The herald., 1896-02-21
THE TRIAL OF DR.. BROWN
Mrs. Cooper Testifies, Giving
Mostly Hearsay Evidence
A "SORCHER" IS TO COME
II Mrs. Stockton Can Be Assured Oi
Protection
Mrs. Davidson Joins the Accusing Forces
With Some Verv Definite and Also
Very Dreadful Charges

vened this afternoon. Mrs. Sarah u.
Cooper. assistant pastor to DIR. Brown, and
one of his accusers, was recalled for cross
examination. She declared she had done
everything possible to bring out the truth
of the charges against Brown and denied
that she had acted in an unscriptural man
ner toward her pastor. She was satisfied
no satisfactory exclamation could ne made
respecting the apparently damaging let
ters ostensibly written by Miss Overman
She repeated that she was morally certain
Mrs. Tunnel had bssn spirited away by
DR.. Brown to prevent her testifying against
her minister.
The Judge advocate at this stage asked
for an adjournment until Tuesday. DR..
Brown and Mrs. Cooper both objected to
the delay as unfair to all concerned after
the long delay in calling the council, and it
was finally determined to proceed
Mrs. Lena Blanchard was called and
told of an interview with DIR. Brown in
which he had threatened her with arrest
for voting lack of confidence in Brown at a
church meeting, the witness not being a
member. Witness said Brown promised
her immunity from prosecution II she
would sign an affidavit confessipg that Mrs.
Cooper had urged her to vote, although not
a member. Witness had first signed such
an affidavit, but afterward amended it.
However. witness said Brown had allowed
a newspaper to publish the affidavit in its
original form. She held Brown responsible
for the publication.
Mrs. Mary A. Davidson has joined Mrs.
Cooper in preferring charges against Rev.
e. o. Brown. Under escort OF deputy
sheriff, Mrs. Davidson today left the county
Jail, came to the church and filed charges
alleging that DIR. Brown had committed
AZ tnr wit and t,aI haay,
guilty of deception and intimidation. Mrs.
Dayidson's charges as formulated under
separate headings are as follow5: Adultery
with Martha Overman; use of ergot to hide
the crime: removal of evidence of adul-
terry and the crime; deception as to Miss
Overman's career in literature at the time
when Mrs. Davidson alleges Miss Overman
was Browns mistress; deception in seek
ing the prayers for temptations; decep-
ton in the guise of so-called temptations;
deception as to penitence and reconsecra-
ton; deception coupled with threats.
She also says she has a statement in re-
serve which Is q "scorcher."
Judge Advocate woodlands, In ques-
tioning Mrs. Stockton, asked:
"Tell us if you met DR.. Brown at other
times.
Mrs. Stockton-Oh, I met him many
times-so many that l was willing to
go to the ends of the earth for him. I
times than the door would open and the
doctor would come in. He was my very
shadow. One day we took a long walk to
North Beach. Sometimes we walked on
the down town streets, but that was dam
gerous and we confined our strolls to the
streets near the park, where we would not
be in danger of running into people we
might know.
Woodhams-Are you still member of
this church in good standing?
Mrs. Stockton-Oh, yes.
Woodhams-is your name still on the
membership roll?
Mrs. Stockton Oh, yes nobody has ever
said anything against me but Mr.. Brown.
Woodhams-Have you ever had any per-
sonal relations with DR.. Brown other than
you have related?
Mrs. Stockton-That's a teasing ques-
ton. l was silly enough to believe that he
would marry me. He admitted himself
that he had wronged me.
Woodhams-Have you ever had any
criminal relations with DR.. Brown?
Mrs. Stockholm haven't said there
weren't; am here to tell the truth; / have
been attacked, and it was great humilia-
tion for me to come here and tell this story.
| would have stayed away had it not been
for Or. Brown-and | always thought go
much of him.
DR.. Brown-I wish, Mr.. Moderator, that
these.
At this point Attorney Barnett, on behalf
of his client, told the council that Mrs,
Stockton had further evidence for the ears
of the council alone and the reporters re.
tired.
An attorney for Mrs. Stockton also ap-
peared and stated that Mrs. Stockton
would testify against DR.. Brown, provided
she were assured of protection. This is
taken to mean that Mrs. Stockton fears
that legal proceedings Will be brought
against her.
The council deliberated in secret for an
hour, when the reporters were again adj
rnitted. Mrs. Stockton was subjected to a
fire of questions from DR.. Brown which
she refused to answer. Some of the ques-
tions asked were of an exceedingly per-
sonal nature. Mr.. Parkinson asked if
she had come before the couIl-
Gil under promise of reward, and
Mrs. Stockton said ''no." When
asked if she had been threatened, she said
that no open threats had been made but
she feared she would be harmed in some
manner. Mrs. Stockton was then excused
and Dr. Brown commenced his defense.
He read the affidavit of Attorney Gear,
VINO said Mrs. Stockton tried to induce
him to assist in blackmailng Brown.
Police Judge Campbell was then called
as witness. He said:
81 am acquainted with Mrs. Stockton. l
met her last June, when she called on me
at my court room, presenting letter of in
PRODUCTION from lady friend of mine.
was just adjourning court for the noon re-
cess aud was quite busy told Mrs.
Stockton that ] would see her later. She
insisted OIL talking with me at once on a
very important ma ter. / was Just going
to lunch at the Good Fellows grotto and
invited her to accompany me. We luncbed
together, but she did not mention her
important business. She seemed to have
To tell, but did not tell it. Fin
ally she invited me to call at her rooms on
the following Friday. l called Saturday
afternoon and was entertained by Mrs.
Stockton and another woman. That even
ing they dined together at the Maisou
Richie. During their conversation Mrs,
Stockton talked of the First stCongregationaI
church and its wealthy members. She
asked questions about the law on extor-
ton and penalties Mrs. Stockton told him
that prominent and wealthy citizen
had given her $500 to invest in
business with another woman. She had
given $1,000 to this woman and kept the
rest herself. Judge Campbell said he was
now Of the opinion that this woman was
Mrs. Davidson. He said he became sus-