The herald., 1896-02-20
THE CHARGES IN DETAIL
AIIege Most Offenses Which a Man
Can Commit
Ds. Brown Makes Objection Because No Date
Is Set for the kissing Of
hrs. Stockton

the actual trial of the accused cl ergyman.
NJ. S. Woodlands. representative of the
First Congregational church, of which DR..
Brown is pastor, before the council, was
appointed judge advocate this afternoon
when the council had been convened. The
committee on charges reported that four
charges had been preferred against DR..
Brown by Sarah B. Cooper, assistant pas
tor of the church, and by her daughter,
Hattie Cooper. The charges, of which
proof was promised by those making the
charges, are as follows:
First-That the letters written as alleged
by Miss Overmsn In which DIR. Brown was
compromised, are genuine.
Second-That DR.. Brown in his associa-
tions with Mrs. Albertine Stockton was un-
ministerial in his conduct.
Third-That DR.. Brown had been guilty
of intimidation towards Mrs. Lena Blanch-
ard, q non-cburch member, VINO voted
against Brown at a recent congregational
meeting when resolutions of confidence in
the pastor were introduced.
Fourth-That DR.. Brown was concerned
in conspiracy with Miss Overman to
spirit Mrs. Tunnel away so that she could
not testify against him before the council.
Secondary charges we're also introduced
charging DR.. Brown with adultery with
Miss Oyerman, conduct prejudicial to the
church in paying $500 to Mrs. Davidson to
avoid exposure of his alleged liason with
Miss Overman; conduct unbecoming to a
minister in recommending Mrs. Davidson
as an exemplary Christian woman after
the date on which lie paid her the sum of
$500.
Both reports were accepted and entered
as records of the council. Letters from
av.1 har IL
read to the council. These communica-
tions merely reiterated the charges which
had been formally preferred against
Brown. DIR. Brown asked that references
to Miss Overman in the letters be
stricken from the records as being
unjust and damsging to that young
Advocate Woodlands was then asked to
present the evidence in support of the sew
eral charges. No one present had any evil
dence to offer and Woodlands said he
could not go out to find witnesses if none
would voluntarily appear. He thought
those preferring charges or having evidence
against Brown should present it. After a
long discussion, in which Rev. Dr.. Will
Jams, of the council, said if there was no
evidence against Brown the council would
have to acquit him, it was decided to adj
journ until this evening to procure testi-
mony for the prosecution. 1t was decided
being allowed to testify.
The communication from Miss Harriet
Cooper was as follows:
charge that Miss Overman, one of the
principals in the so-cailed Brown scandal,
was in conspiracy with Mrs. Tunnel. the
recipient of the famous Overman letters,
and that they roomed together at the Cos
mopolitan hotel, corner of Fifth and Mis-
sion streets, in the city of San Francisco,
one week prior to the arrest of Mrs. David
son, now awaiting trial. From good au.
thority learned Mrs. Tunnel was con-
cealed in Dr.. Browns residence, 1903
Geary street, San Francisco, and that she
Mrs. TunnelD was spirited away from the
city secretly by DIR. Brown.
DIR. Brown wanted that part of the
charge referring to Miss Overman stricken
out as that lady was not on trial. The
council decided that it had no power to
change the wording of the charge.
Following are the detailed charges
against DR.. Brown as arranged by the COM
mittee:
Charge one-Conduct prejudicial to the
welfare of the church.
Specification one-In this, that knowing
Mrs. Davidson to be connected with q con-
spiracy. to eXtort a large sum of money
from himself he publicly recognized and
treated her as Christian woman and
spoke of her to others in terms of ap.
provaI, thereby misleading them as to her
true character and bringing reproach upon
the Christian ministry and scandal upon
the church.
Specification two-In this, that knowing
in his personal experience that Mrs. Stock
ton was guilty of permitting immodest and
improper liberty by the opposite sex, he
made no effort as her pastor to recall her
to the right path and warn her of the i'm.
propriety and danger of her conduct
Specification three--In this, that pos
V.4 80 ,v~xI-- @ a H.
facts recited In specification two, he, the
said G. Brown, continued his alleged in
tiInacy with the said Mrs. Stockton, tax
ing Ter on extended trips over the street
railroads and dining with her at public
restaurants, without the company or
knowledge of his wife.
Specification four-In this, that, know
ing the alleged facts mentioned in the last
two specifications he took no steps to bring
them to the attention of the church of
which he was the pastor, and the said Mrs.
Stockton a member, but by his silence and
conduct toward the said Mrs. Stockton,
gave ground for the belief on the part of
her fellow members of the church that she
was living an exemplary, Christian life and
was worthy of their Christian condolences
and sympathy.
Charge two-Conduct unbecomipr n
Christian minister.
Specification |. In this, that said C. @.
icIOWu3 WuilS PdStOT VI u SllTlStlaQ ClurCll.
paid a large sum, namely, $500, to Mrs,
Davidson, to be used by her in inducing
Mrs. Baddin to withhold from the public
certain alleged information possessed by
her relating TO certain scandalous or crimi-
nal conduct ON the part of said c. o.
Brown, which money was paid to Mrs.
Davidson covertly and in secret, without
telling any one of any intent in such pay
Inent other than to secure the silence of
the said Mrs. Baddin and with no provision
for any concealed witness Of the transac.
ton and conversation connected there
with, through whose testimony the inno-
cent and proper intention prompting the
payment could be understood and made
apparent.
Charge 3.-Immoral conduct.
Specification l.. In this, that on the -
Gay OF -. 1S9-, the said G. o..
!Srown is alleged in or near his study to
have pilt his arms around Mrs. Stockton
and kissed her under what she took to be
strong animal passion,