Evening star., 1896-03-18
BROWN ACQUITTED
The Council Not Clear as to the $500
Hush Money.
The Charges as to Mrs. stockton and
Miss Overman Are Declared
Not Proven.

gregational council has declared Rev. C. O.
Brown not guilty of immortality. but has
censured him for unministerial conduct As
the council apologies for the censure, DIR.
Brown considers his vindication complete
Dr. Brown's explanation OF the payment of
$5OO to Mrs. Davidson Is regarded as weak,
and Miss Overman's strange story Of love
ana biackmail was given passing mention.
The council which has been investigating
the charges against DR.. Brown for the past
month late last night made public its re-
port. After reciting the reason for the call
Ing of the council, the report says:
I'VE have reached the following conclu-
sions:
J.. That all the charges, in our judgment,
may be grouped under the two questions:
Did Rev. c. o. Brown commit adultery with
Mrs. NJ A. Stockton or Miss Martha A.
OVerman? Has he been guilty of any con-
duct seriously affecting his ministerial char
acter?
So That, touching the first of these two
questions, We are able to make answer that
the evidence before us does not sustain the
charge of adultery with either Mrs. Stock
ton or Miss Overman.
Scotch Verdict.
g. That, touching the question Of un-
ministerial conduct, we find in Mr.. Brown
in the light Of which his actions must be
judged, and which to some extent modify
our opinion of his conduct, so that in one
case where the use of harsh and intimidat-
ing language is charged against him, an
apology followed SO quickly that we do not
further notice it. In another case. while
the menacing and intimidatin language
used was not justified, IT was the speech of
an angry man. but in the case Of a young
lady or the purest character and the highest
worth, who was herself threatened with a
FEARFUL charge, because she had opposed
the pastor, We find his conduct 10 have yio-
lated all rules which should control the ac-
uons OF gentleman and Christian min
lster, and We censure him for it, while we
siaoiy recognize the kindly and manly words
OF appreciation and reparation offered by
MIN to the young lady in our midst.
Trace Of Suspicion.
We should be glad to add to this verdict
that the various facts in the case, so far as
ascertained, have not left a trace Of sus-
plcion in our minds concerning the hitherto
stainless reputation of this honored minis
ter OF the gospel. But We are regretfully
compelled to confess that DIR. Browns ex-
plantations of the reasons in his mind for
paying TO Mrs Davidson the sum Of sJOo
ana agreeing to pay the further sum of SIS
per month for series of years, all for the
purpose OF securing the silence of a sup
posed Mrs Baddin, are not altogether salts
AoStoiy " U.s. ana Inat MISS Overm9
testimony as to having changed certain let
ters known as the Overman-Tunnell let
tiers, which contained the chief incrimina f
ing clements of this case, has been inn
paired seriously by confessed falsehood
previously told concerning the same mat
ter, while strange and apparently signifi-
cant absence from the city Of the receiver
OF the letters has added to our embarrass-
ment IN the efforts to ascertain the truth
while We have felt compelled to con-
denim The acts now specified in our broth
er S conduct, 1t is our hope and PRAYER that
the sharp lesson of recent months may be
taken to heart by him, and that in conse-
quence his future years may be more fruit
1ul than any in the past. 1t is especially
our earnest nope that in the painful and
divided condition in which this experience
mas lett this loved and honored church
both he and its members may be led to
such fair understanding of their duty to
each other and to the Divine Master that
the unity of the spirit and of the bond of
peace may be preserved here in the whole
sisterhood Of the churches.
(S1gned) y. ID. MCLEAN, Moderator
GEO. B. HATCH, Scribe"
DIR. Browns Comments.
DR.. Brown, in commenting on the verdict
said with reference to the censure that the
unministerial conduct charge occurred af-
ter the council had been called and that
the council had no right to take up any,
thing except the original charges.
Mnu reference TO ms unsatisfactory ex-
planation of the paying of money to Mrs.
Davidson, he said: The Official steno-
graphic report shows 10 any one who
chooses to Investigate that did not pay the
$500 to secure the silence Of any Mrs Bad
din. but rather to secure the indisputable
evidence upon which the real criminal
might be found and punished. and it is on
the receipt given by Mrs. Davidson that
she today stands bound over to the super
Tor court for trial This important fact the
council entirely overlooked"
Rev. DR.. Mckenzie, the leading Presby-
terian minister of the city, said DR.. Brown
mas endured such physical strain as no
otner man OF this generation has ever en-
dured and that he fought IL, Co. .a..I.-...