The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-12-30
And Then Filed Complaint Charg-
ing BiackEuaiI
A PREACHERS PREnICAMENT
Which Leads to Invoking Protection of
the Law
All Assertions Of Wrong Doing Are Denied
Deacons and Congregation Stand
by Their Shepherd
Associated Press Special Wire.

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 blacknail and
says that be paid her $500 TO secure her
silence in regard to his alleged relations
with Miss Overman. young lady from
Tacoma, who visited at his house. The
First Congregational church is the largest
and most fashionable one of that denomi'
nation in the city. Mrs. Davidson, who is
a woman about sixty years of aye, came
here during the NJ dwinter fair as rep
resentative of Boston corset firm,
and lately conducted corset store tf her
own here. She has attended Dr. Browne
church for about a year and has taken
great interest in church matters. Miss
Overnan came here from Tacoma for her
health and visited at the house of Or.
Brown, whose family she knew in Tacoma.
After ay of several months. duri n9
which time she became acquainted with
Mrs. Davidson. Miss Overman returned TO
Tacoma, but came back to San Francsc o
when Mrs. Davidson promised to secur e
employ ment for her.
According to DR.. Brown, Mrs. Davidson
came to him last November at q 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 she had been commissioned by
Mrs. Jane Elizabeth Baddin, lodging
house-keeper, to demand $1,000 down and
800 a month for ten years if he did not
want his intimacy with Miss Overman eX-
posed.
Mrs. Davidson said that Miss Overman
had contided in her and would testify
against him, and that Mrs. baddin knew
that he had occupied a room in a lodging
house with a young lady. Mrs. Davidson
pointed out to him that owing to the state
of public feeling almost anything that wit
would swear to would be believed, and
advised him to settle at once. DR.. Brown
was Mortified at the nature of the charges
brought against him, and saw no
means of escape. He succeeded,
however, in reducing the figures
to $500 down and $50 a month for five
years. He paid Mrs. Davidson $500, for
which she signed receipt. After paying
over the money DR.. Brown attempted to
find Mrs. Baddin, but without success.
Finally he met Miss Overman, who was
stopping with Mrs. Davidson, and re-
preached her with her perfidy. She indig-
nanty denied that she had made any such
charges. and when 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
Wi4Cs AHCh tuC IlIiulstcT CODSulttu Will
deacons of the church. and the result is the
arrest of Mrs. Davidson. Both the minis
ter and Miss Overman deny that there is
the slightest foundation for the charges.
Mrs. Davidson, when seen after her arrest,
said: "Dr. Brown called on me several
months ago an( voluntarily confessed his
love for Miss Olerman. He asked my adj
vice and told him to sever his relations
with the girl at once"
Miss Overman, she says, also confessed
her love for Dr. Brown and that he had
promised to pay her $50 month. A few
days after this Mrs. Davidson says DR..
Brown handed her $50 to give to Miss
Overman. saying he had promised to pay
her that amount for ten months.
Some time ago strange woman, who
called herself Mrs. Baddin, called on Mrs.
Davidson and said she knew of DR..
Browns intimacy with Miss Overman and
demanded 5000 as the price of her ST.
lence. About six weeks ago she sent for
DIR. Brown and told him OF Mrs. BadIn's
demands. He said:
ut 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 me every
thing. DR.. Brown said he uld not pay
her 5 5000, bu would pay $1,000, with
$500 down, and the rest at the rate of $50
a month. Dr. Brown said he would leave
San Francisco within three months, as he
had calls from Congregational churches in
Brooklyn and Philadelphia ~
Next day she paid The 5000 to Mrs. Bad
din, who said she was going to leave town,
but would return each mo tn for the $50.
Mrs. Davidson says DR.. Brown paid S35
Tor Miss Overman in August. September,
October, November and December.
She concluded ner statement by saying:
Il have kept this secret from the church
for the sake of Miss Overman and Dr..
brown, but the truth must be told, and
am sorry L am obliged TO divulge these
things"
The Chronicle says: Miss Overman is a
tall woman with red hair and blue eyes.
She is said TO be a divorced woman. Mat
tie Overman is her maiden name. Some
months ago she came to the Chronicle and
offered story on prominent man for
$1,000. She is not particularly good look
ing. but is an interesting taiker.
SO far the police have failed to find any
trace of Mrs. Baddin, or the lodging house
which she is said to have kept.
The FIRST Congregational church was
crowded this morning as the result OF the
exposure of the alleged Matchmaking at
tenpts upon MIR. Brown. The minister in
his sermon referred indirectly to the attack
upon his reputation One of the deacons
also spoke and corroborated DR.. Browns
statement that he consulted with the Of
Ulcers of the church before causing the
arrest of Mrs. Davidson. After the church
services a number of the CONGREGATION
Is ook hands with DR.. Brown and expressed
confidence in him
Mrs. Davidson today tells a story that
differs slightly from the one she told last
night She says now that size believes she
Is the victim of plot in which DR.. Brown
and Miss Overnan are The plotters, She
still Insists that they are guilty, and her
theory Is that DR.. BfoWn, knowing that she
was aware of his amour with Miss Over
man, and fearing exposure, bold y planned
TO fofestail damaging developments by ac-
cuslng her OF blacktuail. She thinks that
DR.. Brown secured the mysterious Mrs.
Baddil, and had her call on her with the
story. and thus force her into the position
OF go-between. After inducing her to ac-
cept money for Mrs. Baddin and to sign a
receipt, Dr.. Brown now charges her with
blackmail.
l. II. Morse, the moderator of the First
congregational church society and one of
the deacons OF the church, made s. ..e-
ment to the congregation this morning.
Just before DR.. Brown opened his sermon
Deacon Morse stepped on tue platform in
front OF the pulpit aud said:
al wish to make an official statement to
the members of the church and congrega-
ton in reference to the articles which APP
peared in thi5 mornings papers.
last Monday morning DR.. Brown called
Deacon Dexter and myself INFO uslIlta-
tlon about this natter He told the DRY
TO us substantially as it appeared in the
papers. The story he told was complete in
all of its details and was supstantiated by
Il4far ys,f