The San Francisco call., 1896-02-27

'matter said to her: "You thank God for it,
Matte.'
for Tacoma told me that DR.. Brown was paying
her expenses and also mad given her $40 for
spending money. On Mrs. TunnelFs return
from Tacoma Mrs. Tunnel came to me and
spoke of Matte Overman. She said the latter
could not be comforted-she had plenty of
clothes and all the money she wanted as she
was getting S35 month from some source.
But still with all this she very unhappy.
DR.. Brown had ruined her life and she was
miserable over his possible acceptance of a
l first met DR.. Brown at the home of Mrs,
Ashby, Oh Market street. called there early
cne morning and found him there. l was in
troduced to DR.. Brown, but have never seen
him until the day met him in the courtroom.
There can be no doubt about it-Dr. Brown is
the man. | was surprised to see him there
because it was SO early. Mrs. Ashby had the
appearance of having just arisen. Miss Over
man looked If she had just come from
walk. l may say right here, that after Mrs.
Tunnel left for Tacoma l in one of the
morning papers that she had gone to South
America. 1 thought this very strange, but
Mrs. Ashby told me that Dr. Brown had the
notice put in.
Brown one of the most exciting events of
the entire trial occurred. The pastor
asked Mrs. Thurston if it were not true
that she had had trouble with her hus-
band-in fact, if she was not very jealous
of him:
Judge Advocate-It seems to me that these
questions are entirely irrelevant, yet do not
wish to appear as being opposed TO them if the
council think they should be admitted.
DR.. Brown, laboring under intense ex-
cltement, rose and said:
1t seems to me that every time an objection
is made it is to some question asked by myself
to the witnesses The prosecution is allowed
all the latitude it wishes, yet l am restricted
TO the questions which am permitted to ask.
l want TO say right here that | think the
moderator has been extremely unfair TO me,
not only as regards this particular case, but in
| others.
erator-Does DR.. Brown mean TO iusinu-
! ate that this council, or the moderator, is in
any way biased or prejudiced against him?
Dr. Brown insinuate nothing, except that
! the moderator has been unfair. could protest
and did protest against the meeting OF the
council prior 10 the date in the letters-missive.
| \ secret meeting was held, of which had no
knowledge, except through CALL reporter.
/ Just what occurred there do not know, except
what was told me at the opening session OF the
council. l objected then and object now to
| their liking the line OF procedure.
| Moderator-Dr.. Brown has made serious
charges against this counciliand Idemand that
/ we go INTO executive session to determine what
foundation there is in them
A long discussion followed, participated
In by the member of the council. The
moderator was sustained in the position he
had assumed in calling for an investiga-
ton, but the full text and final result of
this interesting episode is told in the
stenographlc reports, as follows:
MODERATOR wish, in addition to the notice
/ have given of the motion, to say that hope
there wall be thorough investigation of the re-
same right to speak, after asking the assistant
moderator to take the chair, that any other
| person has | also said that, in my opinion,
| very small part of the significance of the in
| vestigation was in what said by Mrs
Stockton. and that the critical part was yet to
come l knew that the evidence given by her
n TOW ovN6
| that l have the right to speak as / did
as member of this council Notwith-
standing that we had adopted a rule, we
| have the right to change the rule, and no one
| knows that better than Dr. Brown-that Con-
gregationalism is flexible. He ought to know
that we do not adopt rules in order to be him
| dered. He knows also that he has asked US to
suspend judgment and that the investigation
| should be made. He wanted the matter inves-
tigated thoroughly and so that 1t might not be
| misunderstood deem it most important that
the most searching examination shall be given
the remaining part OF the investigation. l
| think that will not be rude and insulting. We
are here to know the truth.
| DR.. Williams-I move that this matter of
! difference of opinion between the moderator
and DR.. Brown shall be committed to COM
| mittee OF three, all of whom shall be mem mbers
of this council, and that the committee at the
close Of this session convene in the library If
that motion prevails l shall then be prepared
| to make a motion that we proceed with the ex-
| animation of this witness.
Tenney-I should like to ask how that COM
mittee is to be appointed | would suggest
| orator, one by DR.. Brown and one by the coun-
| Gil itself.
Dr. Williams am satisfied.
The Moderator would ask the assistant
| moderator to take the chair for a few mo-
ments The assistant moderator takes the
| chalr.1 wish to move an amendment or that
some one would, 1t is not q difference of
| opinion between Dr. Brown and myself 1t is
explicit charges brought by DR.. Brown that he
| has not been fairly treated by the moderator
ay,ht tlan n
| his judgment he has not received lair treat
ment. think that your motion ought to call
for an investigation of these charges
Dodge think that we just decided this
question. We can't vote over again on it
whether we sustain the moderator or not
E. C. Wiliams-This council was called to
| convene and investigate DR.. Brown. We are
| not here to investigate charges made by Dr.
Brown against this council. [Murmurs of ap-
proval.
Rader-Dr Brown is not on trial. He is 81 M
| ply witness. 1t seems TO me, with all defer
ence to our moderator, that more significance
is attached to this matter than there ought to
be. / don't mean for one moment to reflect
upon Dr. McLean's contention.
| McLean-I think that the integrity of the
investigating body is impugned and that it
should be removed. If il is dealing unfairly
with DR.. Brown that should be discovered We
cannot afford to go on with n investigation so
important as this, which all the Congrega-
tional churches, all the churches of the United
States are watching with deep and painful in
terest, W it'll such all imputation resting on the
council. The council Ougnt TO be like the repu-
| tation of the maiden above suspicion and
every shadow of unfairness ought to be re-
| pudiated.
/ Freeman-We are the court of last resort and
| should take no notice of this matter. | don't
see how we can make the investigation the
| doctor asks for. l think we should stand upon
our right and let the imputations be whatever
| they may be.
Pond-I think our brother from Sacramento.
! has suggested the solution of this question
By a unanimous vote we have upheld ou !
moderator. | move that this council sees
occasion for any impugnment to be made.
| @Scudder-I hope this motion will not carry
We are here in the interest of conciliation as
much as anything else If after this investiga-
ton of DR.. Brown it is shown that in that re-
mark to this council he has been mistaken,
and think that it can be shown, everything
will be harmonious. think that the SIMPLEST
thing to do is to meet this charge in a concilia-
tory spirit
Tenney-I shall support the motion in refer
ence to q committee. / do not thinY that we
| must stop for a m oment here and think of the
| tremendous strain DIR. Brown is under. we