The San Francisco call., 1896-02-27

bers of the counc Gil, had read the testimon
as published in the newspapers, and a low
hum of conversation served as an accom-
paniment to Mr.. Woodlands clear, we'll
modulated tones. When he had finished
a recess was ordered. The tired Judge ad
vocate refreshed his hard-worked vocal
chords by taking copious draughts of the
brand of ale affected by our first father in
paradise. while DR.. Williams fell to writ
ing in a notebook at great rate, using as
a knee-desk the Bible upon which the wit
neSSeS are sworn.
DR.. Brown, as soon as the council recon-
vened, commenced the reading of Mrs.
Davidson s cross-examination in the Police
Court-that is, he thought he did, and the
audience, to its great wonderment, listened
for a bout fifteen minutes to a weird, wild
tale of villainy, looking to Sacramento for
its local coloring. People were beginning to
think Mrs. Davidson even worse than she
has been painted when 1t transplred that,
through an inadvertence of the stenog-
rapher's clerk, the records of another case
had been sent along with Mrs. Davidson S
testimony. Not wishing it to appear on
record that the sancient corset-dealer had
ConSpired with a criminal IN All under
ground ginmill in the capital TO steal a
matter of 5000, the council very consider
ately ordered the testimony thus read by
mistake to be expunged from the minutes.
The pastor then found the right place
and resumed his reading. Mr.. Woodlands
reads WELL but his work was gone throug h
with IN a rapid, perfunctory manner,
which showed that he was merely dis
charging rather tiresome official duty.
The audience, in fact, resigned itself TO
boredom during this stage OF the proceed-
ings, while even some members OF the
council actually yawned through sheer
dullness.
But with DR.. Brown the reading was
another affair. 1t was a veritable treat to
listen to the rise and fall of his sympa-
thetic voice. By turns 1t was gavly sar-
castle, ma jestically grave and Indignantly
cutting. He made no comment, nor did
he need to make any, for his voice was
enough. Silence reigned as he read, and
it was nearly dlnner-time before proceed
ings were suspended until the second
session.
Mrs. Thurston was the first witness
called at the evening session. Under di-
rect examination she made the following
statement:
1 know DR.. Brown and also Miss Overman.
| first met her in the fall, think il was OF
1894, in the Grant-avenue mission. She was
introduced to me by Mrs. Tunnel.
Our acquaintance continued until Miss Over
| man departed for Tacoma either in the fall oi
! 1894 or 1895. Prior to her leaving for the
| north l met Miss Overman frequently. She
/ came to my house, and met her at the meet
| llgS OF kew. ]. ii. Alien on MISSION street. DuT'
! ing this time she residing with Mrs. Tun-
nell, but later moved to DR.. Browns house
Matte told me that the pastor had offered hel
| a good home, privilege she had never enjoyed
| in all her life.
| On many occasions Miss Overman told me
! how nice and clever DR.. Brown was and how
much she admired him. In q casual way, and
/ without actually meaning anything, l re
| marked:
"Be careful, Matte. that there is nothing
more than friendship there"
She replied, "Oh, Mrs. Thurston, how very
| clever you are to guess my secret"
On another occasion OF a brief trip to the
| Cliff House with DR.. Brown and his wife she
said that some people did not know enough tt
stay at home. She had reference to Mrs
| Brown.
At another time Miss Overman said that one
evening going home from church DR.. Brown
reached back and squeezed her hand FThis
| is so, Dr.. Brown" Mrs. Thurston added, turn
/ ing to the pastor.
The reverend gentleman with q smile re
piled 81 don't believe it,
Matte showed me a gold watch, which she
said had been given her by her sister. Later
| found out that 1t came from DR.. Brown. Dur
! ing all these talks with Matte Mrs. Tunnel
was never present. She seemed to avoid dis
| cussing him in her presence.
Now, as concerns her trip to Tacoma. She
told me that she was going as his niece.
argued with her not to do this because it would
| certainly excite comment. Finally she prom
| ised not to do so and we knelJ down and We
both prayed long and fervently over the mat
| ter.
Two days later she told me that circum
stances had caused her to change her deter
mination not to go TO Tacoma with DR.. Brown
Feeling that 1 had done all l could in th'