The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-03-19
pa. BROWN IMPLICATED.


Great Battle Against the Blackn,aiiers
Leaves Him Unscathei.
SAN FRANCISCO. March lS.-Thc
congregational council has declared
Rev, C, o. Brown not guilty Of immor-
atty. but has censurcd him for I'M
ministerial conduct. As the council
apologies for the censure DIR. Brown
considers his vindlcatIon complete. DR..
Browns explanation OF the payment OF
$500 to Mrs Davidson liz regarded as
weak, and Miss OVerman's strHnge
story OF love and blackmRil Is given
passing mention.
The council. which has been investl-
eating the charges against DR., Brown
for the past month, late last night made
public its report. After recittnS the
reason for the calling OF the counctt the
report says:
We have reached the following con-
clusIons:
/. That oil the charges in our judy
mcnt may be grouped under the two
questions: Did Rev. C. o. Brown COM
nit adultery with Mrs. NJ. a. Stockton
or Miss Martha A. Overmnn? Has he
been guilty OF any conduct seriously az
fectinE his ministerial character?
9 That touching the first OF these
two questions We are able 10 make an
swer that the evidence before us does
not sustain the charge OF adultery with
either Mrs. Stockton or Miss ovcrman.
3. That touching the question or ln-
ministerial conduct we Ind In Or.
Brown certain constitutional inlrmll
ties In temper In the light OF which his
actions must be Judged and which to.
some extent modify our opinion OF his
conduct, 80 that In one cnEc where the
use OF harsh and intimidating language
Is charged against him an apology fol-
lowed so quickly that we do not further
notice II. In another case, while the
menacing and intimIdating language
was not Justified. II was the speech OF
an angry man, but III the case OF
young lady OF the purcst character and
the highest worth who was herself
threatened with fearful charge be-
cause she had opposed the pastor ne
ind his conduct to have violated all
rules which should control the actions OF
a gentleman and n Christian minister.
and we ccnsurc him for II, while we
gladly recognize the kindly and manly
words OF appreciation and rcparation
offered by him to the young lady In our
midst.
We should be glad to add to this YER
diet that the various facts In the case
so far aScertained have not LETT trace
of suspicion in our minds concerning
the hitherto stainless reputation OF this
honored minister OF the gospel. But
we are regretfully compelled to con-
fess that DR.. Browns explanations OF
the reasons In his mind for paying TO
Mrs Davidson the sum OF $500, and
agreeing to pay the further sum OF $50
per month for series OF years, all for
the purpose OF securing the silence OF a
supposed Mrs Baddin, Is not altogether
satisfactory to us And that Miss Over
mans testimlny as to having changed
certain letters known as the Overman-
Tunnel letters which contained the
chief discriminating elements OF this
case. has been impaired seriously by
confessed falsehood previously told con-
cerninE the same matter while q
strange and apparently significant alb
sence from the city Of the receiver OF the
letters has added to our embarrassment
In the efforts to ascertain the truth.
While we have felt compelled TO con-
denim the acts now specified in our
brothers conduct. II is our hope and
prayer that the sharp lesson OF recent
months may be taken to heart by him.
and that in consequence his future years
may be more fruitful than any In the
past.
Or. Brown, IN commenting on Tue YER
dict, said with reference TO the cenSure.
that the unminIsterial conduct charged
occurred after the council had been
called and that the council had no right
to take up anything except the original
charges.
With reference to his unsatisfactory
explanation of the paying Of money TO
Mrs. Davidson. he said: THE official
stenographIc report shows to any one
who chooses to investigate that ! did
not pay the $500 10 secure the silence
OF any Mrs. Baddin. but rather to Sc
cure the indisputabic evidence upon
which the real criminal might be found
and punished. and It Is on the receipt
given by Mrs. Davidson that she tQ-GAy
stands bound over to the superior court
for trial This important fact the couH-
Gil entirely overlooked"
Rev. Or. Mckenzie, the leading Pres
bytcrian minister OF the city. snid DR..
Brown had endured such physical
strain as no other man Of this genera
tlon has ever endured, and that he
fought battle for every minister OF the
gospel.