The San Francisco call., 1896-03-19
THE VERDICT REVIEWED.
Members of the Council Talk
Freely Of the Findings and
Browns Attitude


council, and one who enjoys as great
measure of public esteem as any indi-
vidual of that body, referred to the verdict
of the ecclesiastical jury as terrific blow
to Brown" When informed that it is re-
garded by some as fulfllment OF the
prophecy of a whitewash he expressed
genuine surprise.
His comment was to read from THE
CALL the following, which he pronounced
the "nub of the document:
We should be glad to add to this verdict that
the various facts in the case so far as ascer-
tanned have not left trace of suspicion in our
minds concerning the hitherto stainless repu-
tation of this honored minister of the gospel,
but we regre tfully compelled to confess
that DR.. Browns explanation of the reasons in
his mind for paying to Mrs. Davidson the sum
of $500 and agreeing to pay the further sum
of $35 month for a series of years, all for the
purpose of securing the silence of a supposed
Mrs. Baddin, is not altogether satisfactory to
us, and that Miss Overman's testimony as to
having changed certain letters known as the
Overman-Tunnell letters, which contained the
chief discriminating evidence in this case, is
impaired seriously by confessed falsehoods
previously told concerning the same matter,
while the strange and apparently significant
letters has added to our embarrassment in the
effort to ascertain the truth.
"The facts in the case so far as ascer-
tanned" he read, with peculiar emphasis
that argued that he believed chere were
facts that it had not been possible, under
the circumstances, to ascertain. ''We are
regretfully compelled to confess that DR..
Browns explanation of the reason in his
mind for paying to Mrs. Davidson the sum
offs $500 and agreeing to pay the further sum
of $35 per month for series of years, all
for the purpose of securing the silence of a
supposed Mrs. Baddln, is not altogether
satisfactory to u.s." he went on. miss
Overman's testimony as to having changed
certain letters known as the Overman-Tun-
nell letters, which contained the chief in
eliminating evidence in this case. is i'm
paired seriously by confessed falsehoods
previously told concerning the matter"
Here the reader stopped to see whether
the listener was aware of the force of the
sentence, before reading the conclusion of
what he deemed a strongly condemnatory
paragraph: while the strange and appar-
emily significant absence from the City of
the receiver of the letters has added to our
embarrassment in the effort to ascertain
the truth"
"The committee on findings was chosen
with reference to representation of local
tiles, as we'll as to the fitness of the indi-
viduals for the important duty. DR.. Mooar
is from Oakland, DR.. Hoyt from Sacra-
mento, DIR. Tenney from San Jose, Mr..
Barker from Stockton and Deacon Bufford
from Plymouth Church, San Francisco.
ION Monday AFTERNOON this committee
was chosen to crystalize as far as possible
the opinions which had been expressed
by the members of the council as to the
accused mans guilt or innocence. DR..
Mooar was appointed chairman, but owing
to fatigue he was relieved from the posi-
tion at his own request. and DR.. Hoyt
acted in his stead. DR.. Hoyt appointed
each member to give attention to certain
specified charges. When they had COM
pleied their task he edited the whole.
1.-The report OF the. committee as pre-
sented to the council was more lengthy
and more general than that which was
afterward adopted. 1t contained certain
matter censuring in q measure the atti-
tude of the public toward Brown. 1t fol-
lowed this up by a rap at the press for
fostering the sentiment that such attitude
expressed. 1t expressed grave doubts as
to the pastors innocence, similar to those
contained in the paragraph I have COM
mented on, but the trouble was, they were
not definite enough. We found as the
reading OF the report progressed to the