The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-03
THE CHURCH SCANDAL
Examination of Mrs. Davidson
In Police Court.
RECORD OF MRS. STOCKTON.
Befriended by Lloyd Tevis - Matte
OverInan Not at All the Woman
DR.. Brown Says She l..

San Francisco, Jan. Am the police
court this afternoon Mrs. Mary A. David
son was arralgned on the charge OF black
mailing Rev. c. o.. Brown, pastor OF the
First Congregational church. The court
room was crowded with men and women
prominent in the church. Neither Dr..
Brown nor Miss Overman, whose name is
connected with that of the clergyman in
Ars. DayidsOn's scandal, was present dur
ing the brief proceedings. AS the prose-
cution announced that one OF its most i'm
pOrtant witnesses, Mrs. Tunnel, could not
be found, the case went over until this
evening.
The preliminary examination was re-
sumed in Judge Campbell's court tonight.
DIT. Brown was called, and answered sew
eral questions relative 10 his meetings
with Mrs. Davidson at his study. and wnat
transplred at the meetings on November Il
and = of last year, when the alleged ex
toruon took place. DIR. Brown told how.
at his dictation and suggestion, Mrs. Dav-
idsOn wrote in his presence the document
giving the name OF the unknown
lodging house keeper. This document
DR.. Brown was to keep as evidence in the
event OF Mrs. DavidsOn's death. The
admission of this paper as evil
dence caused quite discussion
between the counsel and the court. The
defense argued that the paper should be
Mrs Davidson had been proved TO be the
agent Of a blackmailer. The prosecution
argued that the defense did not have TO
show that DR.. Brown had been guilty Of
anything wrong, but that II had to show
that Mrs Davidson was not guilty OF eX-
tortion. and that the paper was the great
est evidence in the case against the ac-
cused Judge Campbell overruled the OBJ
lection This was the only lively incident
of the evening, which was series of OBJ
jections by the defense most of which
we're decided in favor Of the prosecution.
The case VIII go on next Saturday morn
ing. In the meantime Mrs. Davidson VIII
have 10 remain in prison unless she can
get bail. Judge Campbell refused to re-
duce the amount TO $1,000.
Mrs. Davidson spends her time in reading
the Bible and In entertaining visitors, who
call on her in great numbers daily. II
shall soon be in q position TO do prison re-
form work" she said today. Il am study
ing the lower types of humanity as | find
them here. So interested have l become in
the work that ] really have not thought
much of my own case l do not fear the
result. however. My trial will be prolific OF
interesting developments"
The private gossip which Rev. Or. c. o.
Brown made public scandal by his charge
OF blackmail against Mrs. Davidson is de-
veloplng new sensations every day. The
Stockton practiced on the reverend gentle
man has carried the affair into circles
much wider than that of the First Con-
gregatlonal church The figures of wo-
men which ara generally hidden in the
shadows Of the city are coming into the
light. The names OF men OF the highest
standing in the community are being used
in the case. and the unjntlated are seeing
the machinery with which blackmailers
conspire and men are trapped even before
the affairs at which they worship.
Many new facts have been learned OF the
recent movements Of the four women who
occupy such prominent places in the scan
DIAL 4 great many of the letters which
Miss Matte Oyerman wrote to Mrs. David
son have now become public property. and
throw much light upon the relations he
tween the two women. Mrs. Davidson has
at last been positively identified as the
swindler Of Lynn. Frank r. WhltwoTth,
who knows her well, has gone 10 the po-
lice and Identified her as the eX-convict Of
the Bay State
Thomas J. Bass tells how Mrs. Stockton
tried 10 blackmal him. and others ten
how Lloyd Tevis tried TO befriend Mrs.
Stockton. In the maze Of new sensations
Mrs Martha Tunnel appears with more
prominence than ever before. Her meet
ing with Rev. Or. Brown and Miss over
man in South Side lodging house on De
rpfuHgr = gives 4 lDAtI t4 NY StttH 10 tltt
affair In the midst OF Il all the trustees
or the church are doing nothing, and the
polica are preparing for the pros cuuOp
OF Mrs Davidson With Mrs. Stockton the
police have nothing 10 do. She has pro-
duced a scandal but not a prosecution.
Mrs stockton has an exceptionally inter-
esttn< personality. She prefers 10 be
known as Mrs. Fannie Stockton. She
came here from the North. She Is a di-
vorced woman. but Joined the First Con-
gre-ational church a widow. bringing
credentials from "A church tn Port Angeles.
Nearly two years ago she nearly brought
scandal 10 the church but a little d.pl1-
macy saved it from uotor.ety. II was an
over a Turkish tea given by Mrs Frank
French. Mrs. stockton was invited before
Mrs French learned certain charges which
placed Mrs stockton IN a very Dad lgar.
Mrs French concluded that Mrs. Sto-k
ton was not "A worthy associate for young
ladies. and the new member OF the church
was asked NOT 10 attend the Turkish .ea-
Nra Stockton was Indignant. and her
cause was ehampi0ned hr Dr Brown. Toa
reverend gentleman went with her 10 s~e
Mrs French. and Threatened her with
proceedings before the standing committee
for her action. Mrs. Stockton referred Ms.
French 60 Lloyd Teyls as q sponsor for
resnectahilty. hut Mrs. French was rot
looking for references. She says that UT.
Brown subsequently, toll her that Mrs.
stockton bad saved him and tho church
from scandal Mrs stockton stil declines
tO explain her position. hut viii PROBABLY
10 SO on the witness stand
From Seattle story ~ the LIE % 81 ss
Overman comes. u relates chiefly - her
business as oressr1aker and her asses A.
tfons IN explanation Of TINS story Miss
0veruau sad last utgat taat she o-ca~.ou-
ally went 20 Seattle "a help her SISTER. Who
maintained "A ura~s-ra k.HE es-a. --.oelt.