The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1895-12-31
CHARGED WITH BlACxMAIl
Mrs. Mary Davidson Arrested on
the Charge Of Extortion.
Rev. q. 0. Brown, Pastor OF tho First
Congregational Church, OF San Fran
( disco, Fer Aoouser-He Says She
3 Charged Him With Improper Rela-
: lions with an Innocent Girl and De.
/, manded Money.

lions With an Innocent Girl and De.
manded Money.
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 30.-Mrs. Msry
Davidson, who WAS arrested Saturday
night on complaint OF Rev. DR.. G. o.
Brown, pastor of the First Coneregs-
tional Church, on charge of extortion,
has been unable to obtain bail and Is
still in prison Mrs. Davidson taught
In tie Sunday-school of the church,
which is one of the largest and most
fashionable In the city, and her arrest
has caused great astonishmenti in church
circles. She adheres to her original
statement with regard to DR.. Browns
alleged offenses, and says that although
che may be sent to State prison, she be-
lieves her chargea against the minister
will ultimately be verified. DR.. Brown
az ateadiastly denies the accusations
made against him and declares that he
will exert every effort to send Mrs. Da-
vidson to prieon.
According to DR.. Browns statement
Mrs. Davidson came to him last No.
vember, and told him she had been
commissioned by Mrs. Jane Elizabeth
Baddin, lodging house keeper, to de-
mnnd $4,000 down and 500 q month
for ten years II he did not want his
intimacy with Mics Overman exposed
Mrs. Davidson said that Miss Overman
had conhded In her and would testify
against him, and that Mrs. Baddin
know that ne had occupied room In
lodHing-hou.e with on unknown
woman.
DR.. Brown was Mortified OF the nature
OF the charges brought against him and
saw no means of escape. He succeeded
however, in reducing tho figures to $500
down and S35 a month for Ave years. He
paid Mrs. Davidson $500, for which she
signed o receipt. After paying over the
money Dr.. Brown attempted to find
Mrs. Baddin, but without success
Finally he met Miss Overmau, who WAS
shopping with hrs. Davidson, and re-
preached her with her perfdy. She in
diRnantly denied that she bad made
any charges. aud when confronted by
MRS. Davidson, denounced the woman
as infamous. Then the minister con-
suited with the deacons OF the church
and the result WAS the arrest OF Mrs
Davidson. Both the minister and Miss
Overman deny that there is the slightes t
foundation for the charges.
MRS. Davidson says che had long bsen
aware of the alleged relations between
Or. Brown and Miss Oflerman. "Dr.
Brown called upon me often and asked
me to pray for him." she said. "I
promised to do go. Mrs. Mason, q
member of the church. came to me one
day and suggested that we should both
go down to the church at 10 o'clock
every Sunday morning and pray tor DR.,
Brown and the congregation. We went
to the church as suggested, but DR..
Brown did not receive US in tho manner
thad true Christian would have done.
He seemed annoyed at our action.
"Mrg. Davidaon's defamation OF nv
character is utterly inconsistent with
her actions for the past year" said
Dr.. Brown. "Sbe says abe knew of nv
alleged infamous rotations with this
innocent girl. If she did, why did she
walk, talk and eat or sleep with any
woman guilty of such 2 crimeP
"Up to the time she robbed mo OF
$500. for l can use no other words to
characterize the manner in which she
not morally fit to occupy the position
of pastor Of my church. Yet she was
one of people who went about sing
ing my praises to the trustees, deacons
and other officials of the First Congre-
gational Church.
"Is may seem strange that 1 have
given her sny money, but if had not
given her tho money and secured the
signed receipt she would probably have
gone ebout circulating her infamous
lies shout nae. Now that I have the re-
oeips have positive as we'll as legal
evidence to prove her true character.
She was not aware when she signed
that bit of paper that she was sealing
the warrant that will send her to States
prison. whore she and all OF her kind
belong.
"Miss Overman will tell her story in
the courtroom. She will take the stand
and proclaim my innocence. She will
tell all she knows about tho diabolical
plot Of her pretended friend to ruin me-"
DR.. Brown is one of the most promis-
ing ministers in this city and is we'll
known throughout the Pacific coast.
He WAS formerly identified with relig-
ious works at Battle Creek, Mich, and
Dubuque, Iowa.
dispatch from Boston says: The
police believe that Mrs. Davidson, I'M
der arrest in San Francisco on the
charge OF black mail, is tho same who
had the interesting experience in this
State several years ago. She was charged
with defrauding piano factories while in