The San Francisco call., 1896-03-15
Pastor Browns Young Friend
Left the City With a Big
Roll of Cash.
THE COUNCIL FAILS TO AGREE
The Severest Verdict Will Probably Be
Unmlnisterial Conduct-To Meet
Again To.Morrow.

pearanceS no nearer verdict than when
they retired for executive session Friday
afternoon at 2 80 O'Clock.
This long session is not necessarily con-
strued as preiudicial to the interests of the
accused man, but to the contrary, rather
beneficial.
It is now generally conceded that DR..
Ponds resolution of Friday night, to the
effect that DR.. Brown was guilty Of con-
duct unbecoming a Christian gentleman,
was not, after all, supplementary mo-
ton, but rather q sort of cloture propo-
sition. 1t is thought now to have been
merely an effort to bind the council as to
their final verdict.
But there are members of the council
who are not willing to render such COM
promising verdict. 1t is a matter of con-
science and principle, and if they cannot
bring their fellow members to a similar
way of thinking they will either return a
minority report or else hold out for an
"unministerial conduct" verdict, unquali-
fed in any way.
1t is generally understood that if the
council finds Dr.. Brown guilty of "unminis-
terial conduct. unaccompanied by Ifs
and lands" and ''wherefores," it would
kill his chances of ever securing another
pulpit.
On the other hand, if such conclusion
is reached with these "strings' attached,
Dr. Browns future pastoral relations with
church affairs will not be affected in the
least.
1t is now generally conceded that DR..
Brown will be acquitted on the main
charges; that is, such as are covered in the
immoral conduct specifications. This
much was practically decided at yester-
days session of the council.
Eighteen of the twenty members do not
believe Miss Overman's explanation of the
Overman Tunnel letters. They bold
that Miss Overman and Mrs. Tun-
nell are the central figures in the plot
to ruin DR.. Brown. 1t is further argued
in corroborative sort of way that Mrs.
Davidson. learning of this plot, figura-
lively and literally Dipped it in the bnd.
DR.. Brown and his family, not being at
that time on particularly friendly terms
with Miss Overman, he saw no way out
of the difficulty but to pay the $500 de-
manded by the aged class leader, Mrs. Da-
wilson.
When, however, DR.. Brown, as stated in
his sworn testimony, managed to secure
an interview with Miss Overman, he dis
covered that he was the victim of a scheme
to ruin him. and further, that his young
friend was not then an actual party to it.
Acting in accordance with this belief the
reverend gentleman secured the arrest
of Mrs. Davidson, and thereby caused, un-
fortunately for him, the explosion of the
largest bombshell manufactured by scan
dal-mongers since the time of Henry Ward
Beecher.
The accused mans conduct since this
supposed premature event has not, how
ever, been of such a character as to COM
mend him to his brethren. They are in
clined to administer to him a rebuke for
unministerial conduct, more as matter
of discipline than anything else.
One cause for this almost unanimous
opinion Of the council is found in the
difference existing in the letters of the
three principal characters in the scandal.
1t is contended by the ecclesiastical judges
that there is an entire lack of similarity
between the letters of Mrs. Davidson, Miss
Overman and DR.. Brown. They have been
inclined to accept the theory advanced by
the accused pastor, to the effect that Mrs
Davidson's letters, written to Miss Over
man. gave the lie to any assumption that
he was at that or any other time harboring
for her friend an illicit love.
In addition to this theoriZing the council
has concluded that there is no absolute
proof in the Overman-Tunnell letters of
immoral conduct on the part of DR.. Brown
all the evidence contained therein is con-
sidered purely indirect.
Contrary to expectations the testimony
of Mrs. Stockton was again considered.
There are three or four members of the
council who are inclined 10 pin faith to
this woman's story.
1t is contended by the adherents of this
belief that while Mrs. Stockton may have
been at times decidedly gay il does not
follow that Pastor Brown was unwilling to
acknowledge her charms. The fact that
no witnesses have come forward to SUBJ
stantiate Mrs. Stoekton's story counts but
little with them when it is remembered
DR.. Browns defense IN the Overman mat
ter is practically entirely unsupported. 1t
is argued by them that Mrs. Stockton
could have had no reason to concoct such
a story.
1t is also remembered by these gentle
men that the now famous Gear affidavit
was secured by DR.. Brown some six or
eight days after he paid the $500 over to
Mrs. Davidson. This, taken in connection
with the after results, clearly indicates
that Pastor Brown anticipated some pos
sible action on the part OF Mrs. Stockton.
The natural conclusion, therefore, is that
there was some foundation for the
woman-s accusations. though just how
great will probably never be determined.
The suspicion, however, that all is not
lust right in this direction still remains
with these three or four members.
At this point the council adjourned to
meet at 2 o'clock Monday. DR.. Browns
judges were particularly reticent concern
ing the work of the day. evidently not
appreciating the publication of what had
been intended to be strictly private, as
given exclusively in THE CALL of yesterday.
DR.. Brown is seemingly weighed down
with the uncertainty attached to the find
ings of his ecclesiastical brethren. So
much is he depressed that be refuses to
see all visitors. except Deacon Morse.
That gentleman extends to him the same
solace he is currently supposed to have
given to the late DR.. Barrows during that
gentleman's troubles.
Pastor Brown is not yet prepared to be-
leve that the council will give him any
thing but an unqualified victory He fails
utterly to see in ally act that which is un-
ministerial, and contends that if such a
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