Omaha daily bee., 1896-03-07
READ THE OVERMAN LETTERS
Pastors Bpistles to the Young Woman
Prove Disappointing,
DETAILED MRS. DAWDSoN'S METHODS
Carefully Led Him Up to n Compro-
missing Position to Further Her
scbcmc-Hnd Repeatedly
Loaned Her Money.

SAN FRANCISCO. March 6.-Dr. Brown
did not take the stand as was expected at the
evening session of the council before which
he is on trial on charges Of immortality.
Mrs w. e. Aber was called by the de-
fense and told of things Mrs Davidson had
told her about Miss overman, and other
things Miss Overman had told her about
Mrs Davidson. Counsel for DR.. Brown
stated to the council that Mrs. Aber would
give further testimony at another time in
private
The testimony of Mrs. Hallgan, Mrs. Meyer
and Detective Seymour was read and Deacon
Vasconzellos was called. He corroborated
the testimony of DR.. Brown as to the baptism
of Mrs Stockton. The witness was asked II
he had never noticed DIR. Brown acting with
undue familiarity toward women In the
church Deacon Williams shut OF the
answer.
'I would like to ask II the judge advocate
and the counsel for DR.. Brown" he said,
"cannot agree that Dr. Brown has never
been seen in the church, on the street or
any other place induging in any familiarity
with any woman under the heavens. we
are all convinced that he has not done any
thing of that kind and we would probably
save a good deal of time by admitting that
No one taking issue with this stand, Deacon
Williams made motion to emooay that
sentiment and 1t was carried UNANIMOUSLY
Rev c. o. Brown resumed his testimony
in his own defense before the Congregational
council today. He admitted that he has ex-
changed letters with Miss Overman wmle the
latter was absent in Tacoma. The letters
were produced, DR.. Brown explaining that
Miss Overman had sent to her home In Ia
coma for the letters. All of the letters were
prosaic epistles concerning matters In the
church and books which Miss Overman was
reading. "a Sweet Love Letter Is 1t Not!
suggested DR.. Brown when the first or the
dry and colorless epistles was read.
Dr. Brown then referred to his connec-
tion with Mrs. Davidson, recounting how sne
had waited for him after prayer meeting
when Mrs. Brown was absent and asking MN
to walk toward home with her. Mrs David
son asked him il he did not miss Matte
Overman and he had nnocently replied that
he did. He denied that he said that Mise
Overman was the best read woman he mad
ever met, but stated he had said that, con-
sidering her age and opportunities, he won
dered at her intelligent discussion OF technl-
cal and scientific authors. He said that Mrs:
Davidson on various pretexts had induced
him to accompany her to see many people
and had asked him to show her through the
Young Mems Christian association buiidlns.
She wished to meet the general secretary OF
the association, and while waiting Tor that
officer, DR.. Brown said he and Mrs Davidson
had sat few minutes in the office of the as
sociation. Dr.. Brown said these interviews
and visits were all part of Mrs. DAVIDSON
scheme to blackmail and into which he inno-
Gently fell Mrs. Davidson sought to have
him with her in such places would make
it possible for her to secure witnesses as to
what she had described as consultations re-
garding Miss Overman's revelations and con-
cerning his alleged liaison with Miss Over
man.
Continuing DIR. Brown said that in the
last week in August Mrs Davidson had come
to his office in the church and had asked him
to lend her little money He loaned her
at that time $40, later $4O and again $50.
She always stated that her dividends from
the corset firm were delayed in the east.
Dr. Brown much moved, said he had always
believed in not letting his right hand know
what his left hand did, but he had no choice
now but to explain these matters. He said
that since he has been pastor Of the present
charge he had given away more than hall
his salary He said there were many persons
who had borrowed $40 from him whom he
would be very glad to see at the council.
He denied that he had ever prayed with
Mrs. Davidson alone, although admitting that
he should have done 50. DR.. Brown said he
had never called Mrs. Davidson his Mother
in Christ" adding that Mrs Davidson COM
mitted a sacrilege when she misquoted him.
Then DR.. Brown told how Mrs. Davidson had
finally revealed herself in her true colora.
She told him how a we'll known minister had
visited a lodging house in company with a
young woman, concluding with the state
ment that he had been identified as the min
lister and Miss Overman as the woman. He
admitted that he was afraid to meet such
an accusation at time when the city was
greatly excited over the arrest of several
old men for debauching young girls. He
feared that the accusation would be accepted
as guilt when the populace was in such an
angry mood. He said he had gone to every
lodging house in the district where he had
been accused of accompanying Miss Overman
and to him and a police detective each pro-
prietor had said Dr. Brown bad never been
seen in that vicinity. Brown then told how
he had paid Mrs Davidson $500 and taken
her receipt for the money in order to pro-
tect himself.