Three months prior to this letter, in May of 1998, I personally turned over to the Boys Club a one hundred-plus page document containing: (1) the names of individuals who were at the day camp in 1963 as campers and counselors; (2) medical records proving that I suffered with and was treated for Borderline Personality Disorder (a psychological disorder which is thought to be caused by traumatic sexual abuse at an early age); (3) a personal document detailing both my efforts in 1996 to finally brave the same demons that are documented in my medical records and my subsequent discovery of the crime; and (4) a letter from an MGH psychiatrist stating that she treated me extensively for a terrifying incident at the Charlestown Boys Club when I was a boy.
The Club never responded to the information in the document I gave them, nor did they even acknowledge receiving it. They simply said nothing. When I asked Mr. Hardoon to demand an answer, the Club’s attorney, Judith Malone, responded in a conversation with Mr. Hardoon that the Club did not think my claim was a scam but they were not convinced that whatever injury I suffered did in fact occur at the Charlestown Boys Club.
I was outraged that the Boys Club dismissed Dr. Wool’s letter, saying that “She really doesn’t know what happened” and then choosing not to speak with her about her statements to them. Moreover, their deliberate disregard indicated to me an unwillingness to give fair consideration to the evidence. Consequently, I sent the following letter to Attorney Malone, ending all discussions.
August 10, 1998
Dear Attorney Malone:
One of the documents I turned over to the Boys & Girls Club on May 22 was a letter from the director of Primary Care Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital. In her letter, Dr. Wool states that, at some time near the end of four years of treatment, I revealed to her some details of the assault which I suffered at the Charlestown Boys Club in 1963. Dr. Wool tells me that you never contacted her, and my attorney tells me that you never asked for my permission to speak with her. My attorney also tells me that you summarily dismissed Dr. Wool’s statement, saying “…she really doesn’t know what happened.”
I brought forward a highly credible and professional individual who has knowledge of this crime and the effect it had upon me, and you turned a deaf ear to her. Without fair consideration from the Boys & Girls Club, I cannot reasonably expect that we will ever come to an understanding about what happened at the Jordan Gym in the summer of 1963.
Therefore, I am abandoning the effort which I have pursued the last two years to settle this matter amongst ourselves.
Sincerely,
[signed]
James Chester