Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-11-24
4 pnPnoRARLR PIoTunn.

The Trial OF a TEethodisr Minister IN wise
cousin--- Missing GirI-s-Heart Broken
WIfe--IInhaPpy Family.
Last Monday, about two o'clock, P. NJ, Mics /
Amelia Butcher, sister Of Mrs. Bright, Of New Lis
bon cane in the stage from Quincy, ana stopped at
the Tanner House il this place. She took room, /
and said she wished to stay over night ana 60 TO 1
Barsboo the next morning. sac was N the sitting
room most Of the afternoon took Tea about dark,
and mailing unnatural noticed in her conduct In |
fhe forn mart Of the evening she went out Of back
door but Is no particular notice vas taken Of it,
a as Afterwards supposed she had returned to her
room. Next morning, at breakfast time and as the
100 was nearly ready to start for Bsraboo, Mr..
Ta5ner vent TO the door Of her room and called her
hut uoon rspping and calling, answer was re-
turned, and on opening the door he found she was
mt there Her purse with about two dellsrs her
bonnet and head dress and hoops, we're left in the
room. but her shawl was gone and there had been
no one in bed. Inquiries we're made al about
town as soon Gs her absence was discovered, aid
search was made along the river, but nothing could
be heard or seen to throw any light the subject.
In the afternoon while ST Tanners, she ssked some
one where the depot was, and il has been supposed
that she might have done for the purpose Of going
to the railroad 10 the evening. and following it TO
the river. But to this time MONDAY foren00n) no
new discoveries have been made. The prevailing
opinion is that she threw herself into the river aud
was carried, perhaps, far down the stream By the
current.
As this is probably the sad termination on her
part Of series of crimes in which another was the
chief actor. we feel it our duty toward him and an
outraged family and our duty 70 the pubgc, to
state ths facts as We have learned them from good
authority.
]. W. Bright, Esq, with bis family, moved from
Ohio to New Lisbon, Juneau county, over year
ago, end entered into the practice Of law. Last
winter and spring he edited the New Lisbon R,pH5-
lean and became pretty generally known in this re-
gion HIS family consisted Of himself, wife, and
two children, and his Wife's sister, Miss Amelia
Dutcher Last spring and early this summer his
neigbhors dicovered that there was trouble in the
family and finally this trouble became SO bad that
Mrs B. (WhO had always borne good reputation
In the community and still maintains it. felt oblig
ed "a omen the whole matter to some Of her friends
near BY, and ask fog advice From her and Mr.. B.
the following facts we're gathered:
The difficulties commenced Eve or six years ago
in Ohio when the sister went into the family to live
Mr.. BIS. conduct was such towards his wife, and
such toward the sister that Mrs. B. felt that she
could not live So and finally it was 90 bad as TO
arouse the community there to such degree that
Mr.. B. thought it more safe to leave than to stay.
He aceordingysold mis- place with the intention fre
moving 10 the West; but his wife refused 10 sign the
deed until he pledged the sister with
them After sWhilesh signed hedeed, preparing
tomove the sister also prepared to move with them,
contrary to the advice Of her parents and brothers
and sisters Mrs B. then refused TO come, but she
finally yielded on Mr.. g promise that the sister
should not live in the family-that he would obtain
a school for her. sc. They then removed to New
Lisbon but instead Of fulfilling his promise, he kept
the sister in the family until about two months ago.
when she went 70 Quincy, at the house Of cousin
of Mr.. B. Last spring his tyranny over his wife,
and his intimacy with her sister, attracted the at
tention Of the community, and became 90 bad that
Mrs. Bright as we have stated, revealed the whole
to her neighbora. At this he became boisterous
sVore and threatened revenge pom his wife and all
who had anything to do with it. But other eircum-
stances aroused the community. 1t was found that
he was frequent visitor at place places Of bad
repute; and We learn that at late term Of the
court in New Lisbon he was indicted for adultery.
In fact, be became go OGlous 10 some parts Of the
community that some Of the ladies forbade his en-
terng their houses and others refused to speak to
him, turning away their faces when they met him.
Some two months ago q report became current that
the sister was enciene and she left for Quincy,
where Mr. B. occasionally visited her. In regard
to the report We do not learn that it is known to
be true.
In this state Of things Mrs. B. was advised to ap>
ply for q divorce Upon hearing her intention, Mr..
b. forestaled her by getting out petition himself
for divorce Blu, finding that there would be no
chance in that community he abandoned it and
went to Indiana, and commenced proceedings there
to obtain a divorce.
Returning and learning that his schemes had been
found out he professed penitence went to his wife,
and asked her forgiveness said he would lead a
new life il she would live with him; that if she
would consent to the sale Of the place he would with
20 70 Indiana, where he had made arrangements
for law partnership, and to edit paper, and that
they would there live happily together. Thus he
again obtained his Fife's confidence, and lived
pleasantly with her few days, till he procured her
signature to the deed disposDg Of their home in New
Lisbon and now he has left her again, and tits sup
posed has gone back to Indiana.
Under this state Of things the sister came here
from Quincy and disappeared as before stated. In
regard to this disappt there are some other
circumstances which 90 to strengthen the belief that
she has DESTROYED herself. Il is said that Mr.. B.
had intended to give her title to some land near
New Lisbon, which title proved worthless, From
that and various slight ireumslances-especally
his attempt to procure divorce from his Wife-lt is
believed that he had promised the sister that be
would obtain such divorce and marry her IL has
bepn further understood at New Lisbon that he had
lately written letter back from Indiana to some
orony stating that he is living with another woman
there Then too Miss Butchers relatives, inCud-
ing sister who lives at Baraboo, had condemned
her Sourse Under these circumstances 1t is natural
to suppose that if she started to 60 from Quincy TO
Baraboo on arriving at this place, the thought Of
the receptou she would meet there, and from all her
relatives should she 60 10 them, and especially the
thought that her last friend, Mr.. had deserted
her would prove sufficient to drive her to sad re-
solution Of selfdesrucuOn.
Mr. Bright we understand, was formerly Meth
odist minister He is easy in his address and famil-
lar in his conversation, and many Of his editorials
were bold in condemnation of drinking saloons,
gambling and other vices. But no one Of ordinary
perception can be in his company, even Tor only a
short time without discovering that he Is coarse and
vulgar, and almost entirely destitute Of moral prin-
ciple The probability is that he made profession
of Christianity aud even preached the Gospel In
order to weave a thicker cloak for his deVtry. For
the credit of the editorial profession, will say that
he never professional editor. He ouly edited
the Republican a short time, q secondary business,
soma other editor could he procured.