The herald., 1896-03-07
REV. DR.. BROWNS DEFENSE
The Alleged Love Letters Prove
Dull Reading
SCHEMING MRS. DAVIDSON
Found An Easy Victim Ia the Innocent
Preacher
The Doctor Satisfactorily Explains His Fear
Of Accusation Under the Circum-
stances Then Prevailing
Associated Press speciai Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
SAN FRANCISCO, March 6.-Rev. C. O.
Brown resumed his testimony in his own
defense before the Congregations, council
today. He admitted that he had exchanged
letters with Mrs. Overman while the latter
was absent in Tacoma. Tho letters were
produced, DR.. Brown explaining that Miss
Overman had sent to her home in Tacoma
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 it not?" sug-
gested DR.. Brown when the first Of the
dry and colorless epistles were read. DR..
Brown then referred to his connection
with Mrs. Davidson, recounting how che
had waited on him after prayer meeting
when Mrs. Brown was absent and asking
him to walk toward home with her.
Mrs. Davidson asked him if he did not
miss Matte Overman, and he had limo.
Gently replied that he had. He denied
that he said Miss Overman was the best
read woman he had ever met, but stated
had had said that considering her age and
opportunities he wondered at her inteII-
gen, discussion of technical and scientific
authors. He SAID that Mrs. Davidson on
various pretexts had induced him to &C.
company her to see many people, and had
asked him to show her through the Young
Mems Christian association building. She
wished to meet the general secretary OF the
association, and while waiting for the Off
cial Dr. Brown said he and Mrs. Davidson
had sat few minutes in the office of the
assistant secretary. DR.. Brown said these
interviews and visits were all part of Mrs.
Davidson's scheme of blackmail, into
which he innocently fell. Mrs. Davidson
sought to have him seen with her in such
places as would make it possible for her to
secure witnesses to what she had described
as consultations regarding Miss Overman's 8
relations regarding his alleged liason with
Miss Overman.
Continuing, DR.. Brown said that in the
last week in August Mrs. Davidson had
come to his office in the church and asked
him to lend her a little money. He loaned
her at that time $40, later $40, 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 had been
pastor of his present charge he had given
away more than half his salary. He said
there were many persons who had bor-
rowed $40 from him, whom he would bc
would be very glad to see at the council.
He denied that he had ever prayed
with Mrs. Davidson alone, although ad-
mitting that he should have done So.
Brown said he had never called Mrs.
Davidson his "mother in Christ" adding
that Mrs. Davidson committed sacrilege
when she SO misquoted him. Then DIR.
Brown told how Mrs. Davidson had finally
revealed herself in her true colors. She
told him how a well-known minister had
visited o lging house in company y with u
young woman, concluding with the STATE.
ment that he had been identiueu as the
minister and Miss Overman as the woman.
He admitted that he was afraid to meet
such all accusation at a time when the city
was greatly excited over the arrest of sew
eral old men for debauchHg young girls.
He feared that the accusation would he &C.
cepted 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 accompany
ing Miss Ovcrman, and TO him and police
detective each proprietor had said DIR.
Brown had never been seen in that vicinity.
Brown then told how he had paid Mrs.
Davidson $500 and had taken her receipt
for the money in order to protect himself.