The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-01-02
SENSATIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
REV. BROWN OF SAN FRANCISCO
HAS A WOMAN OF HIS FLOCK
ARRESTED.
HE CHARGES HER WITH BLACKMA|L
She Threatened to Reveal Alleged Scan
dalous Acts of the Minister, Which
He Denies-The Woman's Side
of the Story.

San Francisco, Dec. 29.-Mrs. Mary A.
Davidson has been arrested on the charge
of extortion preferred by Rev. G. O.
Brown, pastor of the First Congregation
al 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 Overman, a young
woman from Tacoma, who visited at his
house. The First Congregational church
is the largest and most fashionable one
of that denomination in the city.
Mrs Davidson, who is woman about
60 years of age, came here during the
Midwinter fair as representative of a
Boston corset firm and lately has been
conducting corset store of her own here.
She has attended DIR. Browns church
for about year and has taken great in
terest in church matters. Miss Overman
came here from Tacoma for her health,
and visited at the house of DR.. Brown,
whose family she knew in Tacoma. At
ter stay of several months, during which
time she became acquainted with Mrs
Davidson, Miss Overman returned to
Tacoma, but came back to San Francis
co, where Mrs. Davidson promised to Sc
cure employment for her. According to
Dr. Brown, Mrs. Davidson came to him
last October at a 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 $4,000 down and 500
a month for 10 years if he did not want to
be exposed. She said Miss Overman had
cOnfided in her and would testify against
him, but that Mrs. Baden knew that
he had occupied room in lodging house
with an unknown woman.
Mrs. Davidson pointed out to him that
owing to the state of public feeling al
most anything that witnesses would
swear to would be believed and advised
him to settle at once.
DR.. Brown was Mortified at the nature
of the charge brought against him and
saw no means of escape. He succeeded,
however, in reducing the figures to $500
and S35 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. Bad
din, but without success. Finally he met
Mrs. Davidson, and reproached her with
her pertidy. She Indignantly denied that
she had made any charges, and when con-
fronted with Mrs. Davidson denounced
the woman as infamous.
Miss Overman Immediately left Mrs.
Dayidson's house and went to the home
of DR.. Brown, where she is now, under
the protection of his wife. Then the min
lister consulted with the deacons of the
church, and the result is the arrest of
Mrs. Davidson. Both the minister and
Miss Overman deny that there is the
slightest foundation for the charges.
arrest, said DR.. Brown called on her sew
eral months ago and voluntarily confess
ed his love for Miss Overman. He asked
her advice and she told him to sever his
relations with the girl at once.
MISS Overman, she says, confessed her
love for DR.. Brown, and that he promised
to pay her S35 month. A few days af-
ter this, Mrs. Davidson says, DR.. Brown
handed her $50 to give to Miss Overman,
saying that he had promised to pay her
that amount for 10 months. Some time
ago strange woman who called herself
Mrs. Baddin, called on Mrs. Davidson
and said she knew of DR.. Browns init
macy with Miss Overman, and demand
ed $4,000 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: at is all true, and
more TOO"
Mrs. Davidson continues: "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
everything. DR.. Brown said he could
not pay her $4,000, but would pay $4,000
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 churches in
Next she paid the $500 to Mrs. Bad
din, who said she was going to leave
town, but would return each month for
the $50.
Mrs. Davidson says DR.. Brown has
paid 700 for Miss Overman in August,
September, November and December.
She concluded her statement by saying
6! have kept this secret for the sake
of the church, for the sake of Miss Over
man and DR.. Brown, but the truth must
be told, and | am sorry am obliged to
divulge these matters"
The Chronicle says:
with red hair and blue eyes. She is said
to be divorced woman. Matte Over
man is her maiden name. She is not par
ticularly good looking, but is an interest
ing talker.
So far the police have failed to find any
trace of Mrs. Baddin and the lodging
house she is said to have kept.
The First Congregational church was
crowded this morning as the result of
the exposure of the alleged Matchmaking
attempt upon DR.. Brown. The minis
ter appeared as usual, and in his sermon
referred indirectly to the attack upon
his reputation. One of the deacons also
spoke and cOrroborated DR.. Browns
statement that he had consulted with
the officers of the church before causing
the arrest of Mrs. Davidson. After the
church services a number of the congre-
cation shook bands with DR.. Brown and
expressed confidence in him.
Without trace or faint of adulteration,
| Roly