The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-03-06
DIR. BROWN on THE STAND.
He Complains That the Newspapers
Ar. Trtzsrfng Him CnfAlriy.


San Francisco, March Rev DR.. g o.
Brown was on the witness stand n rs Own
defense this Afternooa before the Co1sTs p
gationai eounrEi He prefaced his festi-
nFony by scoring the newspapers. on ne
ground that an effort Rad been made 10
prejudice the community against MIN
he charged that the reporters AZ the co1a-
eli Rad suppressed al testimony favorasle
10 him and had rnisTrotsd his utierances
- the couacsL AZ the request OK the mod
orator a motion was adopted by the cooh-
ell requesting the papers 20 treat Brown
Imparffaliv.
Dr. Brown then began his testimony.
He stated that he was born IN Aicnigaa
forty-seven years ago. and learner the
trade OF a blacksmith He wished 10 enlist
during ne civil war. but as ne was too
young 10 be enrolled he accompanied MS
father % Shiloh and other fie2ds as MS
fathers servant Subsequently, ne served
az a bugisr In ths Third Ohio regiment.
He began 10 study theology al ooertn az
the age OF II, and a year later married ms
present wife. For violating the rule thar
students should not marry he was obliged
20 leave Oherltn. and so went 70 Ohvei
college Mich. where he remained several
years supporting himself by teaching ana
preaching He told OF the trouble IN MS
first pastoral charge al Rochester, Mica.
when anonymous letters we're scatts1ei
about the town. assa4llng MS character.
He reconntea the church council there,
and read the verdict. completely exonerat-
ing him of the charge of immortality. lie
reefted The more important events IN ms
career until the time OF his removal 70
Tacoma.
He said he FIRST met Miss Oyerman after
he had been in Tacoma SIX months. Ills
wife had engaged her as seamstress on
the recommendation OF prominent ladies'.
~ f-4u With her IN
coma was casual. Miss Overman sewed Tor
his wife at the parsonage three times
She was trying 10 acquire an education.
and she worked by day and studied az
night. He was called 70 the First Congre-
eationai church in San Francisco IN lss'
and was introduced 10 Mrs. Stockton by
Mrs. Sarah b. Cooper. He stated that ne
had never sustained any improper Iela-
lions with Mrs. Stockton.
Mrs. w E. Aber was placed on the STAND
at the evening session OF the council, ana
gave unimportaut testimony regarding her
knowledge OF the relations that existed be-
tween Or. Brown and Miss Overman PRIOR
10 the charges made by Mrs. DAVIDSON.
Mrs. Aher said Miss Overman spoke highly
Of Or Brown, but nothing in the conduct
~ Miss Overman or the pastor ever made
the witness believe there was ever any
thing savoring Of familiarity between the
two Miss Overman was greatly attached
to Mrs Davidson until the night of Decem-
Der IL, when she was Informed by DR..
Brown that Mrs. Davidson had blackmaiied
him Miss Overman, according 10 the Wit
ness. denounced Mrs. Davidson as hypo-
critic and moved her trunk from Mrs David
sons house, where she was living, the same
night.
Deacon yasconcellos was called 10 prove
that during the last three years, during
which time he has attended every service
at the First Congregational church, he had
never seen any Improper conduct between
Or. Brown and Mrs. Stockton. The dea-
cons story began on Sunday two years
ago. when he was called upon at short no
tlce 10 assist Or. Brown IN
baptizIng Mrs. Stockton. and ex-
tended 10 the time when the scan
dai was precipitated on the church. On
all occasions DR. Brown had been a model
Of propriety. and Mrs. Stockton had been as
clrcumspect Questioned more closely. the
deacon said he had never seen anything
bordering on familiarity between DR..
Brown and any woman He could not even
remember that he had ever seen the doctor
walk on the street with any woman other
than his wife.
Deacon williams thought too much
time was being wasted on this line of in
vestigation, and moved the adoption of
resolution to close the examination. He
said he believed both sides would admit
that Or. Brown was not in the habit OF
making appointments with women for i'm
moral purposes, and therefore he intro
duced a resolution conceding this point.
The resolution was adopted without oppo-
sition. and the council adjourned until to-
morrow morning at O'Clock. No after
noon session VIII be held tomorrow, on ac-
count of Deacon Franks funeral, but an
evening session viii be held as usual. Or.
Tsfs.a-ra will testify fprnnrrOK- and II was
announced that the session would be open
TO the public. as the doctor desires that
the public shall hear his explanation Of
the charges made against him.