The San Francisco call., 1896-01-15
Strong Effort to Hold the Inves-
tigation Behind Closed
Doors.
DEACONs WILL MEET TONIGHT.
Mrs. Tunnell Cut Big Figure in
Religious Circles at Gait,
California.

The Brown-Davidson case wakes slow in
new developments so far as the public has
any knowledge. but that a great deal is
going on behind the scenes no one IA
miliar with the scandal will deny.
DR.. Brown was a busy man yesterday.
He fitted from street 10 street of the big
City like man on serious business bent.
A part OF the time was spent at Attorney
Reuben Lloyd's Office, and from there he
went over to Attorney Louderback's apart
ments Late in the afternoon he wan
dered along Fifth and Sixth streets, appar-
emily without any special object in view
except to kill time.
The reverend gentleman is persistent in
his refusal to be interviewed concerning
his alleged relations with Martha Overman
and Mrs. Stockton. He respectfully, but
firmly refers TO his attorneys IS the one
stumbling block in his way toward full
and complete exoneration from the accusa-
tions.
DR.. Brown will not deny that he is play
ing for time, though, on the other hand,
he will not admit that his present course
is governed by any such reason. He has
placed himself in the hands of attorneys;
they will not permit him to deny the
charges and that is all there is to it.
The demand among the members of the
First Congregational Church for an in
vestigation is growing. Whether the
deacons take action tonight or not is now
apparently a matter of small moment, if
all indications are true. There are appar.
emily enough members III favor of it to
compel searching inquiry, IN spite OF any
methods which might be adopted by the
deacons or trustees.
There seems to be disposition on the
part of few of the members of the First
Congregational Church to have the inves-
tigaton conducted privately. Mr.. Dexter
has had charge OF the matter up to this
time, though it is believed that at the
meeting tonight he will be relieved of his
sef-appointed task of conducting the in
quiry.
The semi-official investigation of the
Bay Association will probably be post
poned for two or three weeks, probably a
month. Rev. Mr.. Wlkoff, one of the COM
mittee, will go to Los Angeles some time
during the present week, to be absent for
several days. The committee has until
April Is to report, however, so there is no
great occasion to hurry the matter when
their unofficial position is remembered.
DR.. Williams, the probable chairman of
the association committee, says that as
yet no policy has been outlined.
1--WE have been given full power to act, !"
he said. land consequently can conduct the
investigation in any way we see fit To
hold an open investigation would mean
the re-enactment of the Police Court ex-
animation. which is certainly objection
able. | think the investigation should be
private. excluding even the press repre-
sentatives. That, however, is a matter
which VIII be decided on later"
Mrs. Tunnel, like other characters con-
| nec;ed with the Brown Davidson scandal
seems to be 4 woman with history.
| She at one time lived at Gait, CAL, cut
ting quite figure in religious circles in
! the early part of 1886. She was memb bel
| of the Holiness Band which appeared in
| January of the year just named. They
collected all sorts of offerings from jewelry
to coin. There are many stories told Of
her life at that place.
She appeared at Gait again in 1894, this
time, however as Mrs. Tunnell She
! claimed a piece of property left by heI
| father. John f. Strong, but through some
| legal technicality failed to gain contro
| of it.
The Franco Californian of yesterday ha.
the following to say concerning DR.
! Brown:
| pie on Post street is not guilty or the charges
! that have teen brought against him he has, a:
| the Socalistic Deputy Minister once said o
| Teygues, ex-Minister of the Interior, an extra
ordinary amount of cheek. Last Sunday ht
! preached twice III his church and twice tool
| for his text, 'In times of trouble we mus
! trust in providence" But between providence
and DR.. Brown there are judges and the jury
| 1t seems that in view of the position in which
| Pastor Brown finds himself silence would have
been preferable, and before drawing the atten
| tion of his congregation to virtue he should
| first have demonstrated his own.