The Wilmington daily Republican., 1895-12-30
A FRISCO SENSATION.
The Scandal Which Is Agitating
: California's Metropolis. -..-~
CHARGES AGAINST A MINISTER.

He Admits Having Paid Five Hundred Dol
lars TO Blackmaiier - The Alleged
BlaclsnniIer, Who Is Under Arrest, De-
cIares That sho Acted for the Minister.
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 8o.--Mrs. Mary A.
Davidson has been arrested on the charge
Of extortion preferred by Rev.C. o. Brown,
pastor Of the First Congregational church.
DR. Brown charges her with blackmail.
and says he paid her $500 to secure her
silence in regard TO his alleged relations
with Miss Overman, q young woman from
Tacoma, who visited at his house.
Thu First Congregational church is the
largest and most fashionable one Of that
denomination in the city. Mrs. Davidson,
who is woman about 80 years Of age,
came here during the Midwinter fair as
representative Of Boston corset firm,
and lately conducted a corset store Of her
own here. She has attended DIR. Browns
church for about year and has taken
great interest in church matters. Miss
Overman came here from Tacoma for her
health and visited at the house of DIR.
Brown, whose family she knew in Tacoma.
After stay Of several months, during
which time she became acquainted with
Mrs. Davidson, Miss Overmun returned to
Tacoma, but came back to San Francisco
when Mrs. Davidson promised to secure
employment for her.
According to DR.. Brown, Mrs. Davidson
came to him last November at the time
when there was intense excitement in the
city over the exposure Of several old men
who md been debauching young girls and
told him she had been commissioned by
Mrs. Jane Elizabeth Baddin, a lodging
house keeper, to demand g., 600 down and
800 month for ten years II he did not
want his intimacy with Miss Oyerman
exposed. Mrs. Davidson said that Miss
Overman had confided in her and would
testify against him, and that Mrs, Baddin
knew that he had occupied room In a
lodging house with an unknown woman
Mrs Davidson pointed out to him that
owing to the state of public feeling almost
anything that witnesses would swear to
would be believed, and advised him to set-
tie at once.
DIR. Brown was Mortified at the nature Of
the charges brought against him, and saw
no means of escape. He succeeded, how
ever, in reducing the figures to $500 down
and s35 month for five years. He paid
Mrs Davidson $500, for which she signed
receipt. After paying over the money
DIR. Brown attempted to find Mrs. Baddin,
but without success. Finally he met the
Miss Ovcrman, who was shopping with
Mrs Davidson, and reproached her with
her perfidy. She Indignantly denied that
she had made any charges, and when con-
fronted with Mrs. Davidson, denounced
the woman as infamous. Miss Overman
Immediately left Mrs. Davidson's house
andgwent TO the home OF DIR. Brown, where
she is now under the protection of hts
wife Then the minister consulted with
the deacUns Of the church and the result
is the arrest Of Mrs. Davidson. Both the
minister and Miss Overman deny that
there is the slightest foundation for the
charges.
Mrs. Davidson. when seen after her ar
rest, said DIR. Brown called on her several
months ago and voluntarily confessed his
love for Miss Overman. He asked her ad.
vice, and she told him to sever his rela-
tions with the girl at once. Miss Over
man, she says, confessed her love for DR..
| Brown, and that he had promised TO pay
| her S35 IL month. A few days after this
| Mrs Davidson says DIR. Brown handed
her s35 to give to Miss Oyerman, saying
| he had promised to pay her that amount
for ten months.
Some time ago strange woman who
| called hcrself Mrs. Baddln, called on Mrs.
| Davidson and said she knew of DIR. Browns
| intimacy with Miss Overman, and do
| manded $4,000 as the price of her silence.
: About six weeks ago she sent for DR.
| Brown and told him of Mrs. Baddin's dc
mands. He said; ut is all true, and more
] too"
i Mrs. Davidson continues: He refused
to see tho woman and asked me to handle
the business for him. He said, You have
| our hearts secrets, and told me everything
| Dr. Brown said he could not pay her $40,
Oo0, but would pay 5000, with $500 dowr
and the rest at the rate of s35 month. DIR
Brown said no would leave San Francisco
within three months, as he hnd calls from
churches in Brooklyn and Philadelphia.
Next day she paid tho $500 to Mrs. Bad
din, who said she was going toleave town
bat would return each month for the S35
Mrs. Davidson says DIR, Brown has pait
s35 for Miss Overman In August and Sep
tember. November and December. Sh,
concluded her statement by saying: f
have kept this secret for the sake Of tn
church. for the sake of Miss Overman AM
| DIR. Brown, but tho truth must be told
and l am sorry l am obliged to dlvulg
these things"
Miss Overman Is a tall young womal
with rcd hair and blue eyes She Is sait
to be divorced woman. Matte Overmal
is her maiden name. Some months ag
she went to The Chronicle and offered
story on prominent man for 81, 900. Sh
Is not particularly good looking, but is al
interesting talker.
So far the police have failed to find an,
trace of Mrs. Baddin or the lodging hous
which she is said to have kept.
Murdered His Brother-in-Law.
| prINcarnN Ind Dec no Satnrdn