The San Francisco call., 1896-02-29
On Account of Her Age She
Desired to Avoid All Un-
pleasant Notoriety.
DEACON BARNARD q WITNESS
Dr.. Brown Makes Bitter Attack on
Mrs. Stockton-The Crowd Ex.
PEELED for Cheering.

Matte Overman, the young woman who
has apparently sacrificed her reputation
In an effort to redeem the good name of DR..
Charles o. Brown, resumed the witness
chair at yesterdays session CT the council.
The nights rest seemed to have re-
freshed this peculiarly important witness
in more ways than one. Her voice was
clearer and every word uttered could be
heard with distinctness throughout the
council chamber. She seemed to be in
tensely relieved at having got over that
part OF the story wherein she confessed to
being blackmailer at heart and thief
and forger IN realty.
With an unconcerned air she picked up
the thread OF the unfinished story OF the
evening previous, running it out to the
end with as much nonchalance and mi
nuteness of detail as though she were re-
lating some choice tidbit of gossip in a
sewing society.
Miss Overman did not neglect the loose
ends OF a narration, but with much clever
ness whipped them into line until, as she
said, there was nothing more to tell.
Beginning at the point where she left off
Thursday night-that is, her vain attempt
to recover the Tunnel letters-Miss Over
man said she desired it understood that
Mrs. Brown had never heard the explana-
ton she was then making, and, further,
that Or. Brown had not known of it until
Saturday night.
Running rapidly over the succeeding
events the witness reached that part Of her
statement when she first learned of Mrs
Dayldson's duplicity. Quite by chance
one day she met DR.. Brown on Pine street.
near hearny. At the request of the rever-
end gentleman she accompanied him to
the church study. There it was all the
horrible details of Mrs, Davidson's wicked
act flashed upon her. She remem bered
everything but the Tunnel letters.
Dr. Brown brought about this revelation
as gently as possible by asking if she knew
Mrs. Baddin. Miss Overman disclaimed
all knowledge of such person, whereupon
the pastor, then laboring under intense
excitement, said that Mrs. Davidson had
secured $500fo the witness.
Then it dawned upon me-" said Miss
Overman, that Mrs. Davidson had kept
me there Tor a purpose"
The witness related how she had brought
the alleged Dlackmailer into the presence
OF DR.. Brown and with threats and tears
impiored her 20 Gisgorge her ill-gotten
gains.
You have ltin your skirts now-give it
back to him, or will haveyoQ arrested. !"
Is what Miss Oyerman declares she said
TO Mrs. Davidson. Her knowledge of the
whereabouts OF the coin was explained by
saving that she had picked up the skirt
one day and heard it rattle IS she threw
the dress across the bed.
The young witness then told of Mrs
TunnelPs visit to tDr. Browns house the
Sunday following Mrs Davidson's arrest
Mrs. Tunnel came early, remained the
entire day, and, after dinner, when the
pastor and his wife had gone to church
the scandal was discussed at length. Mrs.
Tunnel declared that she did not care to
be brought into the scandal; that she was
old and lntiTm, and, in order 10 avoid any
complications, she would go away-far
away-to the home Of friend, and there
remain until she was no longer wanted.
When Miss Overman had finished this
recital she declared that was the end of
the story and begged the council to posi-
pone the cross-eXa for a time.
The moderator gravely acceded to this
request, and so Miss Overman will not be
heard again until next Tuesday.
AT the evening session two new wit
nesses were introduced-Deacon Barnard
and Captain Cook. The former said that
on two occasions following the payment
OF the 5000 to Mrs. Davidson DR.. Brown
had asked this lady to lead at PRAYER
meeting. Captain Cook declared, with
much earnestness, that the pastor had
introduced Miss Overman to him and
others as his niece.
This created mild sensation, which
turned into laughter when the pastor
asked the witness where he had earned the
title OF captain. The gentleman refused
TO answer this question, saying, however.
that he would do so before a committee.
The sensation OF the evening came when
DR.. Brown asked that Mrs. Stockton be
called. That lady not appearing the rev.
erend gentleman lea ped TO his feet and in
an excited bus well-worded speech told
what he intended to ask the missing wit
ness and what he hoped to prove
When he had finished there was long
and continued cheering. The clamor had
no sooner ceased than a motion was made
and carried that the crowd be expelled
from the room. Then everybody was
sorry for the outburst, but that did not
help matters, for Sexton Pike, tall, gaunt
and determined, had the room cleared in
ten minutes.
ss; The council will meet again next Tues
day, when the cross-examination of Miss
Oyerman will eommeDoe