The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, January 4, 1896, Page 8

8 THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SATURDAY. JANUARY 4, 1896. A FLOOD OF LIGHT ON Mrs. Thurston Reveals Dr. Brown's Relations With Mattie. PRESENTS, KISSES, HUGS. The Pastor Said to Have Squeezed er Hand and Gave a Gold Watch. MET IN A LODGING-HOUSE. Mrs. Baddin and Mrs. Tunnell Traced. Oakland Ministers Take Action—Opinions. “You and God for it, Mattie,”” is what Mrs. Thurston declares she 4 to Miss Overman, when the latter mentioned her proposed trip to Tacoma in the company of Dr. Brown. Mrs. Thurston, the Oakland evangelist, tells a startling story in to-day’s Cary, which corrobor; in every detail the charge made by Mrs. Davidson against Dr. C. 0. Brown nora In a graphic way describes Miss Overman and her professions of Chris- ti. , gradually leading up to the al- leged relations ting between Dr. Brown and her young friend, as confessed by the latter. Mrs. Thurston says that she went with Mrs. Tunnell to the room of Miss Over- man’s sister, on Market street, between Sixth and Seventh, and there found Mat- tieand her sister, the latter being some- what en deshabille. “I was surprised to find Mattie in the room with a gentleman,” she continues. “He was introduced to me as Dr. Brown.” *‘Mattie told me Dr. Brown gave her all the little attentions a woman likes so well. She said he would come to her room and build a fire for her and do other things, all of which Mrs. lirown did not approve. “Mattie told me that it was necessary for her to attend all Dr. Brown’s sermons as he could not preach as well when she w not before him. he also said she h es ad been out on the beach witn Dr. Br that Mrs. Brown | had to go noking out there, too, and that some people did not know enough to stay at home when they were not wanted.” her rema e statement ston declares Dr. Brown to be one of the most hardened sinners who has ruined the life of an innocent girl.” It tran vesterday that the Minis- terial Union of Oakland is pursninga quiet investigation on its own ac nt into the charges against Dr. Brown. For some day hi een going on, but nothing defi- > has been learned of the investigati ce the first published story from Mr: Thurston in Thursd. the minis- ters have been dec ious to have Dr. McLean meet Mrs. Thurston. Thurs- A. D. Coplin, a well-known lay reacher of Oakland, cailed on Mrs. Thurs- ton and tried to pave the way for Dr. Mc- Lean to hear what she might tell. Mrs. Thurston was not anxious to talk, and yesterday Mr. Coplin de a second t for the same vurpose. As Mr hurston goes on the stand this morning it is likely thbat the ministers will not re- quire further testi v than that given by the lady under oath. McLean is the head of the gational Seminary, and is the oldest er of that creed on the coast. surmised that a certain amount of credence to the charges made s Dr. Brown brother mi Wwhen it should considered worthy of engaging the time of so busy and influen- tial a can as Dr. McLean beil’s court this morning. = RSTON TALKS. MRS. THU Goes Into Minute Detalls Concern- ing the Brown-Overman- Davldson Case. Mre. C. E. Thurston of Oakland is prob- ¢ the only an who knows the trath concerning the scandal in >. 0. Frown and Miss Over- man are involved. Last night she con sented to tell the f. to THE CALL rep- nd he will no dou on to everybody on th coast, where the various parties are so well kno Mrs. Thurston is a woman beyond re- proach and is of middie age. She has, h her husband, been engaged in active evangelical work in this State for many years. From Eureka to San Diego Mr. and Mrs. Thursion are known as models of upri ness and as earnest Christians. Scores of m | THE CHURCH SCANDAL | testify to the unimpeachable character of | these earnest peovle. 1t is from a strict sense of duty that Mrs. { Thurston told her story. Every effort to | induce her to speak had been in vain. She only consented to give her sensational | story to THE CALL because she considered | the “time had come when it would ill be- | come her, as a professing Christian, to | hold her peace. She has known the history | of the case since the fall of 1804, when she was residing with her husband at 715 Gough street, San Francisco. When 1 saw that the attorneys were making every effort to convict Mrs. Davidson regardless of the facts, for the purpose of shielding one of the most hardened of sinners, who has ruined the | life of an innocent girl, I became aroused and decided it was time to speak and let | the world_know what kind of a man was | being dealt with,”” said Mrs. Thurston. | In giving out the story which follows she explained that she did it out of a sense | of duty and unrestrainedly with minute | details that *‘there might be no chance for | the guilty to slip out of the net which they have wound about themseives, and with- | out any aim except to let justice be done | toall.”” Sue said: “I met Miss Mattie Overman with Mrs. ! Tunnell the first time along in August, It was during the meetings of Rev. n, at the St. Paul’s mission, on Mission street. It was not there I met her, but at the Grant-avenue Mission. Mrs. Tunnell introduced Mattie to me as her friend from Tacoma. Asisour cus- tom at the missions [ asked Miss Overman ‘Areyou a Christian?’ She replied, ‘I am trying to be.’ As they left, Mrs. Tunnell turned aside and said to me, quietly, ‘Pray for my friend; she thinks sne is a Chris- tian.’ I took it that Mrs. Tunnell did not believe the girl was converted. “I next met her at the Friends’ mission on McAllister strect. After this she called at my house with Mrs. Tunnell and we formed quite a friendship and became quite intimate. It was some little time after this, how long I don’t know, before I heard anything about Dr. Brown. It was | during the month. A party of saveral of us | were en route to the St. Paul’s Mission. It came around that Mattie and I walked together, while Mr. Thurston walked with some of the others. ‘*‘She asked me if I had ever met Dr. C. O. Brown. Ireplied I had not. She said she had met him in Tacoma and thought he was a fine man. He was so pleasant and agreeable to have about. I looked at Mattie closely and asked, ‘Is there nothing but friendship between vouand Dr. Brown, Mattie? You cannot be too careful.’ id it without one thought of anything but a caution to the | girl. She replied, ‘How sharp you are to | detect things.” 1 thought her reply was | quite strange, but something stopped the | conversation, and nothing more out of the | usual occurred or was said that evening. ‘1t is impossible to say how many times | Mattie visited at my home after this. She would run in nearly every day. Mrs.Tun- nell w; | soon as members of the family. | was Mattie hen rooming with Mrs. Tunnell at 27 Second street. Had I died this story would have gone to the grave with me, for I never intended to reveal it to any one.” Mr. Thurston, who had entered, said the story listen to it with as much interest as the reporter. Mrs. Thurston went o “*Mattie was converted one night at the St. Paul Mission, and seemed to be deeply interested in the truths of the Bible. She would often come to the house and we ould study over them together. She d she believed the Lord was preparing her for entering the evangelistic work. sShe honest and sincere then, whatever she is now. One evening about’ this time she told me she had to go to Dr. Brown to make something right with his family. idid not know what it was, and do not now. This was the first I knew she was ac- quainted witn Dr. Brown’s family. “A few days later she came in and said she had been to Dr. Brown's and per- formed her duty and made it right with them. ‘It took all the courage and grace I had to-day to do something, but I did it and the Lord repaid me for it, was what she s. aid. he said Mr. and Mrs. Brown bad in- vited her to make their home her home. It was during this conversation that 1 learned of Dr. Brown’s profession of love to her. | She said one night Dr. and Mrs. Brown ana she were walking home together and the doctor reached back and took her hand and squeezed it. She said he had vis- ited her at axirs. Tunnell’s room. She said Brown would come to her with open and throwing them about her ceze and her. She said although was a love-sick girl he was worse than sh *Wnen Mrs. Tunnell came in I asked ought it right, under the cir- , to allow Mattie to go and live . Isaid if I was not going to move 1 would give hera home with me. She replied, ‘Mattie is a poor girl and it is | not strang offered her a home. she accepts it Dr. Brown is able to give a luxurious home with 2ll the ease and com- forts. tie left Mrs. Tunnell’s and went to Dr. Brown’s almost immediately. She attended the meetings after this, but not as regularly. It was said among out- siders Mattie went to Brown's to sew for them. “When I next saw Mattie to talk with her she told me Dr. Brown gave her all the little attentions a woman likes so well. She said he would come to her room and build a fire for her and do other things for ter, which Mrs. Brown did not approve of. At that time I had never met Dr. Brown. Mattie invited me to attend ser- vice at his church. She said 1t was neces- sary for her to attend ail his sermons, as he could not preach as well when she was not before him. She said she was absent one Sunday, and Dr. Brown made such ure that people questioned him to know what was the matter with him. It was about ihis time that Mrs. Ashby, Mattie’s sister, who had been visiting her parents in Tacoma, came down to San Francisco and went to a botel on the south MRS, [Sketched STOCKTON TELLING HER STORY TO A “CALL” REPORTER. from life.] san old friend, and the two were | as all news to him, and he wouid | It} side of Market street, between Sixth and Seven! She occupied & room on the third floor. Mrs. Tunnell brought Mrs. Ashby to my house, and introduced her. Some days later Mrs. Tunnell requested me to go over to Oakland to visit Rev. and Mrs. J. H. Allen. I consentsd, and we started. When we reached Market street Mrs. Tunnell said she wanted to stop and get an address from Mrs. Ashby. Shetook me up on the elevator and went direct to Mrs. Ashby’s door. As she knocked, I stepped back rather out of sight. Mrs. Ashby appeared in rather dishabille, only opening the door a little. When she saw who it was, shesaid: ‘Oh! Itis you. Come in.” Mrs, Tunnell went in as the door was opened, and I followed her. “I was surprised to find Mattie in the room with a gentleman. He was intro- duced to me as Dr. Brown. It was then not later than 10 o’clock. It was the first time I ever met him, and I was rather sur- prised to find him there. There was only one room. Mattie looked haggard. care- worn and worn out. Mrs. Tunnell said to Dr. Brown she was soliciting for the poor. He put his hand into his pocket and drew out a silver dollar, giving it to her. I kissed Mattie as we left and told her to be 2 good girl. We left them all in the room as we found them. “The last time Mattie came to my house on Gough street was one afternoon about 4 o'clock. She said she had been at the beach with Dr. Brown. added, ‘and his family.’ I am not sure, however, ‘about that.” She was greatly a%ilale«l and very serious; in fact, unusu- ally so, and appeared to be greatly trou- bled. She made the remark, ‘Some people do not know enough to stay at home when they are not wanted; Mrs. Brown had to £ poking out to the beach. “When she departed I went to the door with her, and she said she had to be home and dressed for dinner by 5 o’clock. I looked at her and said: ‘Mattie, you have lost that sweet smile of yours; it was so like an innocent child’s. Where is your Christianity? Have you lost all ‘that sweet peace which used to shine in your face?” She replied, ‘I think so,’ and dropped her eyes from mine. “has. Tunnell came to me after this and said Dr. Brown and Mattie wanted to know what I meant when I said to Mattie in Mrs. Ashby’s room in the Market-street hotel that day, *be a good girl.” I tola her to_;ell them that I meant just what I said. **‘About this time Mrs. Ashby joined her husband in the mines of Eastern Nevada. I moved to 213 Gough street about that time and_did not see Mattie for several weeks. I heard of her, however, through Mrs. Tunnell, who was a frequent caller. One day Mattie called and looked greatly troubled, haggard and distressed. I said, *Mattie, you look bad and as if you were in trouble and in dreadful distress.” She ad- mitted that she was in trouble. said. She referred to Dr. Brown's. ‘I shall have to go back home to Tacoma, and I don’t want to go. “I asked her why she did not want to go home, as I supposed she wouald nmurafiy want to see her parents. She said one reason she did not want to go wasthat Dr. Brown would miss her at the house, and it would be so lonesome and gloomy for him. He had told her she was the only sunshine in his home, as his marriage was uncongenial, and his home had never been a lmpé)y one. “‘She said Dr. Brown and she went into the dining-room together, where M Brown was sitting, and he requested M Brown as a favor to him to invite Mattie to remain all winter in their home to make it bright and cheerful. Mrs. Brown sat there and shook her head. Mattie said Mrs. Brown said something which made herstamp her foot and say : ‘How dare you make such a remark about me? Mrs. Brown, I'll get even with you.” She then told her what Dr. Brown had told her of about it. “Isaid to Mattie one day when Mrs. Tunnell had been talking of going away, ‘What will Dr. Brown do when Mrs. Tun- nell is gone?’ She replied: ‘Mrs. Davidsoa is a bosom friend of theirs and the doctor and I will confide in her. She will be the doctor’s adviser ana counselor. It has all been agreed among them.' Iasked Mrs. Tunnell ons time, Wbi use ber influence to keep Mattie irom go- ing with Dr. Brown to Tacoma, She re- plie: I have lost my influence over Mat- | tie. Mrs. Davidson has taken my place with the girl. 1t is no use for me to talk | any more with Mattie.’ “‘Mattie told me one time that Dr. Brown flattered her, saying she was a talented woman, and ‘admired an evening dress she wore, telling her how nice she looked in it. She was always well-dressed after she went to Dr. Brown's to live. “One day she took out a beautiful gold watch to see the time aud called my at- tention to it, saying it was a gift from her sister. She said she had been given one before, but had parfed with it, but she would never part with this one. “One day last spring Mattie came to my houee and told me Dr. Brown was goinz | to Tacoma on a lecturing tour, and that she was going with him on the same steamer. I tried to persuade her not to 0, as it would ruin her reputation, and B oloo it neitag any to ruin. After con- siderable talk about the matter Mattie and 1 kneeled down and prayed over it. When we arose she promised me she would not go on the steamer with him. £he saiq, ‘I feel the Lord has sent you to me at this trying time.” T replied that she er seemed to want him when she was having a good time, She said, ‘if Mrs, Tunnell had talked to me as you have I would not be where I am to-day.’ “The next evening 1 saw her at the St. Paul Mission, and she told me she was going to Tacoma with Dr. Brown on the steamer. She said that when she went home Mrs. Davidson and Dr. Brown held a conference. They said if she went first and he followed or whether he went first and she followed him it would create sus- picion and cause talk, so it was decided she had better go with him on the steamer. Isaid: ‘You and God for it, Matiie.’ “T have never met the child from that night to this, That was my good-by to ber. Dr. Brown and she went to Tacoma the next day on the steamer together. Shortly after Mattie left, her sister, Mrs. Ashby, returned from Nevada and came to see me at Mattie’s request. I did some sewing for her. Tasked if she was stop- ping at the same place she did on her for- mer visit, and she said she was not, as she did not want Dr. Brown to know where she was rooming, as he would come to see her and she did not want him. I did not ask her why and she did not tell me. ‘“*She asked me if Mattie had shown me the gold watch Dr. Brown gave her before they went to Tacoma. You rem‘xher Mattie told me that Mrs. Ashby gave¥it to her. ‘“‘She said she had received a letter from Mattie and I asked herif Mattie had yet ot over her infatuation for Dr. Brown. She replied, ‘Oh, no, she is almost worried sick and savs she cannot stand to be sep- arated from him much longer. I then asked how it was with Dr. Brow: he re- plied, ‘Oh, he is as bad as Mattie. Don’t you know he can’t half preach since she has peen absent?’ “Oh, to think of that hardened old siu- ner and how hLe has ruined that girl’s life. A few days after there was another letter from Mattie. Mrs. Tunnell had moved to Oakland and Mrs. Ashby requested me to 2o with her to see Mrs. Tunnell. She said Mattie was getting desperate and was coming to the City at all costs. She coula not stand it any longer; it was so lone- some she could not stay there. Mrs. Ashb said Dr. Brown wanted to find Mrs, Tunnell to send her to Tacoma to persuade Mattie not to come to the City. e set a dayto go to Oakland. One night before we were to go to Oakland Dr. Brown’s 14-year-old son came to me in the St. Paul Mission and said, 'Papa wants to know if you can give him Mrs. Tunnell's address.” I told the boy I did not remember it. ‘Papa is back there,” he said, pointing to the rear of the hall, but I did not go back to him. A couple of days later he came to my house and asked for Mrs. Tunnell’s ad- dress. Ifold him I had not yet secured it, bat directed him to a store near where she resided and told him they would be likely to know where she lived. “The day set for Mrs. Ashby and I to go to Oakland to see Mrs. Tunnell, Mrs. Ashby came to my house. When we were ‘We've | had trouble at the house last night,” she | his wife's conduct as if she knew all| it was she did not | I believe she | | | | | | | | | had dinner togetner. | Association. R e e i MRS. THURSTON. [Reproduced from a photograph.] ready I went to the door to go out and opened it. I was standing face to face with Mrs. Tunnell. Iinvited her in, and we three had lunch. Mrs. Ashby invited us all to her place for dinner. We went downtown and I went to the Mission. Mrs. Tunnell told us she was going to leave the next morning for Tacoma. We met in the evening at Mrs. Ashby’s and Mrs. Tunnell stayed that night with a Mrs. Smith of Hyde street. 8he is a schoolteacher, and was in town to-day attending the Teachers’ Mrs. Tunnell did not have anything to say regarding her trip or its purpose. ‘‘Mrs. Ashby told me Dr. Brown was to pay all of Mrs. Tunnell’s expenses while she was gone and $10 extra. The papers the next day said Mrs. Tunnell had gone to Central America. Mrs. Ashby told me Dr. Brown had it published in'that way. Mrs. Ashby went north herself about two weeks later. ‘‘Mrs. Ashby told me that Mrs. David- son was a most faithful woman, and a friend in whom Dr. Brown confided most implicitly. Davidson could be trusted. ‘Oh, yes,’ she said, ‘she is an honorable woman and a good Christfan.” I never saw Mrs. David- son but three times that I now recall, and | hat I say is only to do justice. “I met Mrs. Tunnell often after she re- urned from Tacoma. One day in May t Jast I met her and she said Mattie had re- tarned to the City and was attending Heald’s Business College. I met her again in November. She broached the subject of Mattie by saying the girl’s health was failing again. I asked Mrs. Tunnell replied, ‘Well, I am afraid she is having trouble.’ In aroundabout way she suid the girl was greatly dissatis- fied and had some fear for her reason. ‘“ ‘Is Dr. Brown trying to discard Mat- tie?' I asked. ‘‘ ‘Yes, I fear he is,” was the reply. “Womanlike, I could not refrain from saying, ‘I told you so. What is Mattie do- ing? Tasked. ‘Has she lost her Christian experience ? ‘' “Yes; I fear she has,” was the reply. ‘All she seems to think of lately is to have a new bonnet every month.” “ “Where does she get the money to use 8o freely ?" *‘Oh, she draws $35 each month. You know Dr. Brown has been called East to a big church at a big salary. Matti. says he intends to leave her here, after having ruined her spiritually and bodily—leave her to work out a miserable existence. “Wouldn’t he be a fine one to discard me and go into a large congregation to preach purity ?”’ were the words she used. “‘Mrs. Tunnell went on to state that she feared Mattie would go insane or commit suicide. She left school, but was per- suaded to return, but it would not last long, as she was getting desperate. I asked what she proposed to do, and Mrs. Tunnell said she was considering several plans, One was to lay the whole matter before the trustees of the church. ‘“*Another plan was to make it public through the papers if they would pay her price for it. I asked Mrs. Tunnell why she did not do it. She replied, ‘When Mattie is away from Dr. Brown she is ready to do anything, but when he is about she is as docile as a lamb. I believe he has her hypnotized, as he has such an influence over her.’ This brings us down to the time when the matter was made public. ‘I have thought of this Mrs. Baddin re- | ferred_to, and am not certain regarding | her. I have a theory that might explain the matter. I can only zive it as a theory. If Mrs. Tunnell and Mattie or any other two or more had combined to do Dr. Brown for his money it would have been very easy for one of them to disguise her- self and been presented as the Mrs. Bad- din. For all Il7 know, however, she ma: have been an actual person, who is y: be brought forward by some bright re- porter. As I recall these facts now, the foregoing is my testimony as it will be when I goon the stand. represented a single detail, God knows it is unintentional.’” e MRS. BADDIN IS KNOWN. The Existence of Mrs. Davidson’s Mysterlous Visitor Is Fully Established. There is no longer the slightest reason to question the existence of Mrs. Baddin, the ‘“‘mysterious woman'' in the Brown- Davidson case. The story published exclusively in Tre CavLr of yesterday locating a Mrs. “Bodin”" on Fourth and Mission streets, and sug- gesting that she was Mrs. Davidson's veiled visitor, is corroborated by later de- velopments. Attorney Gallagher does not deny that he has received valuable infor- mation concerning Mrs, Baddin’s present whereabouts, though he positively de- clines to go into details. It is probable, however, that his first positive ‘‘tip"’ came from the following letter received by him yesterda; 35 BOUTH PARK, CITY, Jan. 1896. Mr. Gallagher, attorney for Mrs. Davidson— DEAE BIR: AS the prosecution in the case of Brown vs. Davidson seem to think Mrs. Bad- din a myth, it is possible I may be able to as- sigt you in showing that such a person does (ixhst: that is, if you are unable to prove the act. The Mrs. Baddin I have in mind may or may not be the person wanted Sheis about 25 years of age, stately in appearance. narrow, elon- gated face; a glib, but rather conrse tongue. She hes two children, and came from Seattle not many months ago with the intention of re- marrying, and in all probability has since married, as she was a widow at that time, Yours truly, ALFRED J. CLODE. P.8.—Before going to Seattle, this Mrs. Bad- din lived in alodging-house on either Fourth or Sixth street. At least she said so, “This Mrs. Baddin may not be the miss- ing woman in the Brown-Davidson case,” said Mr. Clode last night, “and I gave the information to Mr. Gallagher simply as a clew whica he might follow up or not, just as he pleased. The ouly interest 1 ave in the case is to see_justice done to all parties concerned. rs. Davidson protests her innocence, and if that be true and I can aid her in_substantiating the fact then I feel that it is my duty to do so. On the other hand, if she is guilty she should suffer, ‘1 was a passenger on the steamer Uma- tilla from Seattle last July. Ou the trip down I met a woman who told me her name was Mrs. Baddin. She had two children with her. She =aid she lived 1 a lodging-house at Fourth and Mission streets in San Francisco and had been visiting friends in Tacoma. She also told 1 asked her one day if Mrs. | how she was and | If T have mis- | me that she was coming back to the City to get married, she being a widow. “‘This Mrs. Baddin was a woman of about 30 years of age, though she would pass for several vears younger. She was passably good-looking and rather bold in her man- ner. **This was the last I saw of the woman until about the 16th of last October, when 1 visited the Lilienthal hop ranch at Pleasanton. There I saw the same woman and her two children. There was a man with them, and I came to the conclusion that she had carried out her intentions and got married. They were all living | together in a tent. I "have not seen or heard of he woman since. “When I made known to Mr. Gallagher the existence of this woman Baddin he at onee admitted that it was the same person for whom he was searching. He said that Mrs. Tunnell, who is also mixed up with this case, acted as a sort of an employment agent for the Lilienthal hop ranch, and doubtless sent Mrs. Baddin there. *“This all I know of Mrs. Baddin. I think it would be an easy matter to hunt her up. If she is the woman who did the blackmailing, as Mrs. Davidson states, it will probably be difficult to make her ad- mit the fact.” Some eightor nine months ago Mrs. Bad- din kept a lodging-house on the corner of Fourth and Mission streets, though she only remained there a short while. She | then went to Tacoma on a visit, returning | to San Trancisco at the time mentioned | by Mr. Clode. The woman soon began to affiliate with | the World’s Christian Co-operative So- iety, and also became prominent in spirit- c circles. In October last she made | _brief visit to Pleasanton and then to | Lilienthal’s ranch, returning to the City early in November. Since that time Mrs. Baddin has not been seen except by Mrs. Davidson, and | then only after nightfall. If Attorney | Gallagher knows her present whereabouts, | and there is no reason to doubt but that | | he does, he is not givingaway information | which might be used advantageously by | others. | As for Mrs. Tunnell, her absence 1s still |as much a mystery asever. The theory | advanced by Mrs. Gray, in effect that Mrs. Tunnell had been made the victim of foul | play, is scoffed at by the police. They say that mo one is sufficiently interested in her to commit violence on her person. For reasons which are not apparent to them at | the present time she has hiaden herself from the world, and at the proper time will make her appearance. Bt il DR. BROWN ECCENTRIC. Mrs. Stockton Says the Pastor Acted Queerly When He Called on Her. Mrs. M. A. Stockton says that Dr. Brown was ‘‘nutty.” The winsome widow, who, as the story goes, has broken the hearts of contractors |in Port Angeles and walked triumphantly |into the good graces of churchmen and | capitalists in San Francisco, seems the least concerned of all connected with the Brown-Davidson scandal and its tributary alliances. She is living quietly at her home at 6154 Mason street. ‘When she goes on the stand as a witness | for the defense in the trial of Mrs. David- | son, she will tell the story of her relations | with Dr. Brown with the same freedom | wisely | with whicbh she reviewed that relationship | | in Tue CALL. She says she has nothing to | | conceal, and will frankly tell every inci- | dent from the first kiss in the room, where | | Dr. Brown visited her, to_her application | for a letter to another church when she | | contemplated going to Chicago, Dr. | | Brown’s refusal to grant her request and | | her final leave-taking of the church. Mrs. Stockton 18 a spirited person. She | feels keenly the thrusts that Dr. Rrown has made at_her, and when the issue is | forced she will give battle. She declares that she has nothing to lose in the contest. She readily admits her flirtation with Or. | Brown, tells with much fervor of the long streetcar rides, the kisses, the French res- | taurant escapade and attending incidents, all of which tended to cheer the drooping | spirits of *a lonely and defenseless woman in the world.” “Dr. Brown acted the fool when he called on me,” said Mrs. Stockton, “and doubts of his sanity rose in my mind. Thereisa difference between eccentricity and insan- ity, don’t you know. He was ‘nutty,’ as the newsboys say. He would tell such long {:ams of hig undying love for me, | how he would willingly sacrifice every- thing for me, but I Iefi. that the man was | raving. *‘He would talk and talk until he almost drove me wild. And his conversation was not on any one line. He would jump from 3 -3 | Yet, I cannot convines myself that Dr. Brown . i , | herup the minute I laid eyes on her. | refrain from critie onesubject to another, always returning to the one great question of his love for me. Of course [ felt flattered by his atten- tions, Ireally did. Heisa bright man. And Ireally liked him. I found much pleasure in'his company, Even now I ~ometimes sigh for those long streetcar rides to Castro Heights, but they will never come again. “But to return to the doctor's mental status. He told me one time that be had the writers’ cramp and that_he thought he would go crazy. His wife also said to me that she thought he would lose his mind. He acted strangel at times even in the classroom. His eyes would blaze and he would rush about like a wild man. I noticed all these changes in his character and wondered what the end would be. “But I don’t wish Dr. Brown any harm oranvbody else. I wish to be left alone. “The name of Mr. Tevis has been dragged into this case, and that [ am very sorry for, as he is nothing to me more than my father’s friend. He and my father, who is dead, were lifelong friends. He takes the same interest in me that he does in other members of my family. LS R “BROWN SHOULD RESIGN.” Faith of Leadlng Membzrs of the Congregation in Their Pastor Now Wavering. The Brown-Davidson scandal has shaken the First Congregational Church to the very foundation. Dr. Brown’s friends still cling to the hope that he may be able to clear himself of the charges in rebuttal made by both Mrs. Davidson and Mrs. Stockton, but the great mass of the congregation 1s waver- ing in its faith in the man who ministered to their spiritual welfare. The majority of his flock stood with him when he caused the arrest of Mrs, Davidson. But when the Stockton affair was sprung, and the declaration made that he had been black- mailed by another woman of a still larger sum of money than Mrs, Davidson had been paid, why, that was another story. And it was then that the faith of the most sanguine began to weaken. Now the sacred house is divided against itself. Mutterings are heard that are not complimentary to the pastor and the su; gestion hus been made that he should re sign rather than that a dark cloud should continue to hang over the church to which the congregation is so justly devoted, Mrs. Sarah B. Cooper, whose noble life work in San Francisso is so generally | known and widely aporeciated, and who isaleading member of Dr. Brown’s church, is deeply touched by the scandal. She was asked vesterday as to the rumored resig- nation of Dr. Brown from the pastorate of the First Congregational Church. She said: The resignation of Dr. Brown was spoken of some four months ago, but I have heard mnothing of it since this scan- dal broke out. blessing to all if he had resigned at that time In my opinion Dr.Brown has acted very un- v in this aifair. As I understand it from his evidence fn court, he paid Mrs. Davidson this money to in order to entrap her. The motey was paid and a receipt demanded in | | order that indisputable f | Davidson’s crime might be obtained. | then, did he afterward call upon her at her evidence Mrs. Why, of It would have been a great | not think is correct. It may be true, yetI do not recollect the occurrenc ) Regarding Mrs. Davidson and )I\ssOvp{- “Mrs. Cooper said she had no recol- lection of ever having met them. Under the circumstances she \_\-ueglad she did not know them. She continued: » not know if Mrs. Davidson is speakin e o th but this T know: a tissue of nwl\.nfi hold together. The truth will stand for- Jut a structure built on sand must fall. is what they nn"P ; |x|'m’n . reiormat 5 po that ske has told many_untruths. Those who know her say she is bat unfo here are many hypoc who screen { cdness benind & mask of picty. Among Christ’s apostles there was a Judas, who betrayed his ) r by ise. Why, then, should we regard it as strange that the follow- ers of Judas abound and that they nr‘,u identified with the churcnes? I regret exceed- that I should be calied upon to discuss this most unfortunate "ylu:r,“,}l‘l I can say is that I hope the truth will be told. 3 | "Phe church has had much to bear in the | prst, but it has grown, notwithstanding, and will continue to be useful. I eannot discuss the resignation of Dr. Brown, because I do not wish to say anything that might be constries as being unfavorable to Dr. Brown. l[e]lis my pastor, and until he has shown himsell un; | Worthy of my respect I shall continue to regard | him as a maligned, suffering man, w!)(:(nd. | have always regarded as a true servant of God. The Pacific, the Congregational organ, says: | Our First Church in this City and its pastor Y lew year with special interest ina dirty place, and iis trials are often dirty trials, The other churches are more or less interested in this trial. It is the talk of the town. Buta Police Court is a very different place from & { ehurch and a prayer-meeting. Oh, that we were on a different plane, that our principal objects of sympathy 2 different from the présent one! Is not this a time for prayer and humiliation and repentance amoug thé mem- bers of our churches in this metropolis of our | coast? We are in deep trouble. O, God, come | ur relief! Raise us to higher things. Take | away every root of bitterness. Give consecration. Oh, for more spiritual pulpit and in the pews, tkat in all of be seen that we hi with J | 1earned of him! | Another paragraph from the Pacific is | as follow. | Rev. Dr. C. 0. Brown caused_the arrest of a | Mrs. Davidson last Saturday night on a charge | of blackmail. The case is now in the Police Court and is likely to come up immediately | after New Year's day. It is very much to be deplored that such a Case is in court at the be- sinning of the new year. We do not know that it could h been prevented. The provoca- tion was a very serious one. We sympathize | with the First Church and its pastor, and pray that somehow good, and not evil, may result to all concerned and the cause of the Master ve no injury. e KNEW MRS. TUNNELL. That Lady’s Former Landlady Does Not Feel Kindly Toward | Her. The keeper of the lodging-house at 132 Tenth street, who is said to be a leader | among the spiritualists, has had dealings | with Mrs. Tunnell and speaks most volably and unfavorably of her. In reply to the question whether she knew either the | missing woman or Miss Overman she said | yesteraay: “Know them? Well, I have known them | all I wantto. Ihavehadenough of them.” | “Where did you know them?” an I ingl us new been // REV. J. K. McLEAN, D.D, SEMI PRESIDENT OF THE PACIFIC THEOLOGICAL NARY. .+ [From a photograph by Smith, Oakland.] house? It seems to me that this was very 1 judicious, and that in order to render his po tion impregnable Dr. Brown should have con- trived to have witnesses secreted come- where when this money was delivered. is guilty of the crimes laid at his door. Why, he has always been so good, o Christian-like, that it renders it impossible for me to myself that he is not what he seemed to be. I ing him, except in & kind- spirit, beeause it would be frightiul to con- demn any one on hearsay evidence who might subsequently prove his complete innocence. 1 told Dr. Brown that I believed him to be inno- | T blush is guilt must consider him cent, and he told me that I need n for any act . Until the matter of or innocence is decided T the victim of a miserable plot. Regarding Mrs. Stockton 1 cannot under- why she was dragged into this affair. 1 have not seen her for two years, but prior to that time I met her frequently, and, I must say, | thonght very fayorably of her. She worked in the kindergarten with zeal and_conscientious- ness. Iremember one time that she visited several carpei-stores and obtained many pieces of carpets which she sewed together with great labor and expense to_herself. The carpet she presented to the kindergarten, and it s stiil in use. The story connecting her name with Dr. Brown’s wounded me, becruse I deemed them both above such things, The statement that I introduced Mrs. Stockton’s name for member- ship in the First Congregational Church I do MRS. SARAH B. COOPER, WHO ACCOUNT OF THE SCANDAL IN [From a photograph.] Is OVERWHELMED WITH GRIEF WHICH HER PASTOR FIGURES, z;urmnde | |, “Where? Why, right above my head, to be sure. Mrs. Tunnell roomed in my house for nearly iour months. She left about two months ago because I told her to get out. “I got on to what she was. I sizeq I have lived too long to be fooled for many weeks by such people. “‘She came here saying she was a Chris- | NEW TO-DAY. TEAS EXTRA QUALITY With each pound is given a LOVELY DISH Newest Shapes Prettiest Decorations ALSO GIVEN WITH GOLIMA PURE SPICES, COLIMA BAKING POWDER. Great American Tmparting Tea Co, NGW Store {1344 Market at,, { Bet. Tth and 8th 140 Sixth st (ity Stores, 510 Mission st. 218 Third st. 104 Second st. €17 Kearny st, 146 Ninth st. 13259 Mission st. 1053 Washingt. 917 Brondway. 131 San Pablo 616 E. Twelfth Cakland. { Park st. ana Alameda Alameda ave. Headquarters—52 Market St., S, I, &3 We Operate 100 Stores and Agencies. Write Jor Price List. HOITT SCHOOL, Burlingame, San Mateo County, REPARES BOYS FOR ANY UNIVERSITY or for Business. Term begins January 7h. IRA G. HOITT, Ph. D., 1 Master,