Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-11-17
TRIAL OF A METHO DIS T MINISTER IN
WISCONSIN.

= o..
Miss Amelia butcher, sister Of Mrs BRIGHT. of
New Lisbon, came in the stage from Quincy,
and stopped at the Tanner House in this place
She took room, saying she wished to stay over
night and 90 to Baraboo next morning. She
was IN the sitting room most Of the afternoon,
took tea about dark, and nothing unnatural
was noticed in her conduct. In the fore part of
the evening she went out Of back door; but as
no particular notice was taken of IL, it was af.
teruards supposed she had returned to her
room. Next morning, at breakfast time, as the
stage was nearly ready to start for Baraboo,
MI Tanner went to her room door, and called
her. He raped and called, but no answer was
heard. On opening the door, he found she was
not there. Her purse with about two dollars
her bonnet, head-dress and hoops were in the
room, but her shawl was gone, and no one had
been IN the bed. Inquiries were made about
town, and searches were made along the river,
but nothing could be heard or seen to throw
any hight on the subject. In the afternoon
while at Tanners, she asked some one where
the depot was, and it was supposed she might
have done so for the purpose Of going to the
railroad IN the evening, and following it to the
river But to this time Monday forenoonl no
new discoveries have been made The prevail
ing opinion is, that she threw herself into the
river, and was carried, perhaps, far down the
stream by the current
As this is probably the sad termination, ON
her part, of q series of crimes in which anoiber
was the chief actor, we feel it our duty towards
MIN and an outraged family, and our duty to
the public, to state the facts as wa learned
them from good authority
j. W. Bright, Esq, with his family, moved
from OHIO to Lisbon, Juneau county, over a
year ago, and entered into the practice of tbe
law. Last winter and spring be edited the New
Lisbon Republican, and became pretty yeper
ally Known IN this region. His family consist
ed OF himself, wife, two children, and his wife s
sister, Miss Amelia butcher. Last spring and
early this summer his neighbors discovered
that there was trouble in the family. finally
this trouble became 50 bad that MIS- r Ir6o,
mad always borne a good reputation in the
community, and still main tains i'll felt obliged
10 open the whole matter to some of her friends
near by, and ask advice. From her and from
Mr., b. the following facts were gathered:
Ihe dimeulties commenced five or six wears
ago in Ohio, when the sister ventinto the fam
ny TO i've Mr. b. g conduct was such towards
ms wife, aud such towards the sister. that Mrs
D. felt that she could not live 50, and finally
II was so bad as to arouse the community there
70 such degree that Mr.. B. thought il more
safe to leave than to stay. lie accordin1Iv
sold bis place with the intention of removsny
10 tne west; but his wife refused to sirn the
deed till he pledged himself not TO take the
sister with him. After she signed the deed
and while preparing to move, 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
yieided on Mr.. BIS promise that the sister
should not live in the family-that he wonld
obtain school for her, &c. They then removed
TO New Lisbon, but instead OF fulfIlinp his
promise, he kept the sister in the family until
about two months ago, when she went To Ouin
ey, at the house Of a cousin of Mr. r last
spring, bis tyranny over his wife, and his init.
macy with her sister, attracted the attention
OF the community, and became So had that
MIS- Brignt, s We have stated, revealed the
whole to Der neghbors. At this he became
boisterous, swore, and threatened revenge upon
bis wife aad all who had anything to do about
It Bat other circumstances aroused the com
munlty still more. Ii was found that he was
frequent yisiter at place or places of had |
rsPute; and we learn that at tie late { .rm 6f
the court In New Lisbon he was indicted for
adul e-y. In fact, he became 50 odious to the |
best part Of the Community, that some Of the
ladies forbade his entering their houses and
others refused 20 speak 10 him. turning Their
faces away when they met him. Some two
months ago, report became current that his |
SISTER was eseIsate, ard sbe soon left for Ouin-
ey, where Mr- Ii occasionally visited her In
regard to the report, We do not learn that II is
known to be true
In this state of things, Mrs E. was advissd
to apply for divorce. Upon learning her in.
tentlon, MI b. fOrestalled her by getting ont
aPetltion himself for divorce. But finding
that there would be no chance in that co,nmp
nifty, he abandoned it, and went 20 Indiano
ana commenced proceedings there to obtain |
divorce. Returning, and learning that his
schemes had been found out, he professed PEN |
ltence, went to his wife, and ask ed forgiveness
salJ ne would live new life if she would live
win I'm, that If she would consent 10 the sale
OF their place, he would withdraw his divorce
suit In Indiana, that they would 90 to Indiana.
where be had made arrangements for 4 law
partnership, and to edit a paper, and that they |
would there live happily together Thus he |
AGAIN ootain ned hls Wlfe's confidence, and lived |
pleasantly with her few days, till he proeur.d
her signature to the deed disposing of their
home In New Lisbon; and now he has left her |
again, and it is supposed has gone back to In |
diana Under this state Of things the sister
came here from Quincy, and disappeared asts
fore stated. In regard to- this disappearan a |
there are some other circumstances which 90 10
strengthen the belief that she has DESTROYED |
herself 1t 10 said that Nr. B. had pretended |
70 give her a title to some land near New Lis
bon, which title proved worthless From that |
ana various slight clrcumstances-especially |
nls attempt to procure q divorce from his wife
II Is believed that he had promised the sister
tnat ne would obtain such divorce and marry
ner: Ii mas been further understood at New
Lisbon that be has lately written letter back |
rom Indiana, TO some crony, stating that he is |
living with another woman there Then too |
Miss butcher relatives, including a sister who
nVes at baraboo, had condemned her course
Under these circumstances il is natural to sun
pose that 1t she started to 20 from Quincy to |
Baraboo, on arriving at this place, the thought |
Of the reception she would meet thore. and |
from all her relatives, should she 20 to them, |
and especially the thought that her last friend,
MI b., bad deserted her, would prove sufi cent
10 drive her to sad resolution Of elf-destruc-
tion.
Mr.. Bright, We understand, was formerly |
Methodist minister. He is easy in his address
and familiar in his conversation, and many of
bis editorials were bold in condemnation of
drinking saloons, gambling and other vices |
But no one OF ordinary perception can be in his |
company, even for only q short time, without
discovering that he is coarse and vulgar and |
almost entirely destitute Of moral principle.
The probability is that he made a profession of |
Christianity and even preached the gospel in |
order to weave q thicker cloak for his deyiItry |
For the credit Of the editorial profession we
will say that he never was professional editor
IA orI.r a1ifad 4 D..