The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-12-30


sAN FRANCISCO, Dec. so.-Mrs.
Mary A. Davidson has been arrested on
the charge OF extortion preferred by pr.
c. o. Brown, pastor OF the First Con-
gregatIonal 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 oveFman, o
young woman from Tacoma, who VISIT
cd his house.
The First Congregational church -
the largest and most fashionable one or
that denomination in the city Mrs.
Davidson, who is a woman about sixty
years OF age, came here during the mid
winter fair as representative Of a BoA-
| ton corset firm, and lately conducted o
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 Overman came
here from Tacoma for her health and
visited at the house Of Dr. Brown,
| whos6 family she knew in Tacoma. Az
ter q stay OF several months, during
which time she became acquainted with
| Mrs. Davidson, Miss Overman returned
to Tacoma, but came back TOT San
| Francisco when Mrs. Davidson prom
Ised TO secure employment for her, Ac-
cordIng TO DIR, 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 had been debauchlng young
girls, and told him she had been COM
mlssloned by Mrs. Jane Elizabeth Bad
din. n lodging house keeper, to demand
| 5000 down and 500 month for ten
years II he did not want his intimacy
with Miss overman exposed. Mrs.
Davidson pointed out to him that owing
to the state OF public feeling almost
anything that witnesses would swear 10
would be believed and advised him 70
settle at once.
Was Horrihsd.
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 $35 month for five years. He
paid Mrs Davidson $500, for which she
signed receipt. After paying over the
money DR.. Brown attempted 70 ind
Mrs. Baddln. but without success. FL
nally he met Miss Overman, who was
shopping with Mrs. Davidson, and re-
preached her for her perldy. She In
| dlgnantly denied that she had made
hAll IlAkA kEut aAAAu NlAIAA N0HAAbAAbSA WIN
| Mrs. Davidson, denounced the woman
aS Infamous. Miss Overman imnle-
dIately left Mrs. Davidson's house and
went to the home Of DR.. Brown, whore
sho Is now under the protection OF his 2
wife. Then the minister eonsulted
with the deacons Of the church and tho
result Is the arrest OF Mrs. Davidson.
Both the minister and Miss oyerman
deny that there is the slightest founda-
tion for the charges.
Mrs. Davidson. when seen after her
arrest, Eaid Dr. Brown called on her
several months ago and voluntarily
confessed his love for Miss Oyermar.
He asked her advice and she told him
TO sever his relations with the girl at
once. Miss Overrnan, she says, con-
fessed her love for DR.. Brown and that
he had promised TO pay her thirty-five
| dollars a month. A few days after this
Mrs. Davidson says DR.. Brown handed
her thirty-fYe dollars to give TO Mihs
0vernan, saying he had promised to
pay her that amount for ten months.
Some time ago strange woman who
called herself Mrs. BadIn, called on Mrs.
Davidson and said she knew OF Dr.
| Browns intimacy with Miss overnan
and demanded 10000 as the price OF her
silence. About six weeks ago she sent
| for Dr. Brown and told him OF Mrs.
Baddin's demands. He said: 1T Is
all true and more too"
Paid Her the Money.
Mrs. Davidson continued: "He re-
fused TO see the 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 $4,000. but would pay
| 5000, with $500 down and the rest at
| the rate OF thlrty-hye dollars month.
Dr. Brown said he would leave San
Francisco within three months as he
| had calls from churches In Brooklyn
and Philadelphia"
Next day she paid the $500 TO Mrs.
Baddin, who said she was ding to leave
town. but would return each month for
the thirty-flve dollars
Mrs. Davidson said Or. Brown has
paid thirty-flve dollars for Miss Over
man In August and September. Novem-
Der and December. She concluded her
statement by saying: II have kept THIS
secret for the sake OF the church; for
the sake OF Miss 0verman and Dr.
Brown, but the truth must be told, and
am sorry am Obliged to divulge these
things"
Tho Chronicle says, Miss oyernan
10 a tall young woman with red hair and
blue eyes. She IL said to be n divorced
woman. Matte OvOrmhn Is her mai-
den name. Some months ago she came
10 the Chronicle and offered story on
prominent man for $1,000. She is not
particularly Eood-loOklng, but Is an in-
tereSting taiker."
So far the police have failed to ind
any trace OF Mrs Raddin. or the lodg-
ing house which abe is said 10 have
kent.
'The first Conversational church was
crowded this morning a. the result OF
the exposure OF the alleged blackmail-
ing attempt on DIR. Brown. The minis
Ter appeared as usual. and in his sors
mon referred indirectly to tho attack
upon his reputation, one of the dea-
cons also spoke and corrobornted DR..
Browns statement that he had con4
suited with the officers Of the church
before causing the arrest OF Mrs. Da-
vldson. After the church services q
number Of the congregation shook
hands ith DR.. Brown and expressed
confidence In him.