The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-28
CASE OF DR.. C. O. BROWN
BAY CONFERENCE DIVIDED ON THE
QUESTION OF REINSTATEMENT.
Reasons That ImpelIcd the Preacher
To Make His Confession of Sin
Miss Overman's Affidavit.

SAN FRANCISCO. Jan. 27.-There was a
division of opinion at the meeting of the
Bay Conference, at which Dr. c. O. Brown
was expelled from membership and the op-
posing factions eontending as to
whether he should be expelled from the
ministry or be reinstated in case he should
show a spirit of true Christian repentance
The verdict simply excludes him from affilia-
ton with the churches of this coast. The
ecclesiastical council cf Chicago, which has
accepted DR.. Brown into its fold is the only
body that can give the decree of expulsion,
and it now lies with that organization to de-
eide whether he shall be received back into
the fold. DR.. Brown has announced his in
tenton of appearing at the Metropolitan
Hall on Sunday evening next, at which time
and place he will make another confession
not to select assembage of pastors, but to
any and all comers. 1t is also said he will
deliver a lecture tomorrow on THE Wages
Of Sin Is Death"
DR.. Brown, in an interview yesterday
said: Il said nothing to any of the Chicago
friends after had determined on the course
l have pursued. for the reason that
thought San Francisco the proper place for
my acknowledgment. have written to the
Chicago association that If its members
so desire, Will, on my return, say face to
Il
to escape any utterance or situation which
DUTY now requires. i have seen many of
the friends whose support l accepted on a
raise basis, and l shall see others to make
what amends / can. Without exception,
they have received me with a kindness
which is both surprising and gratifying, and
10 my mind very superior illustration of
Christian charity. The members of Bay
conference who were justly opposing me
their homes, some of which / have already
aVailed myself of; others | shall avail my
self of in the near future. L do not know
how soon l shall return to Chicago; not
until | have done what duty requires here
!, Despite Mr.. Browns assertions it is said
tnat st 1t was not pure remorse that impelled
MIN to confess his sin TO the Bay confer
ence. As matter of fact, the Bay confer
ence had a complete confession by Matte
Overman, made after Brown had gone East,
ana there are strong indications that the
knowledge that this was to be made public
II Brown did not confess was the fact that
moved the Chicago pastor to act as he did
IhlS document was also the reason the Bay
conference, though touched by DIR. Brown 5
appeal, showed him no mercy. The confess
sion or the woman gave such particulars
that 1t could not be doubted. The substance
or It can be given in fewer words than the
writer employed. 1t set forth how she had
liVed in the Brown household and told of
the love that sprang up between her and
Brown. She made up her mind to fiee but
didn't flee. In the presence of Brown she
forgot all but his affection and in his alb
sence was torn by remorse. This continued
untll exposure seemed certain and then. at
,
where they, by approaching from different
directions, were enabled to meet without
Iear OF discovery. She affirmed that such a
sought
The affidavit then tells of her escape from
the city, Brown paying the expenses At
Seattie she neard that he intended to aban-
don her and this making her angry il had
the effect of precipitating the scandal She
alleges that when she returned to face
Brown he told her what she must saw at the
trial and tried hard to get her to commit
perjury on specific points She also declares
that the Overman-Tunneli letters were gem
uine, THIS having been denied at the trial
committee. and though it is from Mrs. Tun-
nell, whose word many would not regard as
Impressive, 1t dovetails so perfectly with
that Of Miss Overman, while made when the
two were hundreds of miles apart that the
pair are considered mutually confirmatory
Mrs Tunnel tells of having received money
from Brown for her own and Miss Over
mans expenses while the young woman was
trying to get out of the country. She tells
of meeting Brown at Stockton by tele-
graphic appointment, and how he tried TO
induce hsr there to sign a paper tending
TO Vindicate him. When he first saw her
he said: For Gods sake don't recog-
niZc me"
After a conference at the hotel he nro-
posed to give her $400 for expenses. but
would not nand ii TO her. Instead. he made
her leave the room and in her absence put
the money under pillow where she found
il. She also declares that the famous Over
man-Tunnell letters are genuine, and that
wherever in them reference was made to
Brown he was designated as r." this be-
ing a preconcerted plan.
When Matte Overman sent the affidavit
10 Df, Mclean she sent a long letter stat
ing her motives. She said she had been
brought back TO the Savior, from whom in
an hour of darkness she had wandered; that
she believed in the scrptural injunction Ito
confess your sins and He is just and able
10 forgive them" She had determined TO
lay bare the truth not SDarin2 herself