The San Francisco call., 1896-03-17
ON THE VERGE
OF A DECISION,
Labors of the Council Ex-
pected to Conclude
To-Day.
BROWNS JUDGES SILENT
Not Improbable That the Ac-
cused Man Will Be Fully
EXonerated.
THE PASTOR SEEMS ANXIOUS.
DR.. Williams Visits Him at Late
Hour, Evidently With Cheering
News.
THE PASTOR SEEMS ANXIOUS.


tinuous session from 2 o'clock yesterday
afternoon until IL last night, without
reaching verdict which they were willing
should go to the world as an expression OF
their three days deliberations.
If they reached a conclusion at all the
individual members were 10th to give it
out, presumably preferring to sleep over
the decision before relieving the suspense
of those most directly interested.
When the ecclesiastical judges made
their exit on the Mason-street side last
night every man was in a great rush to
catch car or anything that would take
him out of the reach of reporters.
Dr. Pond, Rev. Mr.. RAIDER and Layman
Ruthraff were the only members who took
things leisurely. They sauntered down
the street apparently oblivious of news
paper men or anything else, except the
consciousness of the secret hugged so
closely to their breasts.
'sIs it true that the council reached a
verdict of unministerial conduct?" was
asked of DR.. Pond.
81 decline to answer" was the laconic
reply.
''Will you say. then. if the council has
tured.
II decline to answer that also," the rev.
erend gentleman replied.
DR.. Pond volunteered the information
that, as the "boss whitewasher" of the
Pacific Coast, certainly no very severe ver-
dict could be expected from him.
Rev. Mr. RAIDER and Layman Ruthraff
were equally as uneommunicative as their
brother judge. They refused to indicate
in any way the final findings if such
hin had occurred in the council.
During the evening and in fact until the
council adjourned, Pastor Brown walked
mp and down Geary street from Mason to
Powell. Every ten Or fifteen minutes his
friend and adviser, Deacon Morse, came
hurriedly up to the church, and with
much eagerness asked if there was any
thing new or if a verdict had been rem
dered.
One thing. at least, is sure, if the council
did not reach decision last night they
came very near the point. A committee
was appointed, with DR.. Williams as chair
man, to suitably draft the verdict of the
council and present it to the church.
DR.. Mclean when asked last night if a
verdict had been rendered said: 1--WE have
not yet concluded our Iabors although we
have almost arrived at decision. When
we parted tonight we pledged ourselves
not to diyulge anything that had taken
place, so / am not at liberty to say one
word. l think we shall finish tomorrow
afternoon"
From another source later in the evening
it was learned that the verdict will be
guilty of non ministerial conduct" quail
fed in such a way as. to admit of DR..
Browns continuing in the ministry.
During the afternoon Dr. Pond made a
long argument favoring a mild Judgment
and incidentally arraigning the women
who had appeared against DR.. Brown.
His speech was not very favorably re-
ceived, though listened to with respectful
attention. Mr.. Dodge made spirited re-
ply, in which he said that this was not an
occasion where leniency could be exercised
The sudden departure of Miss Overman
occupied some little time of the council
though it was finally determined not to al
low this even to prejudice their verdict,
provided DR.. Brown made a proper and
plausible explanation.
The moderator, DR.. Mclean, consum ed
a big portion of the evening in giving 3
blackboard demonstration of the different
handwritings submitted to the council
This was confined largely to comparisons
of Miss Overman' writing with that of the
anonymous letters received by Mrs. Cooper
and others.
DR.. Mclean has expressed the opinion
that the letters offered in evidence by DR..
Brown as samples of those written to Miss
Overman while that young lady was in Ia
DR.. Brown only had one of these letters.
The moderator is correspondinglys skepti-
cal and cannot see why man at home
would call a woman Matte and then in
letter address her as miss Martha"
The council will meet this morning at 10
o'clock.
The committee on findings will meet
this morning at 10 o'clock, for the purpose
ofputting in shape the opinion of the coun-
Gil. That body proper will meet at
o'clock to receive the report and make such
additions as the members might suggest.
This verdict will not be given out until
Wednesday night.
The committee is made up of DR., Will
liams (chairmah), Mr.. Curtis, DR.. Hoyt.
Rev. Mr.. RAIDER and DR.. Mclean.
Immediately after the adjournment of
the committee last night DR.. Williams Wis
tied DIR. Brown at his home, 1903 Geary
street. As DR.. Williams is substantial
friend of the accused pastor, this midnight
visit is significant if nothing more.