Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-03-07

San Francisco, March 6.-Rev. c.
o. Brown resumed his testimony in his
own defense before the Congregational
council to-day. He admitted that he
had exchanged letters with Miss Over
man while the later was absent in Ia
coma. The letters were produced, Dr..
Brown explaining that Miss Oyerman
had sent to her home in Tacoma for the
letters. All of the letters were pro-
sale epistles concerning matters in the
church and books which Miss Oyeman
was reading.
a sweet love letter is it not?" sug-
gested Dr.. Brown, when the first of the
dry and colorless epistles was read.
Dr.. Brown then referred to his cOnnec-
ton with Mrs. Davidson, recOunting
how she had waited for him after
prayer meeting when Mrs. Brown was
absent and asking him to walk home
with her. Mrs. Davidson asked him
if he did not miss Matte Overman and
he had innocently replied that he did.
lie denied that he said Miss Overman
was the best read woman he had ever
met. but stated he had said that con-
sidering her age and opportunities, he
wondered at her intelligent discussion
Of technical and scientific authors. He
said that Mrs. Davidson, on various
preteXts, had induced him to accom-
pany her to see many people and had
asked him to show her through the Y.
NJ. c. A. building. She wished TO
meet the general secretary of the asso-
citation, and while waiting for that Off
Ger. Dr.. Brown said he and Mrs. David
son had sat for a few minutes in the
Office of the assistant secretary. Dr..
Brown said these interviews and visits
were all a part Of Mrs. Davidson's
schemes to blackmail, and into which
he innocently fell Mrs. Davidson
sought to have him seen with her in
such places as would make it possible
for her to secure witnesses as to what
she had described as consultations con-
cerning his alleged liason with Miss
Oyermsn.
the last week in August Mrs. Davidson
had come to his Office in the church and
asked him TO lend her some money.
He loaned her at that time $40, later $40,
and again $50. She always stated that
her dividends from the corset firm were
delayed in the East. DR.. Brown, much
moved, said he had always believed in
rot letting his right hand know what
his left did. but he had no choice now
but TO explain these matters. He said
that since he has been pastor of the
present charge he had given away more
money than his salary came to.
DR.. Brown told how Mrs. Davidson
had finally revelaed herself in her true
colors She told how a we'll known
minister had visited a lodging house in
company with young woman, con-
cluding with the statement that he had
been identified as the minister and Miss
OyeTman as the woman. He admitted
that he was afraid 10 meet such an ac-
cusation at a time when the city WAS
greatly excited over the arrest of sew
eral old men for debauching young
girls He feared that accusation would
be accepted as guilt when the pOpulace
was in such an angry mood. he said
he had gone 10 every lodging house in
the district where he had been accused
of accompanying Miss Overman, and 10
him and a police detective each propri-
etor had said that DR.. Brown had never
been seen in that vicinity. Or. Brown
then told how he had paid Mrs. David
son $500 and taken her receipts for the
money in order TO protect himself.