Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1883-07-19

Tire Career of Nelson D. Lee, VINO
Fought Against Drink in This city.

Nelson J. Lee, who In 1876 as a CO.
worker with George M. butcher, con-
Quoted a movement in the temperance
cause in this city has been operating re-
Gently in Connecticut. On account Ot the
chilly reception he received at several
towna in that State he took umbrags and
publicly denounced the temperance people
in general in Connecticut for their insin-
oerity in the cause. The lOrning Mems
of New Haven in it's issue OF yesterday
gives lengthy eccOunt OF Lee and his
erratic career. According to the journal
quoted Lees stock in trade 10 an impu-
denos almost colossal, whining bypo-
critical air, and female brass band.
He is French Canadian and speaks
French iluently. In the latter part Of
1875 he appeared In this city aud made a
pIocarious living by peddliug from door
TO door. Afterwards he became the fore
man of large cotton factory. lie lived
with his wife at the corner of Thirteenth
and French streets.
In 1876 Les aud George Catcher
became Interested in temperance move
ment here. At first their efforts attracted
considerable attention, but the excite
ment snbsided and the funds in the
treasury ran short. butcher, who was
also losing interest in the work WAS pre-
scented with fac house by the temper
ance people here, and Lee, who was jesl-
Gus of this mark of appreciation, appro.
priated funds for the cause to his own use.
The citizens here finally denounced
Lee, and he disappeared from the city,
while his cO-w0rker butcher deserted his
wife and children and also left the city
with another woman.
On the eastern shore of Maryland Lee
became acquainted with Miss Ida Foutx,
a comedy young girl Of good family and
pleasing manners, who wsa an orphan
with an Inheritance OF 81, 200. The two
were finally married. Mrs. Lee, the
deserted wife, then appeared upon the
scene, but the temperance advocate de-
MED that she was his wife, and before
any legal action could bs taken against
him ilsd the State.
He next turned ur in Chicago as the
keeper of low dance house, started with
his second wifs's money. The girl re-
NAMED faithful to Lse aud continued to
live with him until all her money had
been spent when Lee deserted her. The
girl afterward returned to her home upon
money sent by friends and died broken
hearted, shortly after the death OF her
child.
Lee disappeared from Chicago shortly
after Miss Fouia's departure, and next
turned up at Erie, Pa, where he run a
gin mill, conducted walking matches be-
tween females and low smusements
generally. His career since leaving Erie
has been in keeping with his erratic
course while here and elsewhere.
The Rev. C. NJ. Pegg formerly pastor of
Scott NJ. II. Church here was in Bridge
port, Conn, few days age, and attended
one of Lees temperance meetings. Writ
ing TO the Conference Worker here he says:
After being seated a few minutes, a
stout, moustaohed, partially bald pated
man paraded across the platform to turn
on the gas, when 10 to my surprise
beheld the great Wilmington temperance
champion, Nelson j. Lee. DR.. Clark, OF
the First M. II. Church, made a
speech and urged the procurement
| of a $500 tent for summer temperance
campaign under Lee and his fddlers.
The meeting having closed, Nelson j.
pushed down where | was talking to
Clark and hurriedly questioned who
was, and then as il afraid | might he 8
thorn in his godly enterprise, revealed in
manner to my surprise the adultery
and hypocrisy in which he lived in all
his sojourn in Wilmington. He told mt
he had kept saloon since | saw him in
Delaware, hut he processes to be all right
now.