The San Francisco call., 1896-03-16
NEW DIFFICULTIES RISE
Miss 0verman's Flight to Ense.
NADIA to Be Made the Sub.
ject of Inquiry.
LOOKS DARK FOR THE PASTOR
Some of the Members Think Mrs. Tun.
nell Is None Other Than Jane
Elizabeth Baddin.

The ecclesiastical council convenes to-
day at 2 o'clock toagain take up the bur-
dens incident TO the problems before them
for decision.
1t is intended to continue in session un-
til the weighty matters are disposed of,
taking recess only for dinner and lunch.
In view OF complications which have arisen
within the last forty eight hours, it is now
thought that at least two. and possibly
three, days will be required to complete
their deliberations.
1t is among the possibilities that ver-
dict will be rendered before the day is
ended, but such an event is not looked for
by DR.. Brown or his friends.
There is great deal of ground yet to
cover, for while immaterial matters have
been segregated and disposed of. the vital
testimony has been touched on but lightly.
There is only one point connected with
the Stockton episode which has made any
impression on the minds of the Jurors.
The incident considered unfavorable to
DR.. Brown is one of his own making.
When, after the accused pastor had such
a peculiar, and, according to his state
ment, shocking experience with the charm
TO her, he found it impossible TO tell the
story to his wife until nearly month
later. In the meantime, in fact, three or
four days after the kissing affair, the
widow called at the church study and
made ample apologies for her unseemly
conduct. The council contends that then
was the time DR.. Brown should have gone
to his wife and confessed that his lips had
been touched by others than her own.
This incident is of course, not of sutfi-
cient importance to come under the head
OF unministerial conduct, but will be made
the subject of slight reprimand.
The flight of Matte Overman from this
City last Thursday causes no end OF un-
favorable comment among the members
of the council. The matter has not in any
way been considered in the executive ses-
sions, but will form an important part in
to-day's deliberations.
A committee will be appointed to wait
on DR.. Brown with view of hearing what
that gentleman might have to offer in the
way of plausible explanation. The coun-
Gil now recalls with great vividnesS Miss
Oyerman's oft-repeated statement that she
did mot know the hiding place OF Mrs.
Tunnel.
At the very. moment when the council
would have liked to have had Miss Over
man once more before them that young
lady was travelling toward the Mexican
border as fast as steam could carry her.
She was making directly for Ensenada,
Mexico, where Mrs. Tunnel has been for
nearly a month. The members of the
council will not believe for a moment any
statement which Pastor Brown might
make carrying with it the idea that Miss
Overman's trip across the border is sort
of pleasure excursion, and that her Subse-
Quent meeting with Mrs. Tunnel was an
accident pure and simple.
There are some who profess to believe
L NJ -, 4
hope of securing an affidavit from her
aged friend which would tend to strengthen
her story that DR.. Browns affection for her
WAS of a purely platonlc character. 1t is
hardly possible to get such paper back to
San Francisco before the council reaches
verdict, but DR.. Brown desires to present
such a document to his congregation re-
gardless of the findings of his twenty
judges. He is being propped up with the
belief that If an unfavorable verdict is
handed in, an affidavit of the character re-
ferred to would more than Offset 1T. If the
pastor is let off with a mere reprimand,
then paper from Mrs. Tunnel would, he
considers, remove all shadow of suspicion
from his name.
The hastv departure of Miss Overmau
for Ensenada has had the effect OF confirm
ing a distinct suspicion IN the minds of
several members of the council that Mrs.
Tunnel is none other than the elusive Jane
Elizabeth Baddin.
To substantiate this theory the peculiar
manner in which Or. Brown paid the $500
hush money is referred to. AS to the time,
manner and place of paying the money
both Mrs. Davidson and the accused man
agree That is, the receipt given by the
alleged extortioner in the name of Mrs.
Baddin was in DR.. Browns possession
nearly eighteen hours before the money
was actually paid.
With this document in his possession
and with no knowledge of such person as
Jane Elizabeth Baddin, believing in Mrs.
Davidson and conscious OF his own 1nno-
cence, the occasion for paying the $500 is
not understood nor appreciated by at least
five members of the council. This matter,
therefore, will cut a big figure in the final
deliberations of the council.
There are three distinct counts against
Rev. Dr. Charles Oliver Brown, namely, in
timidation, ,non-ministerialc conduct and i'm
moral conduct. A conviction on any one
of these charges is sufficient to cause the
accused mans withdrawal from the pas
torate of the First Congregational Church.
II is not within the province OF the council,
however, to advise his church what action
thev shall take in the premises.
The council was called Tor the single
nurnose of inauiring into the truth or
falsity of the charges. 1t Is conceded that
if Pastor Brown is adjudged guilty of non
ministerial cOnducI, unquaLneu III any
wny. that it meaus his retirement from
the ministry so far as the Bay Conference
is concerned.
In the face of such conclusion the First
Church would hardly dare retain DR..
Brown as their pastor, for if they did and
DIR. Brown were expelled from the confer
ence The church wouldof necessity be sub
iect to the same ruhng;
1t is not thought probable that the First
Church would be willing to incur the dis
pleasure of the conference by retaining
minister not recognized by the associated
churches.
The condition OF DR.. Brown was an
nounced last night as slightly improved.
He is not yet sufficiently well to leave The
house.
Professor Lloyd as usual presided at the
First Congregational Church yesterday.