The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-09
The Deacons Unanimously Decide
to Stand by the Rev.
Dr.. Brown.
THE AGED PRISONERS RECORD.
Mrs. Tunnel Still Among the Missing.
It Is Denied That She Is in
Kings County.

least, lat QlScreet silence winch mas Clar-
acterized her course since she became an
inmate of the pastors home.
Heretofore she has occasionally burst
the chains which apparently surround
her, though this has only been to deny in
a general way the many compromising
things that have been said about her. On
the one matter, however, in which she is
most keenly interested she has maintained
a most sphinx-like silence.
With a view of securing an admission or
denial relative 10 the genuineness of the
now famous Tunnel letters as pub
Hshed in THE CALL, reporter called on
her yesterday at Dr. Browns home. where
she continues to reside. The young lady
was cautious, cool and calculating in every
thing she said. Only once did she grow
excited, and that was when the name of
Mrs Davidson was mentioned.
Miss Overman, are you prepared to
make any statement concerning the letters
published yesterday over your signature
and addressed to Mrs. TunnelI?" was
asked.
II am not" replied Miss Overman.
my attorneys will not allow me to dis
cuss the matter with outsiders"
"Wil you say that you did not write
them?"
II am not prepared to say anything
about them at all, and, what is more, I
Will not. At the proper time, however, l
will give a statement to the public which
will show there are two sides to every
situation. can only repeat what l have
said before, and that is 1 have been hor-
ribly misrepresented and misquoted since
the beginning of this dreadful affair.
And to think, too, it is all on account of a
designing old woman. She posed as a
Christian, yet see what she has done
brought disgrace on everybody with whom
she came in contact. But l must not dis
cuss this matter. AT the proper time l
will tell my story and then leave it for the
public to determine whether l or the
woman on trial for blackmail has told
the truth"
Miss Overman shows plainly the severe
mental strain which she has undergone
during the past two weeks. She has a
troubled weary look, that is only relieved
when her face lights up with anger or
hatred. Apparently she is defiant OF pub
lie opinion, though on the other hand she
avows her intention of catering to that
wavering quantity lat the proper time"
DR.. Brown continues to deny himself to
all visitors, except those directly inter-
ested in the case. He said yesterday that
in few days he would probably make
statement, but would do nothing in that
direction until after the preliminary hear
ing OF the Davidson extortion suit. He is
reasonably cheerful under the heavy strain,
and is confident that the end will prove
him free of any wrongdoing.
Mrs. Tunnel seems to be almost as
elusive as Mrs. Baddin. One day she is in
Oakland, and the next two or three hun
dred miles away. The only absolutely
certain thing about her is that she is in
hiding.
Yesterday telegram was received from
Grangeville, where 1t was reported she
had gone, stating that Mrs. Tunnel was
not there, neither was she known. Mrs
Horton, 216 Eddy street, declares posi-
lively she is there though she declines to
60 into details as to how she secured the
information, except that it came By letter.
"My mother, Mrs. Hayes, lives at
Grangeville." said Mrs. Horton yesterday.
land as she and Mrs. Tunnel are quite old
friends, there is no reason why she should
not go there. 1 can say positively that
she is at my mothers, though l must de-
cline to tell how or when 1 received nv
information. 1t is straight, and that is all
there is to it."
1t may be interesting to relate in this
connection that Mrs. Tunnel left DR..
Browns house at II: 30 O'Clock on the Sun
day night following the arrest OF Mrs.
Davidson. She went direct to the ferry.
reaching there in time to catch the last
boat for Oakland.
Mrs. Davidson continues to evidence
calm and confident front She has not the
slightest fear OF the final result, though
she anticipates favorable verdict in the
preliminary hearing. She says:
~ have been Christian for too long to
attempt now to shield myself behind a
tissue OF falsehoods. All this scandal
though it is true every word of it. is due to
DR.. Brown, and now he must bear the
consequences Of his own rashness.'
The deacons and trustees, at a private
meeting held last night, decided to uphold
DR.. Brown. at least until the Davidson
case ended. They considered it would not
be fair to the pastor or the church to pass
judgment at this time, or even demand an
explanation from DR.. Brown.
The dispatches from Hanford and
Tulare add greater mystery to the already
mysterious movements of Mrs. Tunnel.
There now seems little doubt but that the
important witness is in Kings County,
though she is carefully concealed by her
friends.
The preliminary hearing of Mrs. David