The San Francisco call., 1896-02-26

notes in q small memorandum book.
Shortly before 5 o'clock the members of
the council re-entered the lecture-room
No explanation of the mysterious alb
sence was vouchsafed, and when the mod
orator declared the council in open ses-
sion once more DIR. Brown asked that Mrs.
Stockton be called. That lady failed to
respond to her name, and then Mrs. May
Davis was requested to take the stand.
Before commencing her testimony on
cross-examination, Mrs. Davis protested
against the unfeeling manner in which one
of the morning papers had referred to an
impediment in her speech.
"W hen | was a Young girl" she said, 81
nursed family OF children through an
attack of diphtheria, and at last caught the
disease myself. | lost my voice as re-
suit of this illness, and have been sensi-
tive on the matter ever since. 1t wounded
me- severely to see that one OF the papers
referred to me as having spoken through
my nose
At this a litter circulated among a con-
tingent of the "baser sort" who filled a
certain portion of the hall. Pale with in
dignation, the venerable moderator sprang
to his feet and launched scorching repri-
mand at the unfeeling vulgarity displayed
by those who had laughed at the witness
affiiction. He then in courteous tones re-
quested Mrs. Davis to disregard the fla
grant exhibition of i'll l-breeding as coming
from persons beneath her notice.
Mrs. Davis then repeated her statement
of last Friday night, to the effect that Mrs.
Stockton had told her that she intended
running DR.. Brown. Mrs. Stockton swore
eternal vengeance against the pastor and
against Mrs French, owing to the Turkish
tea affair. The doctor, according to Mrs.
Stockton, had also aggileyed that lady by
showing himself impervious to her bland
ishments. Mrs. Davis was of the opinion
that Mrs. Stockton was fallen woman,
since she had asked who the rich men of
the congregation were.
long discussion here ensued as to the
propriety of admitting third-hand testi-
mony. The moderator was much against
such evidence being received.
why" he remarked, "if you admit
what Mrs. Smith said to Mrs. Jones, and
Mrs. Jones said to Mrs. Robinson, and
Mrs. Robinson said to somebody else, you
can easily ruin the best man living"
a majority OF the council agreed in this
view and Mrs. Davis was requested to
speak only on matters which had come
under her immediate observation. She
went over great portion of her former
testimony and said she would never repeat
Mrs. Stockton's language about Mrs.
French. She intimated however. that the
Mason-street lady, goaded to desperation
by Mrs. French's treatment of her, had
threatened to ALLEVIATE the affections
of Mrs. French's husband. Mrs. Davis had
had no quarrel with Mrs. Stockton, but the
little lady's last dress, according to the
witness, was not paid for, and the Sheriff s
officer sent to collect the money had not
been able 20 effect an entrance into Mrs.
Stockton's rooms for the purpose of at
taching the piano.
When Mrs. Davis had concluded Dr.
Brown requested that the Stockton matter
be set at rest before any other evidence
ifr,t ha irNtr
difference of opinion and the council forth
with retired into secret session.
At the opening of the evening session
DR.. Mooar led in prayer, the petition be-
| ing for grace to speak and act in way
! free from malice, fear or prejudice. The
closing supplication was for light and aid
from on high, so that the deliberations of
the council might result in a complete and
full discovery OF the truth.
| Mrs. Sarah b. Cooper was the first wit
ness. She identified packet of letters ad-
dressed to herself, which the Judge advo-
! cate showed her as being the communica-
tions from Port Angeles in relation to Mrs.
! Stockton's Indebtedness in that place.
She detailed Mrs. Stockton's kindergarten
work, citing several instances OF the lady 8
devotedness to her labors.
'Do you know, Mrs. Cooper" asked Dr.
Brown, whether any prominent man in
Port Angeles asked Mrs. Stockton to go to
that town?'
II do not" was the laconic answer
Regarding Mrs. Stockton's Port Angeles
kindergarten work she said she had hoped
it would be enduring. but it hadN been i'm
peded by financial adversities. When
asked what she meant by Mrs. Stockton s
being "a little gay" Mrs. Cooper said she
meant nothing seriously bad. Mrs. Stock
| ton did not resume teaching after her re-
turn from Port Angeles because she did
not wish to do so. The teachers in the
kindergartens under Mrs. Cooper's control
were generally not changed until they