The San Francisco call., 1896-02-16
MRS. COOPER CHARGED.
Mrs. DR.. c. 0. Brown Accuses Her
of Stuffing the Church Ballot
AffidayitS In Support


dence. These charges are supported by a
number of sworn affidayits.
To all of this Mrs. Cooper, over her own
signature, makes the simple reply, II do
not consider the matter worthy of consid-
Grafton"
Mrs. Brown. in support Of the affidavits
published below, makes the following sen-
eral arraignment of Mrs. Cooper:
II desire now to place before the COM
munity, not in the form of mere state
ments, but of solemn af1idayits, some facts
which will show how sincere Mrs. Cooper
is in her loudly advertised claim that She
is acting with zeal for the purity of the
church.
This has been her claim in her bitter
malign and untruthful attack upon the
character of my husband.
1.-The Congregational church is seIf-gov-
-erning. 1t depends, humanity speaking,
on the purity of its ballot for the con-
tinuance OF its life. To lift ones hand or
to arise and give ones vote for or against
any measure is one of the most solemn
acts of Christian responsibility in such
church.
"If the ballot of the self-governing church
should become corrupt nothing could save
that church from disgrace and final disrup-
tion. There cannot possibly be any more
serious offense than to assist IN giving or
procuring corrupt ballot at any church
meeting.
with this in mind what will be the
verdict OF the people of San Francisco
upon the facts set forth in the following
atfidavits? They show that Mrs, Sarah B.
Cooper deliberately sought to induce a,
person who had never before been in the
church and who was not a amember to vote
against my husband.
"These facts speak for themselves. They
show that Mrs. Cooper, by the use of false
votes, would not have scrupled to defeat
the vote of confidence in my husband, de-
stroy my home and blast the happiness of
my family.
Mrs. Cooper has made declarations
without proof. l herewith substantiate
my declarations by the proofs.
'sThese affidavits abundantly show the
methods to which Mrs. Cooper has de-
scended to defame my husband, and
further show the kind of weapons which
she is attempting to forge for the compile
ton of her inquisitorial task.
This com immunity has drawn the veil of
silence and charity over that awful expert
ence which clouded her own domestic life.
She should be the last to raise her voice in
bitterness in advance of official investiea-
ton. BY what right does she exercise a
judicial function which does not belong to
any other member of the church. and who
guilty before he has been examined by a
proper tribunal? She proclaims that her
life in this community has been an open
book. Il takes but small attempt to read
in that open book something's. that honor
cannot sanction. But will not at this
time pursue this theme.
Il have already laid at her door one of
the most serious offenses against social
order, and | now present to the public the
! indisputable evidence that she deliberate
ly attempted to corrupt the ballot of the
First Congregational Church on the even
ing of February 5, 1896, when, in spite of
| her opposition, the church overwhelming
ly voted its confidence in my husband.
'In view OF such facts as these and of
her demand that my husband should cease
to occupy his pulpit until his good name
is vindicated, do not modesty and honor
REQUIRE that she should desist from teach
ing until her own good name is vindicated
from these awful charges?
'For such offenses against the civil
ballot men 20 to prison. But this offense
was against the church of God. Therefore
nothing more can be done than to deliver
the offender over to that contempt which
an infamous act deserves. Those promi-
nentlv engaged in the suffrage movement
IN this State may well raise the inquiry
whether the ballot in such hands would
tend to greater purity.
Mrs Blanchard admitted less under oath
than she had told her friends. This was
to be expected from so ardent an admirer
of Mrs. Cooper, who had been aroused to
the seriousness OF her conduct. But it will
also be seen that she swears to the
essential facts, and that she adj
mits having stayed at the church
meeting when ali but members and
pew holders were requested to go, and that
she falsified her word by saying that she
was member Of the church when she was
not, and that she later told Mrs. Cooper
that she was not member before Mrs.
Cooper urged her to vote. The other affi-
davits tell the whole truth as Mrs. Blanch-
ard told it to her friends before sne had
been put on her guard.
"These facts came to me wholly without
my seeking, and / now make this state
ment only with sorrow that Mrs Cooper's
unprecedented attack on DR.. Brown and
and her conduct in the procuring of false
vote make it necessary"
/ State of California, City and County of San
Francisco, ss.-Deposition.
Be it remembered that on the 14th day of
February, A. d. 1896, at S26 Bush street, in
the City and County and State aforesaid, be-
fore me, w. B. Benchley, Notary Public in
and for said City and County, duly appointed
personally appeared Mrs. Lena Blanchard, re.
siding at S26 Bush street, in the City and
County and State aforesaid, a witness pro-
duced in behalf of the Rev. C. O. Brown pas
tor of the First Congregational Church in said
City and County, in an action now pending
in said church, who, being by me first duly
sworn then and there testified as follows:
/ am not a memDer OF the First Congrega-
tional Church of San Francisco CAL, but nv
sympathy being with Mrs. Sarah B. Cooper
attended the business meeting held at the
First Congregational Church on the evening
OF the 5th day of February, 1896, for the pur-
pose of protecting Mrs. Cooper, and occupied
a seat on her right during the whole of the
business meeting. When the first vote was
taken arose from my seat and voted with
Mrs. Cooper against DR.. Brown, the pastor of
the church, but in doing so was acting under
great excitement and 1t was an accident that
1 did so. Just after the first vote was
taken Mrs. Simpson, who lives at 317 Jones
street, in the City OF san Francisco, State of
California leaned over to me and asked me if
was q member of the church and answered
"Yes," in order to get rid of her, as did not
want her to be giving me away before all the
ladies near US. I.told Mrs. Cooper few min
utes later that / was not O member of the
church, and when the second vote was taken
Mrs Cooper ask ed me why was not voting
told her | was not a member of the church
and had no right to vote, but she still urged
me to do SO.
On the next day made friendly call on
Mrs. Simpson at her home, BIT Jones street.
San Francisco, Cal. / do not think her sister,
Mrs. Church, was present during. ell of our in
tervieW. told Mrs. Simpson that was not