The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-02-28
REV. BROWNS TRIAL
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CHURCH
COURT MARKED BY SENSATIONS.
The Moderator Charged by the Ac-
cused Preacher with Unfairness
Testimony of Witnesses.

San FRANClSCO, Feb. H-The scenes
last night at the evening session of the
church court that is trying the Rev. c. o.
Brown were of the sensational order when
the preacher became the accuser of his
judges. In an impassioned address he
charged the moderator, the Rev. DR.. j. K.
Mclean, with deliberate unfairness. He
accused the council of having been preju-
diced against him and of having admitted
testimony which had no proper place be-
fore the court. The scene which followed
this attack was one of the greatest ex-
element. Partisans Of the accused pastor
applauded his words, and hundreds OPP
posed to him stamped their approval Of the
action taken by the council. In the midst
of the hubbub, II. G. MILAN, whose name
has been disagreeably connected by DR..
Brown with that of Mrs. Stockton, jumped
to the platform, and, in threatening words
and actions, denounced the pastor. The ex-
cited visitor was induced to retire, and
when quiet had been restored DR.. Brown
was ordered to make specific charges He
die. SO, and the council not only declined
to investigate them, but adopted unani-
nous vote of confidence in the moderator.
While tie excitement was at its height Mrs.
Brown attempted to persuade her husband
to cease his attack but he turned quickly
anal replied: Il may as well make it now.
for 1 am gone anyway"
The excitement of the evening came as a
climax to the sensational testimony given
ton. whose testimony was corroborative of
many OF the alleged facts in the Overman
interview. Most of the information which
Mrs. Thurston gave to the council she had
Tunnel. 1t involved nearly all Of the lead
ing points advanced by Mrs Mary A. David
BY asking Or as s s
cross examination, if Mrs. Thurston ever
had reason to be jealous of her husband.
moderator declared that the question was
unfair. This began the quarrel. Mrs. NJ.
A. Davidson, as stated last night, acting
appear as witness. Her testimony which
had been given in the police court was
read Mrs. Eaton also declined TO appear
in person. and her, deposition of important
facts was presented to the council.
Rev. DR.. Ollie, pastor Of the Central
Methodist Church, was the first witness to-
day for Rev. c. o. Brown. The accused
minister tried to show by DR.. Ollie that the
character of Mrs. Thurston, who testified
against him last night. was bad and that
she was unworthy of credence. Mrs. Cor
don was called to the stand to try to eN-
plain the mysterious disappearance of Mrs.
Tunnel. but nothing important was devel-
oped. Harriet Cooper, the daughter OF
Sarah p. Cooper, assistant pastor, who had
charged DR.. Brown with conspiracy in
spiriting Mrs. Tunnel away. so as not to
testify against him, was called on for her
The Judge advocate then announced that
his testimony for the prosecution was all
in and he called upon any. voluntary wit
nesses 10 testify. The moderator objected
that due diligence had not been exercised
in developing the case against DR.. Brown
and said that many points named at the
beginning of the trial had not been since
referred to. Witnesses should be sought
on these points, or else the churches
would declare that the council he'd not
fully and impartially investigated the
charges against DR.. Brown.
Miss Matte Overman, with whom DR..
Brown is said to have been unduly intimate
was placed upon the witness stand at the
evening session Miss OverTnan created g
sensation by admitting that she had entered
into a plot with Mrs. Davidson to blackmal
DIR. Brown. She said she was induced Il
take the step by Mrs. Davidson, who told hel
the money she could obtain in that way
would enable her to finish her studies In
which she was engaged. Miss Overman salC
the letters written by herself TO Mrs David
son, in which statements rejecting on the
moral character of DIR. Brown were made
were contrived TO carry out the plot.