The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-19
Will Ask DR.. Brown Why He
Persisted in Shielding Mrs.
Stockton.
INJURIOUS TO MRS. DAVIDSON
Letters From Eastern People Deroga.
tory to DR.. Browns Alleged
Defamer.

The power of public opinion, or that por-
ton of 1t which is the exponent of
sentiments entertained by the First Con-
gregational Church, is being felt very
strongly by the judges DR.. c. o. Brown
appointed recently to try his case.
The legality of his appointment Of those
judges, according to Congregational
polity, to say nothing of common law and
equity, Is called in question. The mem
bers are willing to waive that, however,
since they admit that they had not in
formed themselves previously by consult
Ing their church manual concerning their
right to challenge such a course. Their
excuse is that the possibility of such a
proceeding on the part of their shepherd
had not occurred to them.
There is a conviction, am bunting to a
demand, that the committee of investiga-
ton should mold open sessions. 1t is
claimed that the result of star-cha mber
meetings will not be cordially Indoors ed,
no matter what these results may be, for
secrecy in such cases never pegets con-
fidence.
But there are two counts in the indict-
ment they have returned against the rev.
erend gentleman that they Will force upon
the attention OF the judges. They want to
be satisfied as to the motives of DR..
Brown in permitting Mrs. Stockton to
unite with the First Church when by his
own confession, he knew her to be
blackmailer.
They want an explanation of his I'M
doubted desire to bring her into promi-
nence in church work when he was
cognlzant of her moral unfitness for such
a charge. All these efforts to give her a
position of influence III the church, it is
( n ode of ho II
acter thoroughly and against the remon-
STRANGE OF members of the church whose
integrity and devotion he could not aSsail
"Dr. Brown must explain his persistent
shielding OF woman he knew was un.
worthy. they say, and they are careful
to say 1t to the committee, adding that
the failure 10 cover that important point
IN the case will lay that body open to the
charge OF willful ignoring of the claims
of justice.
Another query the church proposes to
PROFOUND to the minister through its
agents. the judges, is, why did you call
upon Mrs. Davidson to offer devotions at
prayer meeting after you believed her to
be Eypocrite? Why did you help her to
wear mask ii you knew it to conceal
moral hideousness?"
There are mem bers who recall distinctly
that Mrs. Davidson's voice was heard in
suppllcatlon at prayer meetings in the
tors allegations, he was convinced that
she was constituencies pirate on the high
seas of society.
1t is not probable that Dr. Brown will
occupy the pulpit of the First Congreaa-
tional Church to-day. Inquiry at his
home last night developed the fact that he
was quite i'll. though his son Valentine
could not say anything as to what his
father might do. Valentine Brown gave
the following letter to the reporter, which
Is said to have been received by the sister
OF prominent clergyman of this City:
BUcKsPoRT, Me. January 8, 1896.
We have been interested in the accoun Is OF the
golngS on OF townswoman of ours, Mrs. Mary
| Davidson. She was born in Bucksport and
her poor father, 80 years old, is stin living
| here. She has drained his purse in her various
speculauons, and they take precious little
! stock in her now. She is known here most
thoroughly, and has had varied career.
| her as girl who in telling lies always ex-
ceeded.
She was always acting part Her first hus-
band died so suddenly that there mas always
| been shade of suspicion as to the cause As
| a beautiful young widow and ripe Christian
| she courted Mr.. Forsyth before his marriage
! calling frequently to talk over the best good of
| his church. He was bright enough to see
! through her and drop her. Afterward she at
tempted to pursue him by taking up his sup
| his. The deacons and church committee were
called TO her hou+e where she received them
IN queenly lash1on and charged Mr.. Forsyth
with will1ul SANDER and lying.
That fell through. She carried q Testament
| In her pocket and the lady with whom she
| boarded astonished some of her friends by
! bidding them, Beware of the woman who car
ries Testament in her pocket" When re-
leased from the House OF Correction she came
| home, spent the Sunday in literary work and
! prayer, leaving her old mother to do the work
When she went away her mother expressed the
| hope that she would have enough to eat "Oh
never fear, l shall be fed by the ravens" Her
| Sh a MI h hao, s
ravens that year. No truer words could be
said OF her than,
/ know maiden fair to Beware! Beware |!
Trust her not, she is fooling thee.
II she is in State prison hope she will stay
there; you need not pity yer. / could tell a
long story, but will not. She is the second
Bucksport girl who has found home in a Cal
ltorn1a jail, and we are not proud of them.
am foolish TO write of this, but we know of tn
antecedents so well that her motherIy counsel
TO the poor sinner, her prayers, her zeal for the
cnurch sound very familiar; DR.. Browns rep
utation will not be marred by any charge that
she can bring in our vicinity. Why do women
do so and why are they permitted to live? She
Is bright enough en- to have been power for
ers would not be worthy of angels wings to
bear them to the mercy seat. Respectfully,
MARY s.
DR.. Browns son also gave out the fol-
lowing:
A prominent gentleman In Michigan sends
the following clipping from a Portland daily:
MICHIGAN DOCTORS EXPERIENCE WITH PAS
TOR BROWNS BLACKMAILER.
PORTLAND, Mich, January 10.
DR.. c. c. Dellenbaugh of this place says that he
once had very disagreeable experience with Mary
a. Davidson, who, he thinks, is none other than
the san Francisco woman accused of blackmailing
Rev. G. o. Brown.
Dellenbaugh's father said TO be worth about
100000. and when the doctor was young
man he called to attend sick woman
In fiat in Buffalo, N. Y. Mary Davidson met
MIN in the room, locked the door and cooly de-
physician. After expostulating with the woman
for a few moments DIR. Dellenbaugh says that he
kicked the door open and made his escape.
He has examined the picture of the San Fran
cisco woman and says that it tAllies with that of
the Buffalo shark.
DANCED AMI nTMEn