The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-12-31

oha ia = ne &obHaeu mas Love fDI me
Young Lady to her Over n Year Ago
--Dr. Brown Denies it all and FIX
plains Why he Gave MRS Davidson
Money and Took Receipt for II.
SAN FRANCISCO. Cal, Dec 30
Mrs Mary Davidson, who was arrested
Saturday night on complaint of Rev.
DIR. c, O. Brown, pastor of the First
Congregational church, on a charge of
eNtortion, has been unable TO obtain
bail. and is still in prison Mrs. David
son taught in the Sunday school of the
church, which is one of the largest
and most fashionable il the city, and
her arrest has caused great astonish-
ment in church circles. She adheres
to her original statement with regard
TO DR.. Browns alleged offenses and
says that, although She may be sent
to States prison. She believes her
charges against the minister will uiti-
mately be verified. Or. Brown as
steadfastly denies the accusations
made against him and declares that he
vii exert every effort to send Mrs.
Davidson TO prison.
Mrs. Davidson says She had long
been aware of the alleged relations be-
tween Dr. Brown and Miss Overman.
DR. Brown called upon me often
and asked me to pray for him. /
promised to do so. Mrs Mason. a
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 for Dr. Brown and the conore-
CATION.
eve went to the church as sug
gested. but Dr. Brown did not receive
us in the manner that true Christian
would have done. He seemed annoyed
an our actions.
'.He called upon me again al my
place Of business and asked me to 90
with him to the y. NJ. c. \. building
as he wished 10 speak to me privately.
/ thought it strange request, as /
knew no one there, and had never
been there. | accompanied him. how
ever. and he introduced me TO the
secretary, Mr.. Mccoy. Then he asked
Mr. Mccoy for the use of private
room. one that he had often used. Mr..
Mccoy said he could have the room
and we entered it, Mr.. Brown swung
the door backwards but did not com
pletely close il.
at was there that he told me that
his passion for Miss Overman was con-
suIning him: he said he would be
willing to give up his family, his pro-
fession and entire career for her. /
was greatly shocked and again coun-
selled with him and warned him of his
danger. Once more | advised him to
stick to the text: Love Thy Wife
advised him as a mother and son and
told him he should see the danger be-
fore it was too late. | called the atfec-
tion an 'unholy passion He corrected
me bv stvling it unlawful love
He went away greatly comforted.
He said it relieved him to unfold to
me"
Mrs. Davidson's defamation of my
character is utterly inconsistent with
her actions for the past year said DR..
Brown. ''She SAYS she knew Of all my
Illegal relations with this innocent
girl. If she did. why did she walk,
guilty of such a crime?
'Jrp TO the time she robbed me OF
$500. for | can use no other words 10
characterize the manner in which she
not the money, she says she knew /
was not morally fit to occupy the posi-
tion of pastor of my church. Yet she
was one of the people who went about
singing my praises to the trustees
deacons and other officials OF the firSt
Congregational church
at may seem strange that ! nave
given her any money, but when come
10 think of it, or rather figure IL out
logically. you will readily see there
was no other course for me 10 pursue.
If had not given her the money ana
secured the signed receipts, she would
probably have gone about circulating
her Infamous lies about me. ] would
have nothing to show that She hau
first come 10 me with the same STORY
with the purpose of extortion. NO"
that ! have the receipt ! have POSITIVE
rs well rs legal evidence to prove her
true character.
Miss Overman will tell her story I'm
the court room. She VIII take the
stand and proclaim my innocence. She
will tell all she knows about the dla-
bolical plot of her pretended friend TO
ruin me-
DIR. Brown is one of the most proml-
nent ministers III this city and is we'll
known throughout the Pacific coast.
He was formerly identified with religI-
Gus work at Battle Creek, Mich, anu
Dubuque, Iowa.
MAY ALSO BE 4 SWINDLER.
BOSTON, Mass, Dec. 30.-The police
here believe that the Mrs. Davidson
under arrest in San Francisco charged
with blackmail by Rev. c. o. Brown.
| is the same, who had an interesting
experience in this State several years
ago. She was charged with defraud-
ing piano factories while in the music
business at Lynn, and the trial, which
resulted in her conviction and sentence,
| to two years imprisonment, was highly
| sensational, the prisoner acting as her
own counsel.