The San Francisco call., 1896-02-28

their pro:estations of friendship. Then
she came down to Mrs. Thurston's testi-
mony again and related how that lady had
asked her whether the doctor had ever
hugged her or squeezed her hand.
II told her." continued Miss Overman,
that he never did, but l wished he
would
This remark caused smile to circulate
through the room.
The witness went on to tell how DR..
Brown wrote her a letter detailing the in
cldents of his trip on the return to San
francisco and how she wrote him shortly
afterwards. In that letter she let him
know that she admired him very much.
he replied with another letter in which he
said that be had always had high regard
Tor her and had taken a deep interest in
her. but Informed her that if she fancied
that there was on his part any deeper ieel-
Ing she was mistaken.
L his letter, Miss OVerman added, hurt
her feelings, and she threw it in the fire.
w hile IN this mood she received a letter
from Mrs. Davidson, inviting her to GO to
San francisco and live with her. She was
an old woman, she said, and would treat
her as daughter.
When Miss Overman arrived, she went
direct to Mrs. Davidson's place, and was
most atfectionately received. Mrs. David
son discussed the church gossip, the
and told her also that Mrs. DIR. Brown had
spoken slightingly of Matte, to the effect
that she had taken Matte to her home as
an object of charity. 1t was because Miss
Overman believed that statement that she
refused to call upon Mrs Brown.
Then the witness related how Mrs.
Davidson had broached to her the PROPOSE
ton to blackmail DR.. Brown. She called
Miss Overman's attention to the fact that
she was poor and assured her that the
solid trustees of the church would stand
behind DR.. Brown with money rather than
have another scandal following so closely
upon the heels of the Simpson trouble, the
Heron affair and the Turkish tea party.
Miss Overman narrated how she had
told Mrs. Davidson that when Mrs. Stock
ton had called with lawyer on DR.. Brown
one night and insisted that the doctor
should give ner a letter of recommends
ton to another church DR.. Brown fatty
refused.
"Mrs. Davidson appealed to the fact that
| was poor girl and had to work for a
living, and assured me that if | left the
matter to her she would manage to get the
money" resumed Miss Overman $50 |
entered into this scheme to blackmail DR..
Brown. There's no use in calling it by
any other name except the plain truth"
Mrs. Davidson told the witness how she
had written for the Boston papers and
how she could write a highly sensational
story with the proper mbellishments
The sum agreed upon by the witness and
Mrs. Davidson was S5000-S2000 in cash
and $500 quarterly, the note to be signed
by DR.. Brown and two or three of his most
trustworthy trustees and placed in bank
with per cent interest.
Mrs. Davidson informed her that Miss
Simpson, with whom DR.. Brown had had
some trouble, had brother who was CITY
editor of the Chronicle, land, of course"
she added, "the Simpsons haven't any love
for DIR. Brown
She then proposed to Miss Overman that
they should offer the sensational story to
the Chronicle and get good price for it.
Because OF Mrs. Davidson's age and gray
hairs, which might lead to her identifca-
ton, she did not want to 60 to the Chroni-
Gle herself and Miss Overman consented to
do so.
She called upon City Editor Simpson, to
whom she was a stranger, and informed
him that she had sensational story i'm
plicating g prominent citizen and she
wanted TO know whether he wished to
buy it. The editor inquired as to the pur-
port of the story and Miss Overman told
him that she would call again.
AS she left the office she observed that a
man had been put on her track, who fol-
lowed her to her house. In order to throw
him off the scent she left the house again,
turned around the Market-Street side of
the Baldwin Hotel. stopped in front of a
sbow-window until the spy came around
the corner and saw that she had perceived
his purpose. She then went on q car and
rode up Market street. having thrown the
young man off the trail.
She next narrated how in pursuance of
the plot she had gone to Mrs. Tunnell's
room during Mrs. Tunnell's absence and
distracted bundle of letters which she
had WRITTEN to Mrs. Tunnel. These she
took tos Mrs. Davidson, and at Mrs Da-
Wilson's suggestion she rewrote the letters,
putting matters in them to show that DR.
Brown was q guilty man. After this was
done she sure eptitiously returned the let
ters to Mrs. Tunnell's S room.
Miss Overman proceeded with her story
from this point to the effect that after the
plot had been matured she realized what
wicked thing it was and the danger of the
matter becoming public, and repented of
what she had done. She thereupon in
formed Mrs. Davidson of her intention of
Withdrawing from the plot and forbade
her to take any steps in that direction.
Mrs. Davidson, finding that Miss Over
man was unshakable in her resolution,
pretended to repent also and did not men
tion the subject any more.
Miss Overman next detailed how she
had tried to get the Tunnel letters back
again for the purpose of destroying them,
and how she had failed to find them,
These were the letters which were after
ward published in the daily papers and
which contained many incriminating re-
ferences to DR.. Brown.
AT this stage of the proceeding the coun-
Gil adjourned until o. clock this afternoon.