The daily gazette., 1879-04-26
SECOND EDITION
BUTCHERS DILEMMA.

For several days past rumors of very
unfavorable character have been circula-
ted in this city in regard to George NJ
butcher, the well-known temperance re
former, whose home is in this city. These
rumors, which have been firmly denied
by his friends, are now supplemented by
the following story, taken from the New
town, Conn, Bee, of Tuesday last.
A man named George M. butcher and
a woman styling herself Mrs. Judge Wat
son, of Philadelphia, came to Bethel,
Tuesday, from Norw ak, and in the eve
ming (having been announced through the
medium of hand bills) lectured in the
Congregational Church. The inclement
weather alone prevented full house, be-
cause butcher, who was known as tenn
perance lecturer aud good speaker had
a reputation and many friends, and be-
side this was the double attraction OF a
reformed woman who would speak but
the audience in point of numbers was
not large. Rev. q. f. Waters, to whom
the parties had been highly recommended
introduced the speakers and opened the
meeting with prayer. butcher lead in
the speaking and spoke fervently aud
earnestly for nearly an hour. He tiatter-
ed the people of Bethel by saying many
good things ofthem. He closed and Mrs.
Watson arose and related her experience
and gave what purported to be thorough
history of herself, and claimed to be the
widow of Judge Watson, of San Francis
co, Cal, and daughter of gentleman OF
Philadelphia. She gave a minute histo-
ry of her life since she began drinking,
and also of her reformation and what she
was then doing for the cause of temper
ance. When she had closed her address
Mr.. Waters requested in behalf of the
speakers contribution. and the sum OF
50 was given.
The meeting closed ana the audience
dispersed to their homes, many of them
feeling sense OF having heard stories
that were not true, and that something
was not altogether right; and in these
mlsgivings they were justified, when
Deputy Sheriff e. y. Huse made known
the fact on Thursday that he had tele-
gram, asking for information concern
ing butcher and his companion. The
Deputy Sheriff learning that the parties
nad gone to Danbury went there, and
of the proprietor, Douglas Fairchild and
was promptly told that the man and wo-
man were in his house and had engaged
rooms. 1t a short time Mrs. butcher and
a lady friend from Wilmington, Della
ware, arrived at the hotel, and an eXplo-
sion of facts followed. Mrs. butcher
her husband and made a
thrilling appeal to butcher to abandon
the woma (Watson)jand go home and
take care of mis- six children. butcher
was deaf to the hsart-broken wife and
told her that he would not go home, ard
that he would soon put an ocean between
him and her. The lady exhibited letter
written by Mr.. Watson some years ago,
who by the way was not a Judge, but
who before his death resided in Califor-
mia. In the letter Mr.. Watson the urged
his wife to return home and stop her
conduct. This was in 1871.
Ali tile parties remained at the Turner
House until Friday morning, when
butcher and the Watson woman depart
ed, baggage in hand. They went to the
house of prominent temperance man
and were followed by the proprietor of
the Turner House, who after posting
the gentleman as to the nature of the
case, and his determination to veto any
public speaking of butcher and his part
ner, Mrs. w., left the pair, since which
time nothing further has been heard, ex-
cept that they had gone up the Housa-
tonic road. When butcher left home
and went to Danbury he succeeded in
getting several temperance people inter-
esled, and he and his companion were
announced to speak Thursday evening,
but the arrival of Mrs. Dutcher with her
friend and the close proximity OF Sheriff
Huse, prevented their appearance, and
saved. .Danbury from being bled by these
frauds. Those in Bethel who were vic
tlmlzed, as well as those who were not
are indignant, and the question is being
discussed for the reason that
the people of Bethel have a reputation
for liberty and zeal in the cause of tenn
perance, and with this shameful decep-
ton, fresh before them, anxiety is felt re-
garding the sincerity OF those who go
from place to place speaking upon the
subject. No one attaches any blame or
censures any person for this outrage, ex-
cept butcher, who, as We said before,
was known, and who previous to this
affair believed to be an honorable, up
right man. The efict of this mans con-
duct and his hypocritical blowing and
the deceitful mouthing of the woman
that he "intended to put square upon the
platform as public speaker if it took a
mortgage on the butcher mansion to do
it," has put damper on the ardor of the
people of Bethel which will not soon be
removed. We trust that ere butcher
has chance to cross the ocean, the otfi-
GERS of the law will secure him.
The friends of Mr.. butcher in this city,
Notwithstanding the above statement,
still have confidence in his integrity, and
believe the rumors are solely the result
of a misapprehension. One gentleman
received letter from him, yesterday, in
which Mr.. butcher gave assurances that
his conduct had been in accord with the
strictest sense of propriety, and that the
reports circulated about him were only
the evil attacks of his enemies, and with
out any foundation whatever. He had
simply started out with Mrs. Judge Wat
son ON legitimate lecturing tour, and
he believed their joint efforts were ac-
complishing much good for the cause Of
Mrs. butcher is now at her home in
this city, and it is understood that she
eXhonerates her husband
from all evil intentions, and is satisfied
his conduct is undeserving of censure
and reproach. In regard to the alleged
assertion of Mr.. butcher in the above
in regard to "mortgaging, the
INT cher mansion - IL is we'll tn state that