The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-08-29
PASTOR AND PARISHONER,
The Hubs Great Scandal Before the
Courts Of Justice.

!
came to see the arraignment to-day in the
police court chamber Of the Rev. W. W.
DOwnes, the well-knOwn pastor of the Bow
! Square Church, and Mrs. Fred J. Taber
, whose arrest on Monday night has caused
| such IL sensation.
| Judge Adams decided that a warrant
| must issue, and then the defendants went
| up stairs into the general court room The
| clergyman was recognized by the closely
| packed crowd us soon as he appeared in
the doorway. lie was as uncOncerned in
the face Of the prolonged stare as though he
| was confronting an ordinary Sunday audi
| ence. Mrs. Taber was ust behind and
when a constable beckoned to them they
walked over to the opposite side OF the
| room and took seats near the clerks desk,
! seemingly unconscious OF the attention they
were attracting
EVER SMILING.
Mrs. Taber sat down beside George w.
Lowther one OF the Board OF Assessors.
As she was conversing with number OF
friends who gathered around her, Deputy
Sheriff Fee approached with a paper in his
hand, which he offered her to read. She
took it and glanced rapidly over it's pages,
and then looked up with a smile, and said
pleasantly, "All right" 1t was a libel for
divorce filed by Fred j. Taber against her
w
entity giving but Il passing thought to the
document, she turned away i'll Il dignited
manner and took up the thread OF CONVEX
sation which had been broken.
A few minutes later the clerk called the
names of the defendants and both responded
not guilty. Without any examination the
case was continued until September 18th,
and the two We're ordered to furnish bonds
OF $500 each for their appearance. Mr.
I hon fhn l.,
two were allowed to depart. As they
passed out of the courtroom Mr.. Downes
was asked by reporter if he should re-
main in the city and attend to his pasto-
rial duties as usual.
eyes" was the answer. 81 shall remain
and continue my work as if nothing had
happened. l shall stick to the ship even If
it is rather rough sailing"
A ROCKY OUTLOOK.
Some members of the church and other
friends of both parties involved in the
scandal have come out boldly in their de-
tense, but larger number are shy about
expressing any opinion, and take a neutral
position. There is no denying that the
Rev. Mr. Downes faces the situation with
wonderful courage. but the array OF facts
accommodating against him seems almost
overwhelming.
It is said in beha ali Of the husband OF Mrs.
Taber that several months ago he began to
suspect his wife OF improper relations with
the Rev. Mr.. Downes. He found her fire.
quently in the clergyman's study, which
can only be reached by passing through the
main church. Prior to that time Mr.. Taber
was one of Mr.. Downes firmest friends. In
the trouble which beset the church last fall
no one stood by the pastor more faith
FULL than Mr.. Taber Mrs. Taber's visits
to the pastors study were first noticed by
some Of the ladies of the church, and one
OF the number demonstrated kindly with
Mrs Taber, and received reply to the
effrct thatit was none of her business. The
attention OF Mr.. Taber was then called to
the actions OF his wife, and on his remon-
strating with her he received a defiant an |
swer. 1t is also asserted that Mrs. DOWnes
begged Mrs. Taber to keep away from her |
husbands study. At one time Mr.. Taber
found key in his wife's possession which |
was found to fit one OF the outside doors
OF the church.
THE SEPARATION.
It was about SIX weeks ago that rrr. I
Taber separated from his wife. Two weeks |
later she took a room at Derne street, !
and the Rev. Mr.. Downes began to visit her
there. The llndady was informed that he
was Mrs. Taber's brother. He called at the
manned there as late as 1920 o'clock. On
Saturday evening last he was in Mrs.
Takers bedroom from 7:43 to S:45 with
the door locked. At about 4 D. nj. on
the day he was arrested, he was
Ill Mrs. Taber's room. Soon afterward
Mr.. Taber and gentleman friend obtained
admission to the house, and were soon
joined by a third gentleman. A bright light
was burning III the bedroom, but an at
tempt to obtain a view OF the interior was
prevented by a cloth that had
been hung over the keyhole. The party of
gentlemen left the immediate vicinity of the
bedroom tempo rarily, but at S:45 they
returned and found that the light had been
turned down and the door was still locked.
THE EXPOSE.
What happened after the door was
burst open is thus told by one of the wit
nesses: "Mr. Downes and Mrs. Taber were
both on the bed. Mrs. Taber had on a
skirt and a sort of Il jacket, while Mr..
Downes was minus his boots coat and
vest. AS we entered the room Mrs. Taber
screamed, while one OF us turned up the
light. Mr.. Taber threw himself upon Mr..
Downes, saying, I've got you this time, you
scoundrel.' Mr.. Taber released his hold
after moment or two, and on the clergy
mans arising from the bed he attempted
W ptISustue MF ldDef from proceeding Iuf- !
ther. Mr.. Taber accused Mr.. Downes of
seducing several ladies OF his congregation,
and Mr. Downes retaliated by accusing Mr..
Taber Of doing the same. Mr.. Taber said
nothing to his wife but started at once for
an officer. Mr.. Downes was not allowed to
put on any of his clothing until the officers
arrived.
A church meeting will be held on Friday
at which it is expected the pastor
will make a statement.