The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-01-02
THE SAN FRANCISCO SCANDAL
Sensational Developments in the
Brown Case.
Rev: Charles o. Brown Twice Made tho
Mark OF Designing women-A Member
OF His Own Congregation Planned q
Scheme For BIaohmaiI-she was
Trapped in Her Game, But is ssiII 81
Member OF His Church.

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 1.--Scsndal fs
being added to scandal in the sepsa.
tionsl developments of the accusations
made by the Rev. Charles O. Brown
against Mrs. Mary Davidson. The raw
erend gentleman declares that he ia no
new Victim Of the wiles OF blsckmsiIers.
For the second time within eighteen
months he hos been made the mark OF
echeming women, who entered his
sanctuary to trap and persecute him.
Nearly two years ago, he declarss.
Mrs. M. A. Stockton, me N Der OF his own
congregation, woman who assumed O
Christian spirit and won friends in the
church, planned upon him scheme of
olackmail, which would have succeeded
were 1t not for timely aid which came
to him from an unexpected source.
Some time after DR.. Brown met Mrs.
Stockton, he Gays, he received = messa0e.
from her. She wae on bod OF illness.
She wrote him and asked him to call to,
give that spiritual consolation which in
his vocation he muat render. 1t was his
duty to go and he went. He had no more
than entered the room, he declares then
inst MRS. Stockton sprsng toward him
ana throwing her arms around him.
Kissed him. He WAS dumbioundcd at the
srddcnness of the attack and Mortified
st the offense ca the woman.
Before he could release himselfa con.
federste OF Mrs. Stockton was in the
room. smiling spectator Of tho scene.
DR.. Brown says he realized that he wss
trapped: He lefs tho room 40 rapidly
as possible. Distressed and oxoited he
declares he did not know what 60 do.
ii could NOT evade an understanding OF
tho woman's motive; but he says he did
nos feel able 10 tell his congregation
Ae couiu DO no more than await de-
velopments and strive TO defess the
scdemer's plans.
With his distressing meeting with
Mrs. Stockton his association with her,
he says, ceased. He had absolutely
nothing more to do with nor, ana,
athough Ahe continued to attend tho
First Congregational Church, he did NOT
her.
Although he could do nothing himself,
he had friends who were active in his
behalf. Mrs. Stockton had q lawyer.
and IL his sworn affidavit be the truth,
she was not only trapped in her game
with DR.. Brown, but in two others In
which she hoped to make large sums of
money. Mrs. Stockton is still mem
Der or the First Congregational Church,
of which DR.. Brown Is pastor.
Moro About MRS. Davidson.
BOSTON, Jan. 1.-Further investles-
tion into tho case OF Mrs. Davidson, OF
San francisco, charged with wrong
doing by Rev. Charles O. Brown, of that
city, brings to light the fact that Mrs.
Davidson did once 1.-Two In Boston and
that she had sn interesting career in
which she managed to get considerable
money from one person before she left
the city
In 1890 and 1891 MIRA, Davidson was a
member OF Rev. Nehemiah Boyd,on's
congregation at the Union Church on
Columbus avenue. and lster became a
prominent member OF fremont Temple
congregation. At that time she was
peddling starch, and by her eloquenoe
che sold large stock Ut good profit,
and made many friends. among whom
was Mrs. Sarah Stevens, an old lady
about 80 years Of age, who became
deeply interested in Mrs. Davidson and
her alleged religious work.
MRS. Stevens had considerable money
invested In bonds, and when they were
called in and paid Mira Davidson learned
of tho amour; of ready Dash held by her
friend, and persuaded Mrs. Stevens to
l>an her $4,000 on note at 4 per cent,
10 enable Mrs. Davidson to start in the.
dressmaking business. The note was
payable In ten years. Soon afterwards.
wanting more money. she persuaded
Mrs. Stevens to loan Sc, 900 more, also
on .en years note, but this time az 8
per cent. Mrs Davidson went to Chicago
in 1893, and from there to San Fran.
cisco. Her payments Of the interest ON
the note. 1t Is ssid, have been few and
far bstween. In connection with her
dealings with Mrs. Stevens and appeals
for remittsnces, che has written very
fowery letters.