The daily gazette., 1883-07-18
A BUM AND A FRAUD.
Nelson j. Lee Trying his Temperance
Racket In Connecticut.
[N. Haven, CONN, Mornlng News.l

~. Haven, Conn, Morning News.l
Nelson j. Lee is the name of a man who
has pained considerable notoriety by con-
ductinR temperance meetings throughout
the New England States. Providence, NJ /,
was for long time his base OF operations,
but recently he has turned his attention 10
rescuing from the depths the drunkards OF
the State of Connecticut. His stock In trade
is an impudencc almost colossal, whining,
hypocritical air, and female brass band.
He lately operated several weeks in this
city, duriug which time he quarreled with
all the local laborers in the field OF temper
ance, lied about them, and made himself so
obnoxious that his departure from the city
was hailed with Joy, which was none the
less fervent because it did not fint: public
expression. From New Haven he went to
Bridgeport, and he is there at present.
The NeWs next relates his career In vii
mington and vicinity, which is familiar to
the readers of the GAZETTE, and then say g.:
He was next heard of in Erie, Pa. Here
he again embarked in the rum butiness with
the woman accompaniment. He conducted
low dive, and one OF his peculiar attrac-
tions was walking matches between females,
concerning whose reputation there was not
the least doubt. His place became SO noto-
rious that the temperance people OF Erie
made a special effort to break it up, and as
Lee had previously been such firm believer
In moral suasion they concluded to try the
same method with him. They failed to work,
for Lee threatened to thrash visitor unless
he left his place, and said that If the efforts
to oust him were continued he would take
the rostrum in defence of the rum cause.
Women in walking matches soon become
monotonous and business languished and
finally dropped off altogether. Then Lee
folded his tent and with no money, but a
capital In the way of cheek and hypocrisy,
that had not been materially lessened by
frequent and heavy drafts upon It, he sought
his fortune in other places.
or his career between the time of leaving
Erie and his debut in providence, the Morn
ing NeDs has not sufficient data now at hand
to warrant any publication And his doings
In New England since his arrival here are a
matter of such public notoriety that it is
unnecessary to allude to them at length at
this time
In Bridgeport Lee has been conspicuous
after fashion which has not made the
Christian temperance people OF the city uni
versally enthusiastic. AS usual he has posed
as a beggar night after night, and has not
been wanting in shame facedness. Despite
a cordial support given for the sake OF the
| cause he pretended to represent, the fellow
| has boldly and coarsely attacked the city,
| its ministers as well as It's laymen. In
communication sent lately to a local paper
Lee att mpted to be smart by averring that
| Bridgeport's citizens were SO thoroughly and
despisedly mean that were band of angels
from heaven to witt them the angels would
starye to death unless they brought their
lunch along. This fling was at people
| whose charity has supported Lee, and not
only Lee but also his band of varigated
hddlers, for weeks.
Bridgeport temperance people raised some
hundreds Of dollars a week or two ago to
buy a tent to accommodate temperance as
semblages. Mr.. Lee calmly claims the TEN
as his own personal property, SO Tar as car
| be learned, and few days ago when he an
nounced that he proposed to remain littl'
longer to gather up the crumbs, he STATED
with characte, istic generosity that the ten
| would je allowed to remain too. As sorl
of reprimand to Bridgeport Lee hai
| abolished the free show feature of his work
| and now levies an admission fee of 10 cent
upon each man and woman who visits the
/ tent.
His unpai allied impudence has not infre-
| ouently served him we'll. He has even pre-
sumed to pose as a good and reputable man
| in the presence OF men acquainted with Ms
record, and fully aware OF his can't, hypoc-
risy and vile deeds. Two weeks ago IL
| Bridgeport, he met such man, minister
| of the Gospel, who knew him personally
wears ago, and knew OF his contemplate
career. That man was the Rev.C.M. Pegg,
who writes from Georgetown, Conn, undel
date of June 25 to Wilmington, Del, wher'
he was formerly pastor of the Scott Metho
dist Church, and details the meeting. I'M
letter was printed In the Conference Worker
the organ OF the Methodist Church OF Della
ware and Maryland.