The herald., 1896-02-26
Gathers to Attend the Trial of
DR.. Brown
HEARSAY EVIDENCE GIVEN
Chiefly As to the Representations Of
Mrs. Stockton
DR.. Brown Cross-examInes Mrs. Cooper, and
His Sarcastic Questions Draw
Forth Cutting Answers
Associated Press Special Wire


SAN Francisco, Feb. 20. - Standing
room only was to be obtained by late COM
ers when the trial of Rev. DIR. 9. o. Brown
for immortality was resumed at the First
Congregational church today. The first
witness was Rev. John Ray, at one time
assistant pastor of the First Congrega-
tional church. He testified that he inves-
tigated Mrs. Stockton's reputation when
she was proposed for membership in the
church and that he found nothing objec-
tionable. Later it was proposed to invite
Mrs. Stockton to enter the church choir,
the pastors wife, Mrs. Brown, objected,
and she did not sing in the choir. Rev.
Ray said he had never seen Rev. Brown
and Mrs. Stockton conversing together
and that he always knocked at the door
before entering the pastors office.
Deacon Dexter of the church testified
that after the Davidson scandal had been
made public Mrs. Stockton called on him
and said that DR.. Brown must not drag her
into it. She admired Brown, and would
even lie and steal for him if necessary, but
he must not mention her name in the
scandal. DR.. Brown declined to make any
contract with Mrs. Stockton. The council
then took recess to discuss some matters
in secret.
Mrs. Mae Davis, who had previously tes-
titled that she knew Mrs. Stockton was an
immoral person and blackmailer, was
recalled, but her testimony was not inn
portant. The council adjourned until even
ing, when Mrs. Davidson, whose arrest for
blackmailing DIR. Brown caused all the
trouble, appeared as a witness.
At the evening session Mrs. Sarah B..
Ia
ters written to her from Port Angeles by
Mrs. Stockton for the purpose of refuting
the statement that Mrs. Cooper had sent
Mrs. Stockton to kindergarten at Port
Angeles for the purpose of getting her out
of the city. Mrs. Cooper said che had al
ways had the highest regard for Mrs. Stock
ton. When the Judge advocate had finished
with the witness, DIR. Brown cross-exam-
ined Mre. Cooper. His questions were fire.
quently tinged with sarcasm, which brought
forth cutting replies from Mrs. Cooper. By
way of prefacing long line of questions
relative to the stories about Mrs. Stockton 9
career at Port Angeles, DR.. Brown asked
Mrs. Cooper ii she believed Mrs. stockton
to be a moral woman.
II believe Mrs. Stockton lie trying to lead
, a Christian life--now,' replied Mrs. Cooper.
The manner in which Mrs. Cooper hesi-
! tated and added the word .snow" to her re-
ply was caught up in an instant by the
bEOWu INcttOu dIiti u bupt)rrSbou VI
''nows' aroee from the audience.
Mrs. Cooper said she never heard any
thing detrimental to the character of Mrs.
Stockton while she was at Port Angeles.
She said she had heard rIlmors to the eff
feet that Mrs. Stockton was perhaps gay
widow but she believed these gayeties con-
sisted of the niannersms which indicate
the goodness of her nature. Such DEM
onstrations might have been made at
parties or other social events.
"Were they made at parties where gen.
tlemen only were invited?' inquired DR..
Brown.
Mrs. Cooper frowned deeply for mo-
aware Mrs. Stockton had ever attended
parties where men were the only guests.
DIR. Brown asked Mrs. Casper if she had
not heard Mrs. Stockton's name unpleas-
antly connected with the name of promi-
nent resident Of Port Angeles. and if she
did not know as a matter of fact that Mrs.
Stockton had been named as tine core
spondent i'll divorce suit in that city.
Mrs. Cooper gave negative answers TO beth
questions. An attempt was made to show
that Mrs. Stockton cared little for her
children from the fact that one of her
daughters had been given away by adop-
ton. The doctor asked Mrs. Cooper If she
did not believe the manner in wh,ca Mrs.
Stockton dressed indicated thai she was
able TO support both of her children if she
cared to. Mrs. Cooper gave evasive an
swers to several que ,tions of this kind, as
she said she was not competent to speak
of Mrs. Stockton's financial condition. DR..
Brown pressed the question and at length
Mrs. Cooper replied that she had never
made inquiry into the matter. as she had
always believed such things were none of
her business.
Mrs. Frank French succeeded Mrs.
Cooper on the witness stand. She told how
Il
church trial because she would not permit
Mrs. Stockton to appear OH the program q t
a Turkish tea given at the church. The
doctor became very angry, she sa.J, but a
few days later he wrote note to her hus-
band. apologiziDg for what he had said
Mrs. French said she could not understand
why DIR. Brown insisted that Mrs. Stockton
should be on the program, when. according
to his own statement. 4 few weeks before,
while visiting Mrs. Stockton, who was con-
fined to her bed by illness, she had thrown
her arms about his neck ami kissed him
Dr. Brown admitted that he had been de-
ceived by Mrs. Stockton. He said her own
actions convinced him that she was un-
worthy of confidence, and he therefore
wrote note to MIR. French apoiogizing for
this manner in which he attempted to COM
pei Mrs. French to place an unworthy
woman on the program for the Turkish tea.
AT $3.50 the conference took a rece IS
-
The committee on investigation dele
gated by the council to receive and formu-
late charges, heard yesterday the stories
of three important witnesses. One OF the
first visitors to the committee was Mrs.
Charles +. Thurston, who submitted
statement far more damaging to the Rev.
DR.. Brown than any which she had before
made in the case. Mrs. Thurston appears
to know much more about the Overmau
episode than she at first declared.
Her evidence is deemed to be important.
as she received most of the story from Mat
tie Overuan herself.
Matte told me that DR.. Brown had pro-
fessed love for her, said Mrs. Thurston.
"She even went SO far as to tell me that
DR.. Brown squeezed her hand while he was
walking with his wife. DR.. brown had
visiteti her at Mrs. Tunnell's rooms, and
the poor girl told me Cow the minister
world come to her with open arms. lie
would throw his arms around her and
squeeze and kiss ler. She said that she
was love sick, but that DR.. Brown was IL
great deal worse. | have this from tile girl
herself.
Then there is the Incident of the gold
watch. Matte showed me beautiful gold
watch, saying it was a gift from her sister,
Mrs. Ashley. After Matte went to Ia
coma met Mrs. Ashley and she asked if