The San Francisco call., 1896-03-04
HER LETTERS.
Matte Overman Points Out to the
Council the Portions She Says
We're Interj jeCted.

The cold spell had not the slightest effect
upon the attendance at the DR.. Brown in
vestigation yesterday afternoon. The day
was not only cold, but gloomy as we'll.
The ground glass windows on the west
side OF the meeting-room were closed and
the ostrich and chanticleer plumes of the
women spectators stood out in inky black
silhouettes against the dead gray light
that oozed dejectedly through the win
dows.
There was a constant babble of converse
ton, which, strange to say, was not all
about the Brown case, and when the gas
was lighted at P. NJ. and the yellow glare
struggled with the frosty gray light, the
scene was not unlike that of the dress cir
Gle at theatrical matinee.
There was vacant place in front facing
the middle of the platform, and the four
dered more conspicuous the absence OF
their usual occupants - DR.. and Mrs.
Brown, Miss Mae Davis and Matte Over
man. The late corners among the audi
ence or congregation or whatever it might
be called ranged themselves along the
wall almost out of sight and altogether out
of mind. like unblooming chrysanthemums
in the shadow of summer hedge.
At 2:20 o'clock Matte Overman walked
from the council-room to the platform
and took her seat in the wicker-chair near
the front, and facing Judge Advocate
Woodlands. The members of the council
took their places Immediately afterward,
and after the usual announcements had
beenimade l. III. Morse stated that Dr.
Brown was unable to appear he not being
well, and that he CDR. Brown had author
lied Mr.. Morse to say that he agreed that
the examination and cross-eyaminarion of
Miss Overman might be conducted in his
absence.
Judge Advocate woodlands produced a
page of a morning paper containing what
purported to be copies of letters written by
Miss Overman to Mrs. Tunnel, and asked
Miss Overman whether she had marked
in pencil those parts OF the letters which
she had interjected or remodeled by advice
of Mrs. Davidson.
Mr.. Dodge asked as to the Whereabouts
of the original letters for which the letters
in evidence had been substituted, and Miss
Overman replied that after having written
and changed them to suit the purpose of
the blackmail conspiracy she bad torn up
the originals and thrown them into the
ashbarrel. She explained that the letters
which were about to be read were those
W ulCu SLG udu put UdCh W buC envelopes
and replaced in Mrs. Tunnells room.
Mr.. Woodlands then proceeded to read
the letters pointing out as be came to them
the passages marked by Miss Overman as
having been interjected or remodeled by
her. In the first letter the following par
agraphs were pointed out:
Do not fear. The moth will not fiutter about
the flame in this case. l am prepared to prove
my strength, and feel competent to carry out
z1o.aC hat 10 1A,-A
Have no fear for my life. As long as B. lives
shall. think he owes me that; aud don't feel
that am doing wrong in insisting on justice
from him. Understand, my dear friend, con-
slider this my opportunity for higher educa-
ton and calmly consider what can be done, for
have the will to do it. am not angry or in
suited or. ashamed to rise above such spirit,
proving my womanhood in all do and say.
In the next letter, dated June Is, 1895,
Mattie's Interpolation is that she was dis
appointed that the party referred to could
not see "B.," but she supposed he pur-
posely avoided her. The writer promised
to explain later why she thought so.
MISS Overman interrupted by saying
that Mrs. Tunnel had seen DIR. Brown,
but that the interview was of a different
nature from that which the letters might
seem to imply.
Mr.. Woodlands continued with the read
ing of the interpretations.
that he told her he had noble, good, dear wife
and every one knew that to be true. He asked
her if / was keeping company with any one,
and he tried TO make me believe that he felt
sorry. She said she believed that he regretted
everything and that there was great weakness
some place. Ny heart is filed with re-
bellion that / should be SO played with, so
scorned, and the end is not yet. There is
tragedy ahead; my heart is hardened. To put
him to the test Immediately wrote him for a
small sum and he refused it. Had he sent 1t
would have been in San Francisco by this time.
When l went to their house was enjoying the
sweet presence of the Holy Spirit and as grad
ually yielded to him lost that Spirit Goo for
give him. - He knows only one side of me.
Oh think OF such men standing before the
people, pointing at the right path, pleading
for virtue and teaching moralityi 1t makes
me sick. He shall help me constantly in the
future. He has ruined my life and has made q
toy of me.
Mr. Tenney asked whether there was an
original letter bearing on the same subject
which made it possible for Miss Overman
10 interpolate and change part of it.
The judge advocate suggested that that
inquiry would be part of the cross-exami-
nation.
"That is the trouble" said Mr.. Tenney.