The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1896-01-02
Rev. Brown of San Francisco Has
Woman Arrested.
CHARGES HER WITH BlACKMAlL
Paid $500 for Her Silence in Regard TO
His Alleged Relations With
Miss Overman.

hodii IdHClSCO, Lee. lS.-MTS. mary
A. Davidson has been arrested on
charge of extortion preferred by Rev.
c. o. Brown, pastor of the First Con-
gregational church. Mr.. Brown charges
her with blackmall and says he paid her
$500 to secure her silence In regard to
his alleged relations with Miss Over
man, a young woman from Tacoma,
who visited at his house.
The First Congregational church is
the largest and the most fashionable
one of that denomination in the city
Mrs. Davidson came here during the
midwinter fair as the representative of
| Boston corset factory, and lately con-
has attended DR.. Browns church for
about a year and has taken great in
terest in church matters.
Miss Overman came here from Ia
coma for her health and visited at the
house of DR.. Brown, whose family she
knew In Tacoma. After a stay of sew
eral months, during which time she
became acquainted with Mrs. Davidson,
Miss Overman returned to Tacoma, but
came back to San Francisco when Mrs
Davidson promised to secure employ
ment for her.
According to the doctor, Mrs. David
son came to him last November at a
time when there was intense excite
ment In the city over the exposure of
several old men who had been debauch-
ing young girls and told him she had
been commissioned by Mrs. Jane Eliza
beth Baddin, a lodging house keeper,
| to demand $4,000 down and $100 a month
! for 10 years If he did not want his inti-
macy with Miss Overman exposed.
Mrs Davidson said that Miss Over
| man had conf1ded to her and would tes-
| tify against him and that Mrs. Baddin
knew that he had occupied a room in
| the lodging house with a young lady.
| Mrs Davidson pointed out to him that
owing to the state of public feeling, al
most anything witnesses would swear
to would be believed and advised him
to settle at once.
DR.. Brown was Mortified at the ma
ture of the charges brought against
him and saw no means of escape. He
| succeeded, however, in reducing the
| figures to $500 down and 1876 a month
| for five years. He paid Mrs. Davidson
| $500. for which she signed a 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
| reproached her with her perfidy. She
Indignantly denied that she had made
| any such charges, and when confronted
with Mrs Davidson, denounced the wo-
man as Infamous. Miss Overman i'm
mediately 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 consult
| ed with the deacons of the church and
| the result is the arrest of the woman.
| Both the minister and Miss Overman
| deny that there is the slightest founda-
| ton for the charges.
| The Chronicle says: Miss Overman
| is tall young woman, with red hair
and blue eyes She is SAID to be a di-
vorced woman. Matte Overman is her
maiden name. Some months ago she
came to the Chronicle and offered a
story on a prominent man for $1,000
She is not a particularly good-looking
woman, but is an interesting talker."
So far the police have failed to find
any trace of Mrs Baddln or the lodg-
| ing house which she is said to have
kept
| The First Congregational church was
crowded this morning as the result OF
| the exposure of an alleged blackmail-
| ing attempt upon DIR. Brown. The min
| lister appeared as usual and in his ser
mon referred indirectly to the attack
upon his reputation. One of the dea-
cons also spoke and corroborated DR.
Browns statement that he had con-
| suited with the officers of the church
before causing the arrest of Mrs. David
| son.