The Indianapolis journal., 1895-12-31
She Says the Preacher Admitted His
Relations with Miss Overmnn Were
Intimate and Unlawful.
DENIED BY THE MINISTER
HIS REASONS FOR PAYING HUSH
MONEY TO THE WOMAN.
Latter's Bail Reduced by the Police
Judge-She Addresses the Court
Her Career I'm 3Iassachusetts.

Davidson. who was arrested Saturday night,
on complaint OF DR.. G.. o. Brown, pastor of
the First Congregational Church. on a
charge of extortion, has been unable to OBJ
tain bail and is still in prison. Mrs. David
son taught a class in the Sunday school
Of the church. which Is one Of the largest
and most fashionable in the city, and her
arrest has caused great astonishment in
church circles. She added to her original
statement with regard to DR.. Browns al
legged offense, and says that although she
may be sent to States prison, she believes
her charges against the minister will ulti-
mately be verified. DIR. Brown stoutly denies
the accusations made against him and de-
clares that he will exert every effort to
send Mrs. Davidson to San Quentin.
Mrs. Davidson says she has long been
aware OF the alleged relations between DIR.
Brown and Miss Overman. ''Dr. Brown"
she says, called on me often and asked me
to pray for him. / promised TO do so. Mrs.
Mason. member OF the church. came to me
one day and suggested that we both go
down to the church at 10 o'clock every Sun
day morning and pray for DIR. Brown and
the congregation. We went to the church as
suggested. but DIR. Brown did not receive
US In the manner that true Christian
would have done. He seemed annoyed at
our actions. He called on again at my
place Of business and asked me to go with
him to the Y. NJ c. A. building. he
wished to speak to me privately. thought
1t a strange request. as knew no one there
and had never been there. 1 accompanied
him. however, and he introduced me 10 the
secretary, Mr.. Mccoy, as one Of his Chris
tian women Then he asked Mr.. Mccoy for
often used. Mr.. Mccoy said he could have
the room and We entered it. DIR. Brown
swung the door backwards but did not COM
me that his passion for Miss Overman was
consuming him; he said he would be willing
to give up his family, his profession and
and again I counseled with him and warned
him OF his danger. Once more / advised him
TO stick tt the text love thy wife, ad-
vtsed him as a mother, and a son, and told
him he should see the danger before 1t was
too late. called the affection an unholy
passion He corrected me by styling it 'un-
lawful love- He went away greatly COM
himself to me-"
THE PREACHERS STATEMENT.
MIS- Davidson's defamation of my char
actter is utterly inconsistent with her ac-
tions for the past year." said DR.. Brown.
''She says she knew of my infamous rela-
tions with this innocent girl. If she did
why lid she walk talk. eat and sleep with
any woman guilty OF such a crime? Up to
the time she robbed me of the $500. for 1
can use no other words to characterize the
manner in which she got the money, she
says she knew I was not morally fit to oc-
cupy the position of pastor of my church.
Yet she was one Of the people who went
about singing my praises to the trustees.
gregational Church 1t may seem strange
that have given her any money. but when
you come to think of it, or rather to figure
was no other course for me to pursue. If
I had not given her any money and secured
sne 9 signed ned receipt she would probably have
ABOUT me: would have had nothing to show
that she had first come to me with the same
that / have the receipt / have positive as
well as legal evidence to prove her true
character She was not aware when she
ing the warrant that will send her to states
prison. where she and all OF her kind be-
long. Miss Overman will tell her story in
the court room. She will take the stand
and proclaim my innocence She will tell
all she knows about the diaboIical plot of
her pretended friend to ruin me-"
The case was called in the police court
Today Dr. Brown claims that he paid
the woman the money to secure evidence
the woman's explanation Is that the money
was for another woman. Mrs. Baddn, who
claims, rented room to Dr. Brown. in
which TO meet Miss Overman. The at
torney for Mrs. Davidson applied for a
change OF venue on the ground of preju-
dice. finally explaining that Police Judge
Campbell was unfriendly TO DR.. Brown
This statement, coming from the defense
caused general surprise. The court denied
the motion for a change of venue, stating
that he had no quarrel with Brown whom
gentleman Then the defendants counsel
recalled an occasion when from the pulpit
DIR. Brown, In the course Of sermon on
corruption. read a grand jury report scor-,
ing the courts and Judge Campbell particu-
larry. On that occasion Judge Campbell,
who was In Browns church. arose in his
seat and asked permission TO correct
Brown. The latter invited the Judge to the
pulpit. when Campbell explained that the
fury" absolving Brown. however, from any
imputation of untruthfulness.
Mrs Davidson's attorney applied for
reduction of the prisoners bail from So, 900
to lower sum- The court reduced the
bail to $2.oO0 with the concurrence of
Browns attorney, who stated that he would
consent to a still further reduction pro-
would be I'm court when needed. Mrs.
Davidson addressed the court herself, dra-
matically stating that no sum of money
would induce her to leave town, and that
she would be on hand until this unholy
thing should be exposed I'm the light of
heaven" The case then went over until
Thursday. The court room was crowded
with friends of both Mrs. Davidson and DR..
Brown. although the majority appeared to
sympathize with the clergyman.
DIR. Brown Is one of the most prominent
ministers in this city and is well known
throughout the Pacific coast. He was for
merly identified with the religious works
at Battle Creek. Mich. and Dubuque, Iowa.