The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-03-18
HIS SKIRTS NOT CLEAN.
Verdict in the Rev. q. o. Brown Scan.
daI at San FranciacO.

0SA "a san FRANCISCO
SAN FRANCISCO. March 1e.-The Con-
gregational council has declared Rev. G.
o. Brown not guilty of immortality but
has censured him for unministerial con-
duct As the council apologies for the
censure DR.. Brown considers
his vindication complete Dr.
Browns explanation of the pay
ment of $500 to Mrs. Davidson
is regarded as weak, and Miss Overman's
strange story of love and blackmail is
given passing mention. The council
which has been investigating the charges
against DR.. Brown for the past month,
late last night made public its report.
After reciting the reason for the calling
of the council the report says:
We have reached the following con-
clusions:
First-That all the charges in our
judgment may be grouped under the
two questions: Did Rev. c. o. Brown
commit adultery with Mrs. M. A. Stock
ton or Miss Martha A. Overmanf Has
he been guilty of any conduct seriously
affecting his ministerial character?
Second-That touching the first of,
these two questions we are able to make
answer that the evidence before US does
not sustain the charge of adultery with
either Mrs. Stockton or Miss Overman.
Third-That tOnching the question of
unministerial conduct we find in Dr.
Brown certain constitutional infirmities
of temper in the light of which his ac-
tions must be judged and which to some
extent modify our opinion of his conduct
so that in one case where the use of harsh
and intimidating language is charged
against him an apology followed
so quickly that we do not further,
notice it. In another case while the
menacing and intimidating language
used was not justified, it was the speech
of an angry man but in the case of a
young lady of the purest character and
the highest worth, who herself was
| threatened with a fearful charge be-
cause she had opposed the pastor, we
| find his conduct to have violated all
rules which should control tho actions
| of gentleman and a Christian
minister and we censure him for it,
| and manly words of appreciation and
| reparation offered by him to the young
| lady in our midst. We should be glad to
| add to this verdict that the various facts
| in the case SO far as ascertained have not
left trace of suspicion in our minds
concerning the hitherto stainless
reputation of this honored min
ister of the gospel. But we are
regretfully compelled to confess that
DR.. Browns explanation 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 a Sc
ries of years, all for the purpose of Sc
curing the silence of II supposed Mrs.
| Raddin is not altogether satisfactory to
as, Aud that Miss Overman's testi-
mony as to having changed certain
letters known as the Overman-Tunnsl
| letters, which contained the chief in =
| eliminating elements of this case has
been impaired seriously by confessed
| fsIsehoods previously told concerning
the same matter while a strange and ap-
parently significant absence from the
city of the receiver of the letters has
added to our embarrassment in the ef-
forts to ascertain the truth.
| While we have felt compelled to con-
| denim the acts now specified in our
brothers conduct, it is our hope and
| prayer that the sharpless one of recent
month may be taken to heart by him
| and that in this consequence his future
wears may be more fruitful than any in
| the past 1t is especially our earnest
hone that in the painful and di-
| yided condition in which this experience
| has left this loved and honored church,
| both he and it's members may be led to
such fair understanding of their duty
to each other and to the divine master
| that the unity of the spirit and of the
| bond of peace may be preserved in the
| whole sisterhood of the churches.
| fSigned) j. Z. MCLEAN,
Moderator
| GEO. B. HATCH Scribe.
| DR.. Brown in commenting on the ver-
| dict said with reference to the censure
| that the unministerial conduct charge
| 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 original
stenographic report shows to any one
who chooses to investigate that l did
not pav the $500 to secure
the silence of any Mrs. Baddin,
but rather to secure the indisputable ev-
| ideuce upon which the real criminal
might be found and punished, and it is
on the receipt given by Mrs. Davidson
| that she today stands bound over to the
superior court for trial. This important
fact the council entirely overlooked"
Rev. Dr. Kenzie, the leading Presby-
terian minister of the city, said Dr.
Brown has endured snch a physical
strain as no other man of this generation
has ever endured and that he fought a
battle for every minister of the gospel