The San Francisco call., 1896-03-12
TWO STRANGE STORIES.
A Couple of Witnesses Cast Some
New Light Upon the Intricate

A Couple of Witnesses Cast Some
New Light Upon the Intricate
Case.
AT tie opening of the evening session
the Rev. DR.. Scudder led in prayer, after
which DR.. Brown was recalled to the stand.
In answer to question by DR.. Tenney,
the pastor exhibited the 70 flowing letter:
DAYTON, Wash, March 8, 1896.
DR.. c. 0. BrotOn, San Francisco, Cdl;-DEAR SIR:
The following telegram received from san
Francisco Examiner this A. N.
Your brother has publicly announced that you
demanded money from DR.. Brown for Mrs Tnn-
nell. He says that you met Mrs. Tunnel at VI
saliao Will you please telegraph the Examiner
your full story. We will allow you space rates
Examiner.
I most emphatically deny having told any
one l demanded money from you for Mrs.
Tunnel or any one else. II anything know
would be OF interest to you before the ecclesi-
astical court. please call on me Tor affidavit.
Yours truly, NJ. II. PATTON, Dayton, Wash.
The pastor said he had been very favor
ably impressed with Mr.. Patton, but
knew nothing of his antecedentS. In an
swer to question by Mr.. Tenney, DR..
Brown said he had received the letter
after the council had adjourned for the
afternoon, and the envelope was stamped
II 80 P. M
DIR. Brown was then excused from testi-
flying further.
u w. WAS the next Witness.
He said he had been employed as a detec-
tive, and had met Mrs. Tunnel at 132
Tenth street, and had read the originals of
the famous OvermanTunnell letters. He
had come into possession OF the letters
through Mrs. Tunnel leaving with him
some OF her effects on the eve of her de
parture. Before she LETT she came to him
exclaiming, my God / have lost two i'm
portant letters!'
Il object" exclaimed Mr.. Nagle, DR..
Browns attorney, rising in great excite
ment This is mere hearsay testimony.
No representative of DR.. Brown was
present, and this is only secondhand evi-
dence."
~ move we proceed" remarked mem
Der of the council.
Mr.. Bickford proceeded. He said he
had sold the letters to the Examiner for
$50, and did not know where they were
now. He had an impression, but did not
know positively, that some one went to
DR.. Brown with proposition to sell him
the letters. He had loaned the letters to
an attorney, but with no Interior motive.
The Rev. Mr.. RAIDER then questioned the
witness. Mr.. Bickford denied having sold
the letters, but admitted having received
money for their publication. He could
not say positively that any one had tried
to sell the letters to DR.. Brown.
Mr.. Parkinson then took the detective
in hand. In answer to his inquiries Mr..
Bickford stated that he found the letters
in a vaIise in five gallon kerosene-oiI
can. The papers were lying loosely amid
a quantity OF books and old shoes.
Had you any right to open the valise
or look into the oil CAM" asked Mr..
Parkinson.
Il opened the things because I thought
if anything wrong was going on 1t ought
TO come to light"
"But had yon any right to open Mrs
TunnelPs letterS?'
Il had right like any one else to show
up anything wrong that was going on"
answered Bickford.
''Yes," reioined Mr.. Parkinson in very
caustic tone, you thought there was
something in it for you, and as soon as
you found it out you sold the letters to the
paper. Isn't that it?"
mo, didn't" answered Bickford, hotly.
But you lost nothing by the transac-
tion," remarked MIR. Parkinson, with a
sneer, which DR.. Brown answered.
Bickfo1d then said he had been offered
money by a morning paper to find Mrs.
Baddln, but had failed.
Interrogated by DR.. Mooar, Bickford
said he thought he had right to open,
read and publish Mrs. Tunnell's letters.
"By what right" asked DR.. Mooar.
by the right of public morality" an
swered Bickford.
y
dian of the public morality, don't you?"
asked DR.. Mooar, in winning tone, where
at a laugh arose.
Mr.. Nagle then took the witness in hand
and badgered the witness to his hearts
content. Mr.. Nagle involved the ex-detec-
tive in a veritabie labyrinth Of compromis-
ing questions, ali intending to prove that
the witness was mixed in deep, dark, and
perhaps blackmailing conspiracy. Wher-
ever the questions became too searching
and personal he had one stereotyped
answer, 81 don't remember" He ac-
knowleged that, although detective, he
was whitener and kalsominer between
times.
The witness admitted that in the middle
of last January he had twice visited Mr..
Dray at 1041 Mission. Mr.. Nagle then
asked him as to his business. He was then
questioned as to where and how he worked
was he a boss or journeyman, and about
great many more things, until the mod
orator stopped the questions with the in
quiry as to how the evidence thus brought
out bore upon the case.
Mr.. Nagle said it was for the council to
decide. He did not know what was in the
minds of the cOuncllmen, and to this DIR.
Mclean, the moderator, said they did
not know what was in Mr.. Nagle's mind
either. The crowd Uttered and Mr.. Nagle
dropped that particular line of examina-
tion.
Mr.. Nagie then asked if he rented the let
ters to the Examiner and if he considered
it honorable to rent another mans prop
erty and receive an income from it. The
witness was non-com initial, and Mr.. Ma
gle said, That's all
DR.. Brown then asked leave to put
question, and he said:
Ibid you ever hear Mrs Tunnel swear
upon any other occasion?"
"Yes, sir She said My God more than
once"
This seemed to be all that DR.. Brown
wanted, and then Mr.. Tenney asked ques-
tions.
.'Are you holding that money for Mrs.
Tunnell2" he asked.
''Ill have talk with her when she
comes back" was the reply.
Are you holding that money for Mrs
Tunnell?" Mr.. Tenney repeated.
"Pll tell you when l have talk with
her,"
~ ask you again." persisted Mr.. Ten
ney. Are you holding that 500 for Mrs.
Tunnell7"
II decline to answer" replied the wit
ness.
Then Mr.. Tenney continued:
why did you come here to-night?"
81 wanted to come"
"Did you speak to any one before you