The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-01-01
BIC SCANDAL IN A Church
A Sunday School Teacher Arrested
for Blackmailing His Pastor.
THE STORY OF MRS. DAVIDSON
She Claims td1lave Been Shocked by the
Unlawful Passion of Rev. DR..
Brown for Miss Ovcrman.
Tho Minister'S Version.

brown Tor u Miss OHcrmou.
Tho Minister'S Version.
San Francisco, Dec. 3O.-NIrs. Mary
Davidson, who was arrested Saturday
night on complaint of Rev. DIR. C. o.
Brown, pastor of the First Congrega-
tional church, on charge of extortion.
has been unable to obtain bail. and is
still in prison. Mrs. Davidson taught
class in the Sunday school of the
church. which is one of the largest and
most fashionable in the city, and her
arr st has caused great astonishment
in 1urch circles. She adhered to her
ofii nal statement with regard to Dr.
Br' ms alleged offenses. and says that
ait 'ugh she may be sent to states
prE n, she believes her charges against
the minister will ultimately be verified.
DR.. Brown steadfastly denies the ac-
Gus tons made against him, and de-
clares that he will exert everv effort
to send Mrs. Davidson to San Quentin.
Mrs Davidson says she has long been
aware OF the alleged relations between
III. Brown and Miss Oyerman. She
says Or. Brown called upon me often
ana asked me tn pray for him. prom
lseu To do so. Mrs. Mason. n member
OF the church, came to me one day and
suggested that we both go down to the
church at 10 O'Clock every Sunday
morning and pray for DR., Brown and
the congregation.
We went to the church as suggest
eu' put pr. brown did not receive us i'm
the manner that Il true Christian would
nave done. He seemed annoyed at our
actions ~ WI
He called upon me again at nv
piaee or business and asked me to go
Win MN To the Young Mems Christian
Association building. as he wished TO
speak 10 me privately. ! thought II a
strange request, as knew no one there.
ana mad never been there. | accom-
painted him, however and he introduced
me TO the secretary, Mr.. Mccoy. as one
OF ms christian women. 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.
ana We entered II. DR.. Brown swung
the door backwards, but did not COM
pletely close 1t.
1T was there that he told me that his
passion for Miss Overman was con-
suming him: he said he would be will
ing to give up his family. his profession.
and entire career for her | was great
ly shocked, and again cOunselled with
him and warned him of his danger
Once more | advised him to stick to the
text, Love thy wife advised him ne
q mother, and told him he shouId sac
the danger before II was foo late
called m. affect;o, an .unboiy ,,ssio,
He corrected me nv STYLING II .nnIawfu,
love-
He went away greatly comfortcd
He said II reIievad him tn unrnIj hin
self To me
Mrs. Davidson's defamation of my
ber actiops for Tho mast vaar" .aia ~,
Brown "She said she l,n.v, or my In.
famous relations with This ;nnncant .irI
If she ala VIM did sbn ,vait, tar, 90,
M, sIaon n,;,h nn,, ,,.on,,, ,,,;i,, =, 80 t
a cr;meo
en- tn tho ,;,,o OH, ,o,h,,, ,,,,. 90 ,,,o
s5oo ror ! con nsa M ntha,. ,,'oras ',to t
rbar,ctori,, th. ,,,nnar In ,,hia,, ar
.nt ,h, ,,nna,. Oh, s,,.,' s,, ~ =. .,,am, m, ,s nn
Got n,orny,, ~, 10 nnn,,,,' ,I,n ,,os,,;",,
20 -. ~, ,,,,n W. H. ',
ono of Tho noonIe who wan, ahomt sing
,,,, ,'ro;, ,ho ,'.,,,,sas a,,a",'s,
NE "iy ~ a,I,u,, ~ .me r 49,, H,,.a, Ton,
alu .,' o.i " VI ''''
sat'ona, ~, rhulon M .., .,.. ho,o
n'"s ~ ,
sNei' iIei any nso,s, W. M,e, ~.
,on'c ~ 'niiiN ~, ~ ~. rs ~ ~ W.
los'cahy' you WI, iea"''! Sc. ,neie maI
no other COURSE lor me 10 PURSUE. IL l
hau NOT gwen her .ne hio''eS anu Sc
cured tne sishea receipt she ,, Mou,a
prooapis nave sohe aoou' ''r"'a'inE
havo nnth;n,. to show that she had Grst
come to me with the same story for the
purpose of eXtOrtion. Now that i have
the receipt ! have positive as well as
legal evidence to prove her true char
acter. She was not aware when she
4. e a I.