Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-27
MRS. DAVIDSON DID NOT TESTIFY
Her Attorney Forbids Her Appearance
In the Nrown Trial


SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 26-To the dis
appointment Of hundreds Of people who at
tended the Brown trial before the Congre-
gational council today 1t was announced that
the attorney for Mrs. Mary A. Davidson
would not allow his client to appear before
the church court until her trial before the
superior court is concluded The alleged
extortioner was to have confronted Dr. Brown
this afternoon, but the council and the curl
Gus public had to be content with the read
ing of her testimony as given at her pre-
liminary examination in the police court.
Mrs. Davidson's testimony was read III all
its details, recounting her connection with
DR.. Brown, Miss Overman and the First
Congregational church. Mrs Davidson stated
that after November %, when DR.. Brown
paid her $500, the pastor visited her bible
class and commended her as teacher.
The statement related that DR.. Brown said
to Mrs Davidson: Il have an unlawful love
for Matte Overman and I appeal to you to
help me-" The statement continued. "Dr.
Brown said his last meeting with Matte
Overman was in lodging house at Bryant
and Sixth streets He admitted he had been
guilty before, but not since that time. The
witness Mrs. Davidson) lectured Brown on
his faults and the minister then told the
story Of his entire career, in which he con-
fessed that among his faults had been child
murder. Mrs. Davidson suggested that Dr.
Brown meet Mrs Baden, who was cognizant
with his liaison with Miss Overman, but
Dr. Brown said he did not want to meet her
or any other woman, and asked witness TO
arrange the difficulty for him. Witness
agreed to settle with Mrs. Baden for the
minister and took the money as his agent.
DR.. Brown then read the cross-examination
in the police court, when Mrs. Davidson de-
veloped extraordinary defects of memory.
She did not remember whether she had
horne n had
ever assumed other names than Davidson.
Dr. Brown read Mrs DavidsonS denials that
she had ever been in Jail, according to her
| recollection, and said he would present the
records cf the Massachusetts court to show
that she served term in Jail in that state.
At the evening session Mrs. Thurston of
Oakland was questioned. Mrs. Thurston Is
an intimate friend of Mrs. Tunnel, the wo-
man who 1t is thought could unravel the
mystery of Dr. Browns relations with Miss
Overman, but who has disappeared beyond
| the reach of the newspapers and of the coun-
ell. Mrs. Thurston related matters that had
been confided to her by Mrs. Tunnel con-
cerning the relations of DR.. Brown and Miss
Overman.
Tho night session nearly br-ke up in a
row. DR.. Brown accused the moderator and
the council of prejudice against him and of
taking an unfair advantage of him. He de-
clared that he would refuse to go on with the
council, as he was convinced that he could
not secure fair treatment. Miss Overman,
who was present, burst into tears and
Browns friends crowded to his side. The
moderator demanded to know in what re-
spect he had been unfair and a wordy
wrangle ensued. Dr. Brown finally apoogzed
for his language and o,der was restored.
Mrs. Thurston proved to be a damaging
witness against Brown. She said that Miss
Overman had told her that Dr. Brown had
sent her to Tacoma and paid her expenses, as
Mrs. Brown would not have her in the house.
Miss Overman had told Mrs. Thurston that
DR.. Brown had squeezed her hand and kissed
her. 1t was after Mrs. Thuraton's testimony
that the row occurred.
The council will so on with the investiga-
tim tnrnnrrnW