The San Francisco call., 1895-12-30
Miss Overman Denies That She
Tried to Sell a Damag-
ing Story.
TRUSTEES DEFEND THE PASTOR.
Captain Lees Believes That Mrs. Dav id
son Has Clever Accomplices in
Her Plot.

The clouds are lifting from apouG LIZ. ~.
o. Brown, pastor of the First Congreg&r
tional Church, and Miss Matte Overman,
the Young lady Who is associated with him
in recent statements, and are settling
about their accuser, Mrs. Mary Abbott
Davidson, in a very ominous way.
DIR. Brown addressed his congregation
yesterday as usual and brief statements OF
the case were made by both. 1t seems
that the pastor is practically indorsed by
his congregation. Miss Overman cor
roborates his statement as far as she is
permitted by legal authorities to speak.
Mrs. Davidson's statements were some
what inconerent yesterday and she ad-
vances the peculiar theory that DIR. Brown
and Miss Overman made Mrs. Baddin
their accomplice, in fact that she was hired
by them for that purpose OF working ruin
to Mrs. Davidson. This appears at
variance with her prior statement that the
confessions were not made by either until
Mrs. Baddin had made her charges.
Captain Lees Is of the opinion that Mrs.
Davidson is incapable of so clever plot
and that she has accom- plices.
The Rev. DR.. C. Q. Brown told his cons
gregation yesterday that the scandalous
story associated with his name must be
carried to a conclusion in a court of JUS
tice even though the ordeal killed him.
He had come out from his study silently
and with slightly bowed head. Taking
his accustomed chair behind the reading
stand he sat pensiveiy glancing occasion
ally over the auditorium and up at the
galleries as the congregation came in and
gradually formed comfortable-sized
audience before him. The clergyman's
brows would knit, and then with an evil
dent little effort he would assume a calm
and Indifferent air-but again the look OF
agitation would return. He was in the
position OF man who feels distressed and
is conscious that the people looking at him
expect MIN to show some signs OF agita-
ton.
The regular services continued without
any depression or explanation from the
pastor until he had finished reading the
various announcements. Then, grasping
the sides OF the reading-stand and straight
ening up, he announced:
deacon Morse has statement to make
to you
rhere was perceptible fitting forward
of heads as Deacon Morse left his place in
the audience and went forward. Every ear
was on the alert when. having reached the
platform, the deacon began:
GAS the moderator OF this society and as
one of the board of officers of this church
it seems fitting that l should make an
official statement. 1t is in regard to this
matter you have seen in this morning s
papers.
Last Monday DR.. Brown called Deacon
Dexter and myself to him and placed be-
fore us his complete statemcnt-a much
mole complete and ample statement than
that which appeared in the newspapers
from him. The result was we decided to
put the matter into the hands of the police.
Orders were given to arrest the woman
wherever she might be found, but she
could not be found at once. She has been
arrested and she is now in iail.
1--WE will do all we can to protect the
good name of this congregation and the
good name OF the pastor.
''The police think that this woman is
one OF the most clever of her kind.
''You should thank DR.. Brown for the
prompt and energetic action he has
taken"
DR.. Browns face perceptihly frightened.
The shadow seemed to leave his forehead.
He pressed the deacon's hand and whis,
pered few words to him.
The ice had been broken. The suspense
had been removed. The pastor himself
stepped forward and said:
adding to the painful subject Deacon
Morse mentioned and at his suggestion,
would say that after all the evidence was
presented voices said, Let it be kept quiet
for the sake of the church; let the woman
leave town. But in spite of these whisper
ings / decided to follow the disagreeable
matter out to the very end. 1t must be
done Notwithstanding the extreme pain it
may be to tits church; no matter what
pain it may be to myself.
"If it kills ME the case must be carried
out 1t mus be taken into court.
'.She was not member of our church,
and so is not amenable; but it must all
come out under oath. And for that we
must wait. 1t is duty L owe the church
to follow this up"
There was no other reference to the sub
ject during the service. D.. Browns SER
mon was a discourse on time, its compare
tive shortness where human life is con-
rned, its incalculable length with regard
TO the age OF this earth and in the measure
of eternity. He closed with an exhorta-
ton to make better use of life while il
lasts, for he said there are only 1876 600
working hours III lifetime of three score
wears and ten. He referred 10 the seeming
drag of time 10 the boy who longs to be a
man, and warned such 10 be patient, that
time will pass fast enough for them when
they are old.
Wien seen after his sermon DR.. Brown
said that he would make no further state
ments, as the police had advised him to
say nothing about the case. He added
however, that he had engaged Reuben H