The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-29

VIII Be Public-The Matte Overman
Letters Authentic

z.
seslsat4on called 10 inquire into the con-
Duct or Rev. DIR. Brown has decided not
10 undertake the task. Dut to leave il 10
council OF churches. which will be called
by the First Congregational church. The
board believed that IL did not have power
70 Try the case. The board OF inquiry met
last night. and after deciding not to make
The investigation, or to listen TO the state
ment or DIR. Brown. dissolved by unani-
nous vote of the members The next step
in the affair is 10 call the council and begin
the trial, but the joint committee begs the
members OF the First Congregational
church not 10 do this until the trial OF
Mrs. Mary A. Davidson is concluded.
Whether or not this request shall be grant
ed remains TO be seen. The members of the
congregation are impatient, and breezy
session is expected when the members OF
the church meet Wednesday night 70 listen
TO the report Of the standing committee.
Since the board Of investigation has decid-
ed that a council is inevitable. there is
disposition to hold the trial at once
Since the joint committee has refused b
investigate and refused TO even allow DIR.
Brown 10 appear before II, the people OF
the church are wondering II DR.. Brown
VIII strive to occupy his pulpit pending the
result of the case. If he does, the entire
congregation viii then vote upon the pro-
priety Of the pastors action.
The statement which DIR. Brown prepared
will remain unheard until it is read in pub
&c. The defense which Miss Overrnan has
made VIII not be presented until the council
of churches IL organized. The evidence
which Mrs. Sarah B. Cooper possesses has
done not little 20 bring about this deci-
sion of the COMMITTEES. Mrs. Cooper. Ii IS
expected. will demonstrate that Miss Over
man wrote the letters 10 Mrs. Tunnel The
question OF authenticity in reference TO
these letters is no longer an open one. II
y Isch Cd
Overrnan viii acknowledge that she wrote
the letters. Il Is said, but she will strive TO
save the pastor OF the FIRST Congregational
church by confessing that in these letters
she did not tell the truth. The letters
which Mrs. Cooper has preserved have an
important bearing even upon this point IL
IS In this aspect. In fact. that these letters
possess their gree test importance.
Rev. W. y. Williams, pastor OF Plymouth
Congregational church, has. though unwill-
ingly, become prominent authority in the
case OF Rev. G. o. Brown, charged with i'm
morality with Miss Matte Overman. He
spoke today Of the reasons for the inves-
tigating committee not acting and OF the
necessity for calling a council of Congre-
gational churches. ITO use an inelegant
expression" said he, I'VE have decided that
II must be the whole hog or none. Mrs.
Davidson's trial is set for February II.
Then much information that will be valua-
bic 10 the council will be available. We do
not wish TO interfere with nor anticipate
the actions Of the courts in this case, as we
desire to keep matters OF church and state
separate and distinct. Our committee
could scarcely have gone over the evidence
in two weeks time. Though we have no
disposition to shirk the responsibility, we
should then be unable TO take. any other
action than the calling Of council In all
probability. The calling OF the council will
- -. lie At
Mrs. Davidson's case is tried the First Con-
gregational church may. If II desires, send
letters missive to such OF it's sister churches
as II may wish 10 call 10 its assistance.
These churches have then only to accept
the call which viii be for their pastor and
for one delegate from each church.
Mrs Davidson. whom DR. Brown accused
OF biackmail in connection with the Miss
Overrnan matter. is smiling a little sar-
donicaIly out az the branch county Jail.
81 told you So" she exclaimed this morn
ing as she glanced over the morning pa
pers II have gathered all along" she con-
tinued. Prom newspaper accounts and
from Information which ] have obtained
from other sources, that nothing definite
would be done by that board OF inquiry.
Why. those people did not even attempt TO
communicate with me. II they wanted to
know the truth II they were not intending
10 whitewash DR.. Brown. why did they not
ask me 70 tell my story2 ! have never.
never told IL yet. have not been permitted
to tell H. II is all very web FOR them to
claim that there is something wrong with
Or Browns head but can tell them II is
his heart that is evil. II that brain fever
he had when ~ was child had affected
his head would he not have shown II soon
err Would ne not have shown II during the
war. when he was huEler for four yearsp
And what about tho times when he tore up
and down the platform like lion. with
flood Of eioqVence pouring from his fipsg
The mans mental qualities are not at
fault I assure YOU. He Is enly morally un-
balanced look at the mastery way in
which he has handled the standing COM
r,fttea % his church and even his brother
raergvmen OF the Bay Association. DIT.
Brown did not want an investigation be-
fore my trial and in spite % much buster
and public clamo-irg he - 10 have his
WAY poor. sick man that he Is. on. IL =
not the least wonder he has got the stom-
ach ache. there's plenty OF reason
Mrs Davidson has keen sense Of humor
and dry Yankee wit. Her present position
seems not 20 ernbarrasS her in the least,
ard she Is rather amused than otherwise az
The drama which is being enacted. Her
knowledge % the development OF the case
&c sra~t}{rs. and shows that she has other
avenues Of news beside the daily papers.
AL OF which she reads. They are PAVING
mach attention" she complained, 10 Miss
Qyernau's letters 20 Mrs. Tunnel. Now
What about the letters the young LADY
wrote TO me- They have been published
They are equally genuine, and even more
significant"