The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-07
REV. DR.. Ollie TALKS
Miss Overman Says She Has
Ever Peen All That Is
Good and True.
MRS. DAVIDSON SPEAKS AGAIN
Mrs. French Tells of DR.. Browns At
tempt to Force Mrs. Stockton on
the Congregation.

The Brown Davidson case continues the
absorbing topic OF discussion. This morning
marks the tenth day of the sensational af-
fair, and during that time not one scintilla
of evidence has been introduced by either
side proving or disprOving the various
charges.
Mrs. Davidson stands self-admitted ex.
inmate of a reform school, though she has
given an explanation of this. The story
she tells is admittedly an extraordinary
one but then it must be remembered that
Mrs. Davidson is not a woman of ordinary
caliber, but possessed of all that tinesse
which comes from acute intellect sharp
ened by contact with the world.
DR.. Brown, char ged by the aged prisoner
with immortality. has appeared on the wit
ness-stand but his evidence has been di-
rected solely toward the conviction of Mrs.
Davidson. On the advice of counsel he
has refused to talk of the relations,
friendly or otherwise, existing between
himself and Miss Overman. This course
has caused the deacons of his own church,
and the ministers of others, to indulge in
remarks which, while not uncompliment-
airy, portend his ultimate withdrawal from
1t has been stated that the reverend
gentleman resignation has been in the
hands of the deacons since Thursday last
though this is emphaticauy denied by the
pastors wife.
The disappearance of Mrs. Tunnel is
not favorably thought of by those I'M
friendly to the minister. That gentleman
admitted her presence in his house on the
! \ 2 II
of Mrs. Davidson. Since that time the
much-wanted woman has not been seen
or heard of. 1t has been stated that she
was in Oakland one week ago and ct 1
o'clock in the afternoon made hurried
rush for 4 train leading in the direction OF
Kings County. She has relatives there,
but a telegram received yesterday is to the
effect that she had not been seen.
The case seems to have reached the stage
of anonymous communications. Yester-
day morning Attorney Gallagher received
q letter from Seattle purporting to come
from a person who has in days past
known Miss Overman.
Miss Overman denies bitterly the truth
OF all that has been said rejecting on her
character. "All these dispatches published
about me constitute tissue of falsehoods, ~
she said Yesterday. at is all the work OF
my enemies. did not know that | had
so many. | am a poor. defenseless girl,
and for that reason am attacked this way"
Mrs. Davidson intimates that she is
keeping in reserve bit of spicy evidence
concerning Pastor Brown that will over
shadow all that has been told heretofore.
"There are many things connected with
the First Congregational Church." she
said, which need airing. DR.. Brown is
not the only one in that church guilty OF
immoral conduct. There are one or two
old goats around that sacred edifce who
are as deep in the mud as their leader is in
the mire. They know that l am aware OF
this. and I rather suspect that they are
quaking in their boots l may consent to
tell more later on, though I think the pres
ent exposure will be enough to warn them
from their evil ways
Concerning my life, there is little I can
add to the story published in THE CALL Of
to-day. | have travelled all over America,
and was always thrown IN direct contact
with the most eminent people. At Wash
jngton, twenty and thirty years ago, l
knew the leading men of the day, my own
position and that of my family giving me
entry into the best circles.
"Of course, all this has nothing to do
with my present situation except that il
shows that l am not the woman some
people would have the public believe. 1
knew Abe Lincoln well and recall with in
finite pleasure the first time | met him at
the White House. During the war | went
to the front with my husband and staid
with him through that long and dreadful
period
En- PEASANT, Mrs. Davidson tells little
incident which occurred during the pre-
lminary hearing on Saturday. "Dr.
Brown was sitting just back of me" she
said, Though l did not know it until ]
felt his Svengali eyes fixed upon me
Turning round ! said, DIR. Brown, | am
very sorry for you After a moments
hesitation he replied, And l. madam, am
very sorry for you.
THAT man is a capital actor and / am
glad to see that he showed temper when
an allusion was made to his wife. AS long
as | have known him that is the first time
he has ever shown her the slightest con.
sideration. DR.. Brown swore on the stand
that he caused me to give him the receip,
for $500 that ne might have tangible evil
dence against me. When am placed on
the stand shall give the real reason why
the receipt was given, and | shall be pre-
pared TO prove everything l say"
The Ladies Foreign Missionary Society
held its regular meeting at the First Com
gregational Church yesterday. During q
very earnest prayer offered by the secre.
tary. a special blessing was invoked fol
DR.. Brown and Miss Overman.
Dr.. Ollie, pastor of the Central Metho.
dist Church, is of the opinion that iudg
inent should he suspended until the case
has been thoroughly investigated by the
courts. He olames DR.. Brown for having
paid the blackmail money, and he think.
his greatest crime was little Stiffness and
imprudence.
Enemies of churches" he said yester.
day, "are always eager to hear anything
against them, and are of course elated
over this scandal. Their eyes are Away:
open for just such things, and they grasl
and magnify anything which give.
strength to their argument.
But among right-ininded people there