The herald., 1896-01-02
THE LADY PEDDlED STARCH
Mrs. DavidsOn's Interesting
Career in Boston
HE HAS HAD EXPERIENCE
DR.. Brown Relates Other Attempts at
BlackmaiI
The Schemes Were Defeated, but the Preacher
Did Not Care to Expose the
Wrong ioer
HE HAS HAD EXPERIENCE

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BOSTON, Jan. l.-Further investigation
into the case of Mrs. Davidson of San
Francisco, charged with wrcng-doing by
Rev. harles o. Brown of that city, brings
to light the fact that Mrs. Davidson did
once live in ooston and that she had an
interesting career IN which she managed
to get cons d 'rable money from one per-
son before she left the city. In 1890 ami
and lS9l Mrs. Davidson was member of
Rev Nehemiah Boynton's congregation at
the Union church, and later became
prominent member of the fremont Temple
congregation. At that time she was ped
ding starch, and by her eloqrence he
sold large stock with good profits.
Many friends, among whom was Mrs.
Sarah j Stevens, an old lady about so
years OF age. became deeply Interested
in Mrs. David on and her alleged religious
work. Mrs. Stevens had considerable
money invested in bonds, and when these
were called in and paid Mrs. Davidson
learned of the amount of ready cash held
by her friend, and persuaded Mrs. Stevens
to loan her $500 on a note at per cent
to enable Mrs. Davidson to start in the
dressInakng business. The note " as pay
able in ten years. Soon afterwards want
ing more money. she persuaded Mrs. Stew
ems to ioan her $1,000 more also on a ten
year note, but this time at per cent.
Mrs. Davidson went o chicago in 1898
and from there to San Francisco. Her
payments OF the interest on the notes, il is
said, have heen few and far between. In
connection with dealing with Mrs. Stevens
and appeals for remittance she has writ
ten very flowery letters The following il
an extract from one of them:
"Uf course cannot be unTnindful of my
obligations to dear Mrs. Stevens. How |
wnIYld love n in rhis af;arn0ot ap1
bring some ripe strawberries, so
plentiful in the markets here now,
and new oranges and fresh
flowers. The weather is cooler 'oday than
usual. but like many OF our June days
back east. Still 1 love the east best, be-
cause love the people there BEST There
is so much evil here and excitement to dis
tract the mind. I will enclose $50 and
make things as l once spoke of doing.
will send more next month and with Gods
help may prove my gratitude to the dear,
loving friend, as we'll as to our Heavenly
Father, who helped me in my hour of need.
my love, God knows, ia in my heart Tor
you and begs to express itself according to
the means of His grace, who will bless you
for your kindness 10 me.
"MRs. MARY A DAVIDSON"
REV. BROWNS EXPERIENCES.
| SAN FRANCISCO. Jan. l.-Sca dal is be-
ing added to scandal in the sensational de-
velopments of the accusations made by tho
Rev. Charles o Brown against Mrs. ,vd-
son. The reverend gentleman declares
that he is no new victim of the wiles of
blackmaiers. For the second time wi hin
eighteen months he says he has been made
the m Ark Of scheming women, who ell cred
his sanctuary to trap and persecute him.
Nearly two years ago, he declares, Mrs.
M. A. Stockton, member of his own con-
| gregation, woman who assumed Chris
| spIrif nd w friapds in, cbpr
! planned upon him a scheme of blackmail
which would have succeeded we, e it not for
the time aid which came to him from an
unexpected source, as he explains.
Some ime after +. Brown met Mrs.
| Stockton, he says, he received a message
| from her. She WIS on bed of illness, she
wrote him, and asked him to call to give
! that spiritual consolation which in his voca-
| ton he must administer.
| 1t was his duty to 90, and he went. He
had no more than entered the room, he de-
clares, than Mrs. Stockton sprang toward
him, and. throwing her arms around him,
kissed him. He was dumbfounded at tie
suddenness of the attack and Mortified at
the offense OF the woman. Before he could
release himself a confederate of Mrs.
Stockton was in the room, smiling spec
tator of the scene. DR.. Brown says he re-
alizad that he was trapped. He left the
room as rapidly as possible. Distressed
and excited, he declares he did not know
what to do. He could not evade an under
standing of the woman's motive, but he
says he d not feel able to tell his congre-
CATION. He could do no more than await
Developments and strive to defeat the
schemers plans
With his distressing meeting with Mrs.
Stockton his as .ociation with her, he says,
ceased. He had absolutely nothing more
to do with her. and although she continued
to attend the First congregational church,
he did not care to assume the duty of ex-
posing her.
Although he could do nothing himself, he
had friends who were active in his behalf.
Mrs. stockton had lawyer, and if his
sworn afildavit he true, Mrs. Stockton was
trapped not only in her game upon DR..
Brown, but in two others in which she
hoped to make large sums of money.
Mrs. Stockton is still a member of the
First Congregational church, Of which DIR.
Brown is pastor.
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