Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-12-31
BLACKMAIL
Mrs. Davidson Arrested
On the Charge.
SHE SAID REV. Q. o. brown WAS
TOO FOND OF MISS ovERMAN.
A CHURCH SCANDAL.
A PROMINENT SAN FRANCISCO MIN
IsTER FIGURES IN A VERY
SENSATIONAL STORY.
lie Paid for Silence nut This being
Unnvuiling He Had His Perse-
cutor Arrested.

San Francisco. Cal, Dec 3O.-Mary
\. Davidson has been arrested on the
charge Of extortion preferred by Rev.
c. o. Brown, pastor o fthe First Con-
gregaticnal church. Or. Brown charges
her with blaokmail and says he paid
her $500 to secure her silence in re-
gard to his alleged relations with Miss
overman. a young woman from Ia
coma, who visited at his house. The
First Congregational church Is the
largest and most fashionable one Of
that denomination in the city.
Mrs. Davidson, who is woman or
about GO years Of age. came here during
the mid-winter fair as representative
of Boston corset firm and lately con-
Quoted a corset store of her own here.
She has attended Dr. Browns church
for about a year and has taken great
interest In church matters. Miss over
man came here from Tacoma for her
health and visited at the house OF DR..
Brown, whose family she knew in Ia
coma. After stay Of several months,
during which time she became ac-
quninted with Mrs. Davidson, Miss
Overman returned to Tacoma, but
came back to San Francisco when
Mrs. Davidson promised TO secure en-
ployment for her.
According to Mr.. Brown. Mrs. David
son came TO him last October Mt time
when there was intense excitement In
the city over the exposure Of several
old men who had been debAuching
young girls, and told him that she had
been commissioned by Mrs. Jane Eliza
beth Baden, a lodglng-houso keeper
to demand $4,000 down and 500 month
for ten years II he did not want to he
exposed. She said Miss Overman had
cuntided In her and would testify
against him, but that Mrs. Baden
knew that he had occupied room In
lodging-house with an unknown wo-
man. 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 settle at once.
DR.. Brown was Mortified ut the nature
of the charges brought against him and
saw no means of escape. He succeeded.
however, In reducing the figure down
TO $500 and 1876 a month for five years
He paid Mrs. Davidson $500, for which
she signed receipt, After paying over
the money Or. Brown attempted to
find Mrs. Baden, but without success
Finally he met Miss Overman, who was
stopping with Mrs. Davidson. and ap-
preached her with peridy. She indlg-
nantly denied that she had made any
charges and whom confronted with Mrs
Davidson denounced the woman as In
famous.
Miss Overman Immediately left Mrs.
Davidson's house and went to the home
OF DR., Brown, where she is now under
the protection Of his wife. Then the
minister consulted with the deacons OF
the church and the result is the arrest
of Mrs, Davidson, Both the minister
m =
the slightest foundation for the
charges.
Mrs. Davidson when seen after her
arrest said Or. Brown called on her
several months ago and voluntarily
confessed his love for Miss Overman.
He asked her advice and she told him
10 sever his relations with the girl at
once. Miss Overman. she says, con-
fessed her love for Dr. Brown and that
he had promised to pay her sos n
month A few days after this Mrs.
Davidson says Or. Brown handed her
sS5 to give to Miss Overman, saying he
had promised her that amount for ten
months. Some time ago strange wo.
man who called herself Mrs. Rndden
called on Mrs. Davidson and said she
know OF Dr. Browns intimacy with
Mics overman and demanded sl0 900 ms
the price Of her silence About SIX
weeks ago she sent for DR.. Brown nnd
told him OF Mrs Badden's demands He
said; 1T Is all true and more, too" Mrs
Davidson continued: HE refused TO
see the woman and asked me to handle
the business for him He said; You
have our hearts secrets and told mo
everything. Or. Brown said he could
not pay her $4,000, but would pay $4,000
with $500 down and the rcst al tho rate
OF S35 q month. DR.. Brown said he
would leave San Francisco within three
months ms he had calls from churches
In Brooklyn and Philadelphia Maxi
day she paid the $500 TO Mrs. Badden
who said she was going TO leave town
hut would return each month for ths
Ss5. Mrs. Davidson says Or. Brown has
paid ssh for Miss overman in August
and September, November and Denam.
her. She concluded her statement hv
saying; II have kept this secret for
the sake OF the church: for the snke Of
Miss overn,nn and DR.. Brown, but the
truth must be told and am sorry am
obliged 10 divulge these things
The Cronicle says: Miss Overman ia
q tall young woman with red hair md
blue eyes. She is said to be a dIvorrsd
woman. Matte Oyerman Is hor maiden
name, Some months ago she came ~
the Chronicle and offered n story on n
prominet man Tor $1,000. She Is NOT
particularly good looking, but is ar in
teresting talker.
So far the police have failed TO And
nny trace OF Mrs. Baden or the ,nag.
inE-house she is said TO have kept.
The First Congregational church ,uos
crowded this morning as the resul, ~,
the exposure ot the alleged blackma,i.
ing attempt upon Or. Brown. Tire min.
lister appeared as usual and his ser-
mon referred Indirectly to the attan,,
upon his reputation. One OF the don.
cons also spoke and cOrrobnratcd ~.
Browns statement that he had cnn.
suited with, the officers Of the church
before causing the arrest OF Mrs
Davidson. After the church services a
number OF the congregation shoois
hnnds With Or. Brown and expressed