The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, March 12, 1896, Page 10

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, THURSDAY, ARCH 12, 1896 PROBING KIS HEART'S MOTIVES, Pastor Brown Subjected to| a Rigid Cross-Exami- nation. APPEARED ILL AT EASE. His Attitude Toward Dr. Tenney Was Defiant and Pleading by Turas. NEW WITNESSES INTRODUCED. Mrs. Barton Makes Damaging Second- Hand Statements—The Case Now Practically Closed. The ecclesiastical council has now in its possession all that Dr. Brown can or will offer in defense of his manhood and char- acter. Yesterday in the interests of truth and justice, under the cathode ray as adroitly munipulated by Dr. Tenney, the accused man was allowed to repeat the defense of his alleged misconduct with Martha Over- man and the Widow Stockton. There were times when the pastor suffered a complete lapse of memory, and then there were occasions when he found it easy to recall the minutest detail. These little memory lapses, if such they might be | termed, niched nicely with the intent and meaning of the questions asked by his twenty judges. Dr. Brown was apparently ill st ease throughout the entire day. He was haughty and suppliant by turns. Again \is face flushed in anger or paled in ex- citement according to his conceptioff of the pertinency of the question. Once or twice the reverend gentleman became de- cidedly combative and incidentally con- tradictory and confused in his answers. On two occasions the witness gave vivid | exhibitions of personal antagonism to his interlocutor. Nagle threw oil on the troubled waters by assuring the excited pastor that the questioner was forced to get at the facts, and the only way thi could be done was by seeking information | on seemingly irrelevant, and sometimes | personal, matters. Dr. Tenney continued his role of special tioner for the council. He wore that ne cold, impenetrable yet inviting| nile, and not even the most caustic re- oinders of the witness sufficed to kill that | smile. His eye flashed a bit at times, or | assumed a merry twinkle, according to the | humor, but the smile never left his lips. | Next to Dr. Brown and his questioner | Dr. Pond was the most noticeable figure on the platform. This took form, how-| ever, in his frequent objections to the | “harsh and cruel”” questions asked by ms‘l fellow-judges. At the evening ses and Mrs. Barton were Bickford | 1 by the | prosecution. The latter told of the object | of Mrs. Tunnell’s vi Tacoma re- lated to her by Miss Overman’ L The witn as | as she m she told been, y in a Attorney N. on these her st forward way. s . ) points, but did not succeed in confusing her on the main points at issue. consi The case of the defense and prosecution | isnow practically closed. It is rumored | that an effort will be made to produce the Pullman porter in charge of the car on which Dr. Brown and Miss Overman jour. neyed Tacomaward together. Dr. Ten ney's question y indicated that some startling ience of this character | was being held in reserve, though mem- | bers of the council decline to discuss the matter at present. Miss Overman will probably be placed on the stand again to-day, after which Dr. Brown’s case will be submitted to the wis- dom of his ecclesia brethren. The council will meet at 2 oclock this sfternoon. Snsesoo BROWN ON THE RACK. He Took Vigorous Exception to Mr. Tenney's Soul-Probing Questions. The morning session yesterday was for- mally opened with prayer by Rev. W. C. Pond. In the course of the prayer Mr. Pond said: Things puzzle us, and puzzling aisturbs us, | and our hearts are burdened, and there is | Do one upon whom we can cast that burden but thyself, and thou hast invited us to do 2o, and we do 8o in thy name. Those who know Mr. Pond to be a warm friend of Dr. Brown during the whole of these proceedings, and an enthusiastic defender of the doctor before he (Pona) was selected asa member of the council, elbowed one another and exchanged sun- dry winks when Rev. Mr. Pond admitted to the Almighty in his prayer that the council was not altogether convinced of the plausibility of the remarkably well- fitting stories of Dr. Brown and Miss Overman. The questions put by Dr. Tenney, who had been chosen by the council to conduct | the cross-examination. afforded further evidence that the council had flavored their digestion of Miss Overman’s story and that of the doctor with several handfuls of salt. Those questions were pointed and direct, and for the first time during the trial they evidenced the keen purpose of a | skilled attorney attempting to tear away the cloak of falsehiood from the bare truth, Dr. Tenney is one of ‘the most courteous of men and it was, no doubt, this inherent quality which enabled him to bear gently with the rude charge made more than once by Dr. Brown in hisanswers that Dr. Ten- ney was asking those disquieting questions because he, Tenney, believed the doctor to be guilty of the charges a. t him. But Dr. Tenney appeared to have his case well in hand, and was not bluffed or | bullied out of the line of action prescribed | him by his duty as a conscientious -examiner, and altbough, being of a ned and sensitive disposition, he must have taken to heart the ungracious re- marks of Dr. Brown regarding the motives for the questions, Dr. Tenney did not once show the least sign of temper or ill ill. This was illustrated when at the conciusion of the morning proceedings Dr. Tenney hastened to assure Dr. Brown that his questions had been prompted solely by a sense of duty, ana that the barder and the more searching the ques- tions were the mere compiete would be Dr. Brown's vindication should he pass through the ordeal unscathed. Dr. Brown grasped Dr. Tenney’s hand aiter this explanation and remarked, “Go ahead, beloved; go ahead, beloved.” Dr. Brown appeared yesterday morning with his throat bandaged. His voice ha | vice of Captain Lees and Detective | trial and its accompanying ne | was a ftand. Mrs. Hilda Barton, Who Gave Damaging Testimony Before the Council Last Night. [Sketched by a “Call’ artist.] regained much of its normal strength and clearness, and although he was pale of face and drawn and hagegard about his eves his nsual aggressiveness seemed to have lost none of its robust gquality. - seemed to have been aroused also more than once during the examination by the council’s treatment of him in the legal sense. For the first time since the be- ginning of the trial Dr. Brown was piaced in the position of the prisoner at the bar whose testimony was to be weighed very carefully, because, like that of Miss Over- man, it might have been affected by the intense personal interest of the two in the result of the trial. Dr. Brown explaindéat the outset that after he and his friends had placed the Davidson matter in the hands of the Police Department they were subject to the ac ey- mour, who had been detailed to work up the matter. After Mrs. Davidson had re- turned to her home after several days’ ptain Lees and Dr. Brown went absence ( to see Lawyer Lloyd, who had been pre- viously retained by Deacon Morse as Dr. Brown’s attorney. Detective Seymour said, “Mr. Lloyd, the old bird has re- turned.” Lloyd replied: “All right, Mr. Seymour; now you go ahead and do what is to be done. You don’t want a long siege of trouble with this woman. Sey | mour will unbutton his coat and show his star, and she will take the next train and leave the City.” Then Dr. Brown took a hand in the conversation. Isaid: ‘‘Waitaminute. I wantthatwoman prosecuted by due forms of law.” Then Mr. Lioyd laid beiore me with great seriou what I must expect if I ever prosecuted a b mailer in court. He said what Judge Campbel afterward said in binding Mrs. Davidson to enswer vefore the Superior Court, that the blackmailer usually had & perfect <tory made up of little details. Mr. Lloyd said_that my name would be dragged through all the ne: papers of the City. 1 did anticipate that pe haps there would be two or three weeks of aper notori- ety, and its subuidence. It was distinetly placed before my mind that I must expect to endure something such as I have now en- dured, but I did not expect that I should have 1t was pointed out sthing in our lives 11d not bear the serutiny of the public minutest investigation by the press we shculd stop where we were. From this point Dr. Brown switched off to Dr. Alien and the Co Socil and alleged that that socie! ers were and had been making a bitter figcht against him because he reported to Rev. Mr. Burchell of Port Angeles that the World’s Christian Co-operative Society He alleged that because of this report he had incurred the enmity of President Wilderman, Mrs. Barton, Messrs. Pierce, Bickford and others. Dr. Brown thus described his visit to the com- pany’s office: Aiter two or three days’ search I found him in the second story ot a lodging-house on Fourth or Fifth street. I didu’t find him where I was directed by Mr. Burchell's letter. I found asaloon there. [ found him in the second story in & dingy, greasy room. ill lighted, with dilapidated firniture and a center table at which o tramp-like individual sat writing. 1 talked with him about an hour. said to me: “Dr. Brown, what is the purpose of this conversation?’ I said then, fraukly, ¢ in Port Angeles has written o on of you.” He said., *“What is your opinion?” and I said, “I can tell you bet- ter at the end of the hour. I found *hat the soci was president was receiving numerous initia- tion fees from Port Angeles and other places, and life membership iees of about $100, and nad absolutely no financial basis_except some wild land in Southern California. 1t was a visionary, unsatistactory, dreamy scheme o get people’s money in exchange. Isaid to him: “If you want me 10 tell you the truth frankly, I will say that I believe you have @ scheme to get initiation fees without giving anything for them.” He came to me afterward with & letter from perativ | | Wilderman | ty of which Wilderman ! out giving anything | Mr. Burchell, and he sought to remove my un- | favorable impressions. I told Wilderman that 1 woula write to Mr. Burchell and tell him | what I thought, and Wilderman said that if I did s0 he would have me arrested for slander. 1 told him that he was mistaken in his rran if he thought to scare me in that way. Dr. Burchell came to me afterward and said that 1 had saved him considerable money. This President Wilderman swore on the pre- liminary examination of Mrs. Davidson that there was a Jane Elizabeth Beddin, when the name on the certificate was L. E. Badden— there was no Jane Elizabeth about it all. | Those are the people who are against me; the Bartons, the Bickiords, the Wildermans and the Thurst y are all connected with that Worla’s Christian Co-operative Society. After Dr. Brown had finished his argu- ment on- that point his attorney, Mr. | Nagle, asked him to state the date on | which he told Mrs. Brown about his hav- ing paid Mrs. Davidson the $500. He re- plied that he paid the money or November 22 and told his wife about it on December 19—nearly 2 month later. Dr. Brown re- sumed : The answer is very plain and reasonable. During that month I was trying to ascertain as to whether Mrs. Baddin existed. I had been told by Mrs. Davidson that Miss Overman was Teady to swear with Mrs, lodger that I was guilty. 1f that were the case any attempt to approach Miss Overman would i 1 was afraid thatif I told ‘man and precipitate a scandal. impul da My every d the habit of a lifetime made it it for me_to keep this fact from my 1 informed Mrs. Brown very soon after wife the Stockton kissing incident—perhaps too long after, perhaps four or five weeks, it may have been twoweeks. Itwas just after Mrs. Stockton had asked me to forgive her for what she had done. That happened two years a last 'mber. 1 toid my wife about it t | Brown said that six montl Baddin and her | next Sunday after Mrs. Stockton- had asked | my pardon. I had a debate in my mind as to what I should do aboutit. I knew that if I was to continue 'in the ministry for twenty years longer as I had been for twenty years efore itwonld be necessary for me in the course of my duties 1o see ladies alone in my study or elsewhere. My wife has never had & suspicion oi me. What ¢ffect would this story have up- on hermind? I felt that it would torture her and would interfere with her future happi- ness and my future. 1 made up my mind at last that it was my duty to tell her and I told her that Mrs. Stockton had asked my forgive- ness for what she had done. For five or six months after that time 'Mrs. Stockton conducted hersell so well that she won the confidence of some of the best mem- bers of the church. She was not appointed to teach the Sunday-school class at my sugges- tion. Mr. Rea appointed her. Mrs. Stockton made 5o good an impression that Mrs. French had come to sce something lovely in her and invited her upon her programme to attend the Turkish tea. In response to further questions by Mr. Tenney the witness said tkat he had never received more than two notes from Mrs. Stockton. The first was the one inviting him to her house to see her oun the oc- casion of the hug and the kiss. That was sent by bher little girl. It was notin an envelope, but folded up and turned down at the corner. “Not the little girl, but the note,” aaded Mr. Brown, with all the facetiousness of robust health. The sec- ond note was that making a date with him for 4 o’clock in the afternoon on the cor- ner of Sutter snd Montgomery streets. He at once handed the second note to his wife. That was on the next day after he bad visited Mrs. French in relation to the Turkish tea incident and two or three days before Mrs. Cooper told him and his wife a most damaging story about Mrs. Stock- ton. Dr. Brown proceeded to repeat it in substance as follows: Mrs. Cooper detained us at 232 Sutter street on Monda 7. and told myself and Mrs. Brown that she desired to have & private ina terview with us. The conversation was one of the most painful of my life. It began in & way that was unusual. Tam not in the habit of being pled one, but M crec . Cooper pledged us to_solemn sé- he said: “Mrs. French come to me terday in a perfect flame of fury, and raged about Mrs. Stockton and the Turkish tes, and I must tell you, my dear pastor and wife, that Mrs. Stockion 'is a bad woman, and 1 have known it a good while. It made me fairly cringe to see you and Mrs. Brown in her com- pany the other day.” “Why," I said. *'Mrs. Cooper, you introduced me 1o ‘that womani” She sald: On De. Brown, that much was due to formality. ‘That woman was brought to me by a wealthy man of this City—a subscriber to my kindergarten fund. He wanted her educeted for kinder- garten work. 1 complied with his request. Thexn he wanted me to give her employment, and 1 said that I had no place for her. He came to me twice on the matter, and upon my still retusing he rose and said: ‘Mrs. Cooper, if you have no plece for Mrs. Stockton in your kindergarten course you have no longer any plac ' rs. Cooper said: “Against my own judg- ment 1 employed Mrs. Stockton, and [ kent her until T could keep her no longer, because stories began to come to me about her, and I said, *Mr. Tevis— " Here Dr. Brown paused abruptly and | said, *“Weil, I won’t go on; having inad- vertently mentioned that name I will pro- ceed no further.” “Go on, doctor,” advised Mr. Nagle cheerily. “I will not do it,” replied the witness positively. “1 will take the displeasure of this council rather than do it. I will con- sider the matter more_ carefully before I l;)roc‘e‘ed, and until then I will take another ine. Dr. Brown then proceeded to put in a good word for Mre. Stockton. He said: I do want to say this before I go on, that I have made such investigation into the matter that I don’t believe some of the rumors that | Mrs. Cooper repurted to us that day in the old | building of the Y. M. C. A. I don't believe that any suspicion should attach to the paternity of Mrs. Stock ton's oldest child, for the marriaj records abundantly cover that question. 1f the rest of the rumors reported by Mrs. Cooper are as ungrounded as that she ot nly slan- dered somebody that day. ¢ From the hour of that interview we never had any peaceable relations with Mrs. Stock- ton. A ‘friend of mine nassentme irom San Jose, where Mrs. Stockton was married, the records of her marriage. That is since this trial began. The staiement of Mrs. Cooper, with regard to the oldest child, was certainly and absolutely unfounded. Mr. Nagle—And what was related of Mr. Tevis in conmection with that was wrong? Now, after that explanation you can ceriainly g0 on. Dr. Brown—Excuse me, I would rather not. It wiil be remembered by readers of Tng Carr that Mrs. Brown testitied that Mrs Cooper was the worst enemy that she and Dr. Brown ever had, and it was evident to those who heard Dr. Brown testify yester- day that he had got even with her by breaking the pledge of secrecy which “he and Mrs. Brown were alleged to have made. When Mrs. Cooper was on the stand a few days ago she positively denied having told the Browns that Mrs. Stockton was a bad woman. Dr. Brown went on to sa) solutel square with Mrs. Davidson on a Saturday night. He admitted that he walked around the block conversing with her on a Thursday night. Dr. Tenney began his cross-examination v asking Dr. Brown as to when he be- ame acquainted with Mrs. Tunnell. Dr. id ] prior to Miss Overman’s visit to this City Mrs. Tunneil introduced herself to him in the church as a friend of Miss Overma: doctor whether he knew where Miss Over- man was, .and he told her that the young woman was in Tacoma. On second thought the doctor did not think it could have been more than two months prior to Miss OUverma.’s Visit here. Dr. Brown went on as follows: During my journey to the north, and pers heps afier we were in Tacoma, Miss' Overman reserred to her aged friend, Mrs. Tunnell, told me that a& small income which she had been receiving from relatives, or perhaps from the rent of & house, had been cither largely or altogether cut off, and she wanted to know if I would interest myself a little in her. Miss that it was ab- & & | Overman said that'sne had observed that it R | was my custom 10 help people who needed help, and i suid that I would be very happy to doso. When I got back that came 1w my | mind that the aged lady might be somewhere | calied on her at here suffering for the necessaries of life, anrd I Mrs. Eaton’s when I had toundout her address. The conversation natur- ally was largely about Miss Overman, because Miss Overman had requested me to call on her. Idon’t think I steyed more than ten minutes, although 1 might have remained longer. 1 satistted myself upon the point which I wished to ascertain, and that was that her Jvhysicnl condition and comfort were cared for for the present. The witness then told of a habit he had bad of walking around East Oakland and other places to rest his brain. On one of these occasions he found himself near Mrs, Eaton’s house, and he thought he would d to absolute secrecy by any | ge | he walked around the | run in and see Mr:. Tunnell, without the slightest reference to Miss Overman. He learned on that second visit that Mrs. Tunnell was contemplating a journey northward with Mrs. Ashby, who fur. nished the ticket, Miss Overman being anxions that Mrs. Tunnell should come up and make her a visit. In exe\}‘nnntion of his having written a note to Mrs. Tunnell, as had been testified to by Mrs. Eaton, Dr. Brown said that Mrs. Ashby, who was living on this side of the bay, wanted the doctor to do some errand for her with Mrs. Tunnell, with reference to their proposed trip to the north, and the doctor may have written the note at Mrs. Ashby’s request. But for the life of him he could not remember what was in it. The doctor then proceeded to the point as follows: Iam absolutely sure that no such thing as has been imputed to me with regard to her northern journey existed. That womau never went there to secure criminal results on Miss Overman’s person. I went to the steamer, not to see Mrs. Tunnell off, but to say good-by to Professor Joy of Tacoma, who had_been visit- ing us at our home for a week. I never told any of my parishioners that I had _gone to the steamer to see the captain. I had gone to see the captain of the Monowai five months before that to help some poor person to get 1o Australia. After Mrs. Tunnell’s return from the north I met her on the street and shook hands with her, but had no conversation with her with regard to her visit to the north. On the Sun- day on which she disappeared there was some talk with her about her visit to the north, but Idon’t remember what it was. She never said tome that I was under certain obligations to Miss Overman and that I ought to be responsi- ble for her education. I did not advance any money for her trip to the north. The witness, in reply to questions, said that he sent money to Mrs. Tunnell on one occasion through Mr. Pat- ton. He sent $10 or $15 through Miss Overman. Patton told the witness that he had come for the purpose of securing some of Mrs. Tunneli’s things, and he was there for perhaps three - quarters of an_hour. He never mentioned that Mrs. Tunnell was in bed. “He didn’t intimate to you,” asked Mr. Tenney, “that she was getting desperate and would tell the whole story ?"" “‘That was absolutely and particularly false,” replied the doctor, with great energy. ‘“‘Mrs. Tunnell was Miss Over- mun’s friend, and Miss Overman could have o peace of mind while she knew that her aged friend was down in the desert suffering, and that is why I sent her the money.’’ He continued to tell the council that he had made many attempts to secure Mrs. Tunnell’s presence at the trial. She went away under the gravest apprehension that she would be dragged through the courts, and from the fact that Miss Overman had made Mrs. T'unnell a confidant with refer- ence to her feelings toward the doctor. This fact, he added, came to him after Mrs. Tunnell went away. I said to Mr. Patton in the that to Mrs. Tunnell for me." By Dr. Tenney—Then he didn’t tell you that- Mrs. Tunnell was in need of money. You don't believe me, Dr. Tenney. Dr. Brown made this_remark with an injured air, and before Dr. Tenney could reply, Lawyer Nagie explained that Dr. Tenney was obliged to ask Dr. Brown those questions whether he beiieved Dr. Brown or not. Dr. Brown 1n reply to the next question, said that the mouey was sent to Mrs. Tun- nell since the council met. The witness said that his wife knew that he was to occupy the same section in the sleeping coach with Miss Overman on the trip to Tacoma before he started. As a usual thing a man occupies the upper berth, and in view of that fact, he and Mrs. Brown had agreed that it would be better for Dr. Brown (0 occupy the berth above Miss Overman’s, rather than that a stranger should do Mr. Tenney then put the following direct questions: After_you retired was there anything hap- pened that compromised your character? No, sir. Or Mis No, sir. Or any other person’s character! 1 won't sa; or any railway official’s character? 1 won't say. I don’t say. I don’t wish to bring the names of other persons in here. Or a rallway porter’s character? 1 won't say. There was some particular event that hap- }aned d;xrinz those two nightsof the trip to 'acoma hallway: “Hand Overman’s character? Yes. Would it not be well to relate that? 1 will not cast suspicion upon any one. Dr. Tenney’s next question caused the audience to prick up their ears: Did the porter or any other attendant come to MissOverman’s berth in & way to startle her during either of these two nighis? I will not answer that question. You want to compel me to say something which in the public mind might incriminate some one. Dr. Tenney—I_ understand that there attempt to secure evidence in this line. Dr. Mooar—Would it not be better to have Dr. Brown rebut that if it is presented? Here the matter was dropped, leaving the audience mystified. Some of the skep- tical said after they had left the church that it appeared to be an attempt by innu- endo to establish an alibi for Dr. Brown. In other words that Miss Overman was alarmed by a stranger going to her berth, and this would show that she was in her | own berth and that Dr. Brown was in his. The witness never showed Miss Over- man’s warm letter—the one which he re- buked her for—to his wite because he did not want to disturb Mrs. Brown’s peace of mind. Dr. Tenney proceeded on this point: | Then there have been matters in your expe- rience in whick you have not confided to your | wife? | " Idon’t think that is a fair question. You said you didn't confide in your wife about the Stockton kiss incident for some weeks? | Itseems to me that Brother Tenney’s ques- | tions ought not 1o have a sting in them. | would like to ask if it necessarily involves a | rupiure of the confidence between me and my | cuuse her pai Dr. Tenney—No; another evidencg of your confidence in her and would strengthen her faith in_you. Moderator McLean—The object of those ques- tions is to show unusual concealments from your wife. Those incidentai concealments { would be significant in a married life of | nearly thirty years of unbroken contidence be- tween husband and wife. Dr. Brown explained that Miss Over- man had been an inmate of his house for months, and he thought that she would recover from her affection for him, so he did not think it was incumbent upon him to disturb his wife’s peace of mind. Dr. Tenney—Let me call your attention to three times within a comparatively short period you had kept things from your wife. There was the Stockton matter, this letter of | Miss Overman’s and the payment of #500 to Mrs. Davidson, Dr. Brown—But you ignore the reasons, doctor. | Dr.Tenney—I am simply calling your atten- | tion to the fact. Your reasons may be good | ones. Did Miss Overraan ever tell you or any- body else_to your knowiedge about her mar- ried exveTience ? | Dr. Brown—Never, | Youknew she was a divorced woman? No, sir. T think she told Mrs. Brown about it in the latter part of her visit in 1894. { Dr.Tenney went on to the Davidson | plot. He asked: Had you any reason at that time to believe that Mrz. Davidson was not s true friend? Not the lenst. Why didn’t you go to Miss Overman and find outwhether what Mrs. Davtdson said about her accusing you of crime was true? Becanse my confidence was instantly shaken when Mrs. Davidson told me in that awful in- terview that Miss Overman had entered intoa Pplot against me. Do you mean to say that that statement swept away all your previous confidence in Miss Overman? Ididn’t say that. I said that after what I had heard from Mrs. Davidson I wasin doubf until I hed found out that there was no Mrs. | t[i‘m:dm' 1 believed Mrs. Davidson from the rst. that she was not a party to the plotthat would | have ended the matter? Yes, Had you not in your own mind a conviction of Miss Overman’s rascality? No. Isaw that her staying away from-our home after her return from Tacoma put and asuspicion in my mind that Mrs. David- son had told me the truth. Do you consider yourself s very timid man that you did not care to go and see Miss Over- man about what Mrs. Davidson told you? This question caused Dr. Brown to flare up, and to exhibit to the council and the audience that he had the temper of aday- man. * “Idon’t want you to question my ¥ | | wife if I threw n letter into the fire that would | 7 because that would be | 1f you had ascertained from Miss Overman | [Sketched by a G. W, BICKFORD, WHO CLAIMS TO HAVE “FOUND” THE TUNNELL LETTERS. ““Call” artist.) | record on that point,” he said. agzressive- ly, “I fougtt for this country probably before you were born.” ! After a few more questions Dr. Tenney remarked: “I cannot but feel, Dr. Brown, { that your confidence in Miss Overman | was shaken by something that you have not given us a fuil explanation 0i?"’ Dr. Brown retorted quickly: I don’t | think you ought to question the integrity of your witnesses.” = Then he wenton to tel: that he did not consult Miss Overman about the Davidson plot because he knew her *‘hasty and mercurial disposition” and feared to precipitate an explosion. In answer to another question Dr. Brown denied that he had paid any part of that to Mrs. Davidson with the under- | standing that it was to go for Miss Over- man’s schoolin, The witness gb‘eclme restive under the he asked the council why they did not in- quire into the ‘‘noble aspects’ of ti.e case. ! about the ignoble part of the Davidson plot | and prodded the witness with the question | | as to why he had not_refused to pay Mrs. | Dayidson a dollar and why he had not de- tied her to do her worst. The witness | replied that the four women, or the three | women, would be too strong a combination against him with their testimony in court. “There was such a state of public opinion | that any minister of the Gospel would not have dared to defy it.” | " The inexorable Tenney went on: Has not your experience taught you that the payment of money at such a timé and under such a pressure is always considered & tacit assent to the truth of the charge? No, sir; on the contrary, I have talked with attorneys in this City, and they have many ex- amples of innocent men having been ostracized. Dr. Tenney—While that may be true, don’t you know that it always raises a question in the minds of manv that there may be grounds for the charge? 1don’t reason it that way, but it may be so. Dr. Tenney—Has not your study of morals taught you that the safest way is to do right, that happiness may follow? Yes, in my réasoning moods. thrown off my guard. Should you not have said, whole business; do your wors { wll!,reply that I'was beside myself. Wh! 1 have already told you why. After repeating his reasons, which have been published before, Dr. Brown pro- | ceeded to explain that he wrote the notes | to Mrs. Davidson that were published in | the papers, because of the opposition to | him of Mrs. Masou and a minority of the Young People’s Society of Curistian En- {deayor. Mrs. Davidson was intimately acquainted with Mrs, Mason, and he had | written the notes in the hope that healing | measures might be taken. Here a recess was taken until 2 p. M. -—— | AFTERNOON SESSION. Dr. Brown Undergoes a Searching Cress-Examination—HIs Confi- dence in Miss Overman. vr. Brown’s further cross-examination { occupied nearly all of the afternoon ses- sion of the council. He was in “exceilent spirits and voice throughout the three hours he was being continually racked with all Kinds of questions. In the course of his prayer opening the afternoon session, Rev. Dr. Mooar said : | Gave strength t0 all who have any testimony | to bring, and prepare their mind and will so that their testimony will be reliable and given usso (hat we will receive only that which is true and right. Dr. Brown was a littledilatory in making his appearance, and Mr. Nagle took ad- | vantage of the period of waiting to ask the council whether it was to be governed by the Bible or the State law in the considera- | tion to be given evidence. He explained that the reason for his asking this question was that he might be asked to close the | case and therefore wished to be prepared. He admitted that he was not so good a Bible student as the members of the coun- ! cil, while he was posted on the State law i governing such matters. | Moderator McLean responded by inform- | ing the legal adviser of Dr. Brown before the council that the council had not given the matter any thought, and then sug- { gested to Mr. Nagle, in view of his con- | fession, that he might devote some of his time advantaeeously to the siudy of the | Bible, . TFhis raised a ripple of laughter at the expense of the attorney. Rev. Mr. Tenney opened fire on the wit- | ness by asking him if the Overman letters | were not published on the 7th of January | of this year. To this Dr. Brown replied | that he could not remember the exact | date, but knew that they were publishea | some time 1n January. . The cross-exami- | nation then proceeded as follows: Your attention was called to them at once? P , sir, Did you read them thoroughly? No, sir, For once I was I spurn this them thoroughly? | Idid not read them thoroughlv until Febru- ary 6. The cccasion of my reading them through then was when I was in Mr. Nagie's office and he was szcuring for me files of the paver containing reports of the case. He | brought in a copy of the Examiner containing | these letters, and I then read them through. i Inthe meantime had any steps been taken 1 by you toward having a commitiee appointed before which you wished to make a statement? I think so. Do you recall when that occurred ? It was aiter the pubiication of those letters, Was it not the first instance that you spoke of the matter before the Bay Conference? Did you not state to them that tney might be of help to you in this matter and that you would like to make a statement to them? And did you not say that a very brief explanation would clear away the matter? 1 believe I did; but I find that I overesti- mated the worth of Christian feliowship. :;v‘ere :wp: taken to appoint that committee? es, sir. ly)ld that committee have various meetings? es, sir. Did you come to one.of those meetings ready to make a statement? searching questions of Dr. Tenney, and | Dr. Tenney. however, kept on inquiring | How long & time elapsed bofore you read | Yes, sir. How could you have been ready to clear up that matter when vou had not thoroughly read | the Overman letters at that time? I must ieave that entirely to Miss Overman. | Knowing my innocence, I was going to state that I knew nothing about those letters. But you knew what was in those letters? 1 had glanced those letters through, but be- came heartily sick of them and dig not read them through carefully until February 6. When did Miss Overman make a written statement to you and Mrs. Brown in explana- tion of those letters? { | | | | | { Itwas two or three days after the appear- | ance of the letters in the papers. | Did you feel satisfied wiih that statement? | I cun’t say that I felt entirely satisfied | with it. | | | Without a full knowledge of those letters | | and with that unsatisfactory explenation of them you were ready to brethren and say you could ex; matter with a few sentences? In explanation of my stand at that time I | wish to relate a certain’ occurrence. On Feb- ruary 4 1 recefved a letter signed by one Samiel Weldsley. In_thet letter I was fs the 5th, &nd that 1 would hear someth my interest in_reference to Mrs. Davidson. I have learned in the progress of this unhappy affair to trust nobody whom I did not kuow. 1 fmmediately telephoned to Detective Sey- mour and learned that he was able togo with me. We took the 3 o’clock hoat and reached the Fruitvale station at 4 o'clock, in time to keep the appointment. We got off the train at that Mr. Seymour was with me. I looked around to make it apparent I was expecting some one to meetme, and a lady of respest- able appearance came up and spoke to me, | She said she was the mother of Samuel Welds- | | ley. Shesaid she had known Mrs, Davidson for many years and that she formerly resided at Mulkilteo, Mich. I then told her that statement that she might want to make to me would have to be heard in the presence of Mr. Seymour. She agreed to this,and Mr. Seymour heard every word that was spoken. Her story | was this: | She knew Mrs. Davidson for many years and used to correspond with her. Her son had beer. engaged as a collector for Mrs. Davidson, | and had in gambling lost $185 of Mrs. David- | son’s money at Portiand, besides nearly every- thing of his own that he had with him at the time and which had any value. Mrs. Davi | son demanded that this money be paid back to | the debt. Mrs, Davidson said shedid not care how long it took to pay her, and that she did not care to prosecute the young man, as she had had similar trouble of her own. Mrs. Weldsiey said that after this she returned to Michigan, and claimed that an agent came to her and asked her to come to San Francisco | and swear that she was Mrs. Jane Elizabeth | Baddin. She said sue would rather throw her- seif into the bay. This ended our talk. Sub- sequently Mrs, Weldsley suddeniy disappeared, |and I feei now that the whole t! vindle, and wes unjust and unfair Davidson and Attorney Gallagher. I thinl ‘was simply a scheme to get the $185 out of me. 1 feit that in the light of other circumstances this story would make clear to every one that I was an'innocent man. % You made two statements previous'to this to the committee that you could clear up this matter in a few sentences? go before your | plain the whole | to meet the writer at Fruitvale at 4 o’clock on | different parts of it so as not to let it be known, | her, snd she had done everytning to liquidate | in a short time. e gronnd of your s explanation of No, sir; What was the groung with Miss Overman le;‘::;?'t exactly tell why I thought it unsatis- gflgxl;yl'eel entirely satisfled with the final ex- P e, in accord with ' . Itis entirely in 1 what' 'wledxfi\:': learned about Mrs. Davidson’s cnl%'yc«:fir'mmk that Miss Overman’s repent- ance is very sincere ? 1 have no question of it. Do you think that repen! repentance? i of it. 1T have not the slightest do:xbslm Aentito the ow u explain thai | Cl::o' "1‘2 g{%ce and lfl_led‘ tv?agf; g:ze;mc;w editor believe sometning that was wxbfel;fe‘fesfn‘;?me & as Inboring under a great temptation in her efforts to protect her repu: tation as she could. e here mot a great temptation to Miss Over- man to save her reputation by meking this Inest statement? s T e s Bocedt ot tave her reputhtion for chastity? Yes, but it does not sfivq her {epu!nfiofl for honesty, which is equally important. D«?you L'nocw thnlln \rgmn‘\)‘s reputation for chastity is cherished above all things? Yes, I know that is so. On _the attention of the witness being called to the fact that he maintained cordial relations with Mrs. Davidson in church matters despite the evident aver- sion of Mrs. Brown for her. Dr. Brown ex- plained that his wife’s dislike was a mere impression and he thought that Mrs. Davidson would aid greatly in building up the church. t In response to questions by the same interlocutor Dr. Brown stated that he was now convinced that Mrs. Stockton had deliberately set about to get him in her ! power for the purpose of blackmailing { him, and gave it as his further opinion that she connived with Mrs. Davidson toward this end. He denied in detail that he had ever made any wrongful appoint- ments with her or that she had succeeded in any way in successfully using her wiles on him. Among other things he gave | with great elaboration the kissing scene {in Mrs. Stockton’s room, asserting that | the entire act was played by Mrs. Stockton alone. He further explained that shke afterward asked his forgiveness for this | actand that he gave it, believing on re- flection that she had acted under the in- fluence of her iliness.and that the act was | not indicative of her being of immoral | propensities. It was owing to this view of | ber conduct that he allowed her name to | be propounded in his church, he further | added. Rev. Mr. Tenney resnmed bhis | cross-examination as follows: It seems to me, doctor, that with your knowledge of women, knowing that this” was not & girl, it was somewhat strange to receive the woman into the church at once on her simple statement made to yon? 1 did not think there could be anything wrong in & woman recommended by Sarah B. Cooper. | Do you think a mature woman 1s us likely to be tempted to do such a thing as a young girl ? No, sir. ButIfeel compelled to state here that T have known of a simllar instance, where & woman, a member of a church, gave way to | such an impulse on a visit of her pestor. The | matter was investigated by a proper body, and the result was that the woman and the pastor came out of the affair without biame, it having been decided that she acted simply from im- pulse and without any immoral purpose. I | Believe that all of us are subject to these unac- countable impulses, but they do not indicate that there is anything actual immoral in us. | Did'you tell your wife about this kissing in- | cident? ‘ I told my wife a few weeks later. Iques- tloned at first whether it would be necessary | for e to tell my wife what would trouble and disturb_her peace of mind. Under similar circumstances would you still withhold such intormation from your wife? No, sir; not after what I have experienced. | 1In the course of his examination Mr. | Tenney elicited the statement from Dr. | Brown that he had never been to & restau- rant with Mrs. Stockton and that_he had never been inside of the Maison Riche at any time. ; At this point the witness demurred to this line of questioning, ulleging that the | council bad already expressed itself as be- lieving that he had not indulged inany such doings as these questions would seem | to indicare. He was informed by the mod- | erator that the council had simply in- | tended to put itself on record as not desir- | ing to hear any more testimony tending to | saow that Dr. Brown had paraded the st)pets dissatisfaction her 1o tance was a general | with disreputable women or had jeen ‘ seen going to or coming from church fith | any woman other than his wife. He Jfur- ther credited Dr. Brown with not being ob- tuse enough not to have fully understood the purport of the council’s action in that | matter. Mrs. French and the Turkish tea again | bobbed up, and Dr. Brown stated that the | reason he had interceded on behaif of Mrs. | Stockton in that affair was because Mrs. | French bad the reputation of forming | hasty judgments, and he thought it possi- | ble that an injustice had been done Mrs. | Stockton. Mrs. French, he said, had | never given him any reason for not desir- | ing Mrs. Stockton to take part in the tea, | but had simply said that she had her rea- | sons. He denied that he had ever refused | Mrs. French the use of the church for that | affair, saying that he would never have | thought of taking so autocratic a stand. ‘ He admitted that the kissing incident oc- curred to him when Mrs. French refused | to allow Mrs. Stockton’s name to remain | on the programme of the Turkish tea, but When You | | LLost Your Health. T % \ through ignorance, is thereby i / S\ |life. He feels tired, spiritless a | and does not refresh him as it s dread insanity. 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