels function trusts psychiatrist herself And clear thinking Well having divorce shake But these things shake You accepting mentally See I could never accept Wait minute Alberta How argue mental illness doesn exist people shouldn involuntarily committed Alberta interrupts And I Judge Seraphim ntally committed there No I I Judge Seraphim mentally I dangerous People punished people awfully I saying should punished their They other people But rights never given I should brutal maybe I couldn stand watch myself But saying Alberta chuckled Of course I quicker But theory people dangerous should mental hospital I suppose I always Otherwise tooth tooth I suppose would The telephone rings Alberta picks receiver Hello Alberta listens moment smiles straightens chair No Alberta trying voice sound This Pete Legaux Alberta stifles giggle Yes Pete Legaux Alberta bright mischief I sound woman I Well alias My Three nineteen eighteen twelve fifty She mouthpiece whispers That social security number She listens moment What I You I You called Now Alberta g0odby hangs receiver She explains member Waukeshaw Wisconsin sheriff department called nights Every often evenings sheriff S office West Allis police klberta little Not appoint other people expectations Alberta usually gives putting voice using giving enigmatic answers their provocative questions If going screwball questions I screwball answers Pete Legaux Alberta favorite alias She started using years emergency admissions office mental pital When police brought Alberta heard everyone staff saying things Alberta again Uh Alberta Lessard And resident intake forms asked officiously impersonally could Name please Now Alberta Alberta decided alias Pete Legaux first Thinking Alberta recalls Pete Legaux known character childhood Ladysmith Wisconsin north But quite remember I Ii check Everyone knows matter where I Two thirds people They Alberta Lessard Especially police sheriff F BI I receiver night I I You Alberta Lessard Sometimes I I anyone How often F B I Alberta Every Once Oh often We laugh Okay I admit About night Unless I trying figure something federal motion Then I couple times I information I books especially books I afford running around I money More anything night I think answer I moment I West Allis police department Milwaukee sheriffs F B I Like other night I wanted whether Bronson La Follette state attorney general And course I phone tapped apartment broken Does happen often Well phone tapped nowadays But nothing It police conspired Marquette Teachers Association telephone And April I picked police changed I landlord apartment So anyone Alberta chuckles knowingly There point changing again They after another Just before Thanksgiving I bought oranges berry relish I apartment I orange Now I police someone apartment stole orange think I mentally Alberta laughs But police actually things So I police F B I about orange And about pound bacon disappeared I th6se luxuries often because I afford So anyway I I If hungry yourself I haven anything touched since Sometimes F B I sometimes nasty It seems streaks And police Once aluminum around wrists around ankles bathtub stand water happens But sometimes I The Waukeshaw police tonight called Didn taunting I Oh I Sometimes little But I unless threa tening Alberta breathes little faster Like there police officer I going dying fiery death But scare When I leave apartment ordinary doesn scare I donut doesn temporarily scare But I scared I At sense things But I I scared I I think realize Alberta evicted apartment West Greenfield Street three years reasons still quite fathom pretty isolated while after moved place Then started making friends Until rhubarb tulip affair stayed trouble North Division three years present address I neighbors reacted They really angry Alberta replies Even Mr Pickert neighbor where I tulips I might called department I anything about I where somebody lying middle street could worried Of course I pulled tulips Alberta points window filmy white curtains falling beyond But across street Lila Johnson hostile hospital She calls while I about mental hospitals feels I really belonged there On wants friends But keeps saying doesn anything again I predict future Alberta clears throat If doesn friend It But Alberta speaks slowly deliberate accept exactly I Because Alberta spent Thanksgiving Day herself I really cooking because I alone wanted federal motion I cranberry orange relish freeze She guesses spend Christmas Last Alberta invited spend Christmas Eve Vi Taras house We friendly Alberta since I thrown wanted associate Alberta spending Christmas alone Her sisters spread through northern Wisconsin Minnesota where winter driving treacherous Alberta money Besides doesn speak anymore I usually rself pretty Christmas Alberta barest sighs voice Because becau I figure Christmas private people Received New York June