The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-02-28
PLOT AGAINST BROWN
Matte 0verman Declares She
Was a Party to Ii.
MRS. DAVIDSON INDUCED HER.
The Clergymsn's Alleged Pararnour
plain Her Letters TO Mrs Tunnel.

San Francisco. Feb. ST-The most sensa-
tiorai testimony IN the trial OF Dr.. Brown
was given ar the evening session by Miss
OgsSnsan the first witness called in any
inportass capacity for the defense. Miss
Overman's manner was striking. She spoke
50 quietly that even the members OF the
council we're forced TO draw forward IN
tlE their chairs formed a small semi-circle
on the rlatforrn. The woman spoke DELHI
,s~ateIY weaving a remarkable story. logi-
caIly and clearly.
she confessed that she was blscknaail
er and tried 10 be thief. and she gave ths
Information with smile. She confessed
that she plotted the destruction of the man
whose hospitality she now enjoys. She de-
clared that 70 save herself from work and
the possible hardships of poverty, she con-
spired with Mrs. Mary A. Davidson 10 ruin
the character OF Rev. DIR. Brown. and 10
blaaken her own. She asserted that she
approached representatives OF morning
newspaper with the hope OF tempting them
TO blackmaii the pastor. She drew her re-
cital TO a dramatic climax by asserting
with a smile which never left her face that
she wrote the letters which picture her own
moral and physical ruin and place the cause
of her deep distress at the door of Rev. DR..
Brown.
Asserting all this. she denied that there
had ever been the slightest improperly in
her relations Win the man against WHosf
she plotted so shrewsily. Miss Overman
said she came from Tacoma the second
tine al the request OF Mrs. Davidson.
who asked her 10 take charge OF Mrs.
Davfdsons exhibit at the Midwinter fair.
Instead OF going 10 Or. Browns home,
she went 10 Mrs. Davidson, who told her
that Mrs. Brown had been speaking
slightingly Of her. For that reason she
turned her back on Mrs Brown at church
he lou Ter
cool toward Dr. Brown.
Mrs. Davidson told witness that she had
a great scheme by which both could profit.
and that Miss Oyerman herself was the
foundation on which the scheme could be
based Mrs. Davidson talked OF Miss Over
mans relations with DIR. Brown and of the
trip TO Tacoma; how everything could be
construed in a wrongful manner against
Dr. Brown and that II Miss Overman
would consent to go into the scheme both
could make something out of II. She
pointed out how Miss Overman could get
means OF improving her education, which
was a telling point, and at last Miss over
man consented to enter into the plot.
Mrs Davidson then unfolded part of the
scheme Miss OveTman was TO go TO the
city editor Of one OF the morning papers
and offer 10 sell him very sensational
story about a prominent citizen. which she
was 10 vouch for as true She then told
Mrs. Davidson what she had done, and
Mrs Davidson told her that letters that
had passed between Mrs. Davidson. Dr.
Brown, Miss Overman and Mrs. Tunnel
could be altered to make
IL very black for DIR. Brown.
and advised Miss Overman to
change them. Miss Overman said she
stole letters she had written 10 Mrs. Tun-
nell from that woman's room and spent
three days changing them. After the al
teratjons had been made Mrs. Davidson
told Miss Overmar that TO make the proof
positive Miss Overman must swear that
criminal relaficns bad existed betweesl Dr.
Brown and herself 6siiss 0vermanl. At this
Miss Overman rebelled and refused 20 go
into the plot further. Mrs. Davidson told
her that she had proof in writing
and in this way tried 10 fright
en- Miss Overman into continuing
in the case, but she was obdurate. She
tried 10 induce Mrs. Davidson 70 give the
scheme up. as It was very wicked. Mrs.
Davidson relented, and Miss Oyerman
thought she was really repentant. and ev-
erything went smoothly. Miss Overman
went 10 a school OF stenography and studied
to enter Mrs. Davdsons employ in that