The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-03-07

SAN FRANCISCO, March 6.-Rev. G.
o. Brown resumed his testimony in his
own defense before the Congregational
council today. He admitted that he
had exchanged letters with Miss Over
man while the latter was absent in
Tacoma. The letters were produced.
DR.. Brown explained that Miss Over
man had sent to her home in Tacoma
for the letters.
All of the letters were prosaic epis-
ties concerning matters in the church
and books which Miss Overman was
reading "a sweet love letter is it
not?" suggested DR.. Brown. when the
first of the dry and colorless epistles
was read. DR.. Brown then referred
to his connection with Mrs. Davidson
recounting how she had waited for him
after prayer meeting, when Mrs.
Brown was absent, and asking him to
walk towards home with her. Mrs.
Davidson asked him if he did not miss
Matte Overman, and he had Innocent
ly replied that he had. He denied that
he said Miss Overman was the best
read woman he had ever met, but
stated he had said that considering her
age and opportunity he wondered at
her intelligent discussion of technical
and scientific authors. He said that
Mrs. Davidson on various preteXts had
induced him to accompany her to see
many people, and had asked him to
show her through the Y. M. C. A.
building. She wished to meet the gen
eral secretary of the association, and
While waiting for that officer, Dr.
Brown said he and Mrs. Davidson had
sat a few minutes in the office of the
assistant secretary. DR.. Brown said
these interviews and visits were all a
part of Mrs. Davidsons scheme of
blackmail, into which
HE INNOCENTLY FELL.
Mrs. Davidson sought to have him
seen with her in such places as would
make it possible for her to secure wit
nesses aus to what she had described
as consultations regarding Miss Over
mans revelations concerning his al
legged liason with Miss Overman.
Continuing, DR.. Brown said that in
the last week in August, Mrs. David
son had come to his Office in the church
and had asked him to lend her a little
money. He loaned her at that time $40,
later $40 and again $50. She always
stated that her dividends from the cor
set firm were delayed in the east. DR..
Brown. much moved, said he had al
ways believed in not letting his right
hand know what his left hand did,
but he had no choice now but to ex-
plain these matters. He said that
since he has been pastor of his present
charge he had given away more than
half his salary. He said there were
many persons who had borrowed $40
from him whom he would be very glad
to see at the council. He denied that
he had ever prayed with Mrs. David
son alone, although admitting that he
should have done so. Dr.. Brown said
he had never called Mrs. Davidson his
mother in Christ" adding that Mrs.
Davidson committed a sacrilege when
she so misquoted him. Then Brown
told how Mrs. Davidson had finally re-
vealed herself in her true colors. She
told him how a well known minister
had visited lodging house in COM
pany with a young woman, concluding
with the statement that he had been
identified as the minister and Miss
Overman as the woman. He admitted
that he was afraid to meet such an ac-
cusation at g. time when the city was
greatly excited over the arrest of sew
eral old men for debauching young
girls. He feared that accusation would
! be accepted as guilt when the populace
was in such an angry mood. He said
| he had gone to every lodging house in
| the district where he had been ac-
cused of accompanying Miss Overman
! and to him and a police.detective each
| proprietor had said Dr. Brown had
never been seen in that vicinity. Brown
! then told how he had paid Mrs. Da-
the money in order to protect him
I~nI