Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-01-02
SECURED HIS ROLL
AN ALLEGED CASE OF BLACKMAIL-
ING In san FRANCISCO.
The Pastor of the Leading Congre-
g%ationaI Church Pays a Woman
$500 and Promises More for
Keeping Quiet n story That He
Had Been Intimate with n Young
Lady-Doth Say That the story
Is False.

| a. Davidson has been arrested on the
| charge OF eXtortion preferred by Rev.
G.. q. Brown, pastor OF the First
Congregational 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, q young woman from
Tacoma. who visited his home.
The First Congregational church is
the largest and most fashionable n
of that denomination in the S.y. Mrs.
Davidson, who is a oma about GO
years of age, came here during the
mid-winter fair as a representative Of
n Boston corset firm, and lately con-
Quoted a corset store of her own here.
She has attended DIR. Browns church
for about a year, and has taken great
interest 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. After a stay OF several
months, during which time she be
came acquainted Wl;h Mrs. Davidson,
Miss Overman returned TO Tacoma,
but came back to San Francisco when
Mrs. Davidson promised to secure en-
/ ployment for her. According to DIR.
CROWN, hTT. DdNsS. Oh CHlllt ~ Illl
last November at the time when there
was intense excitement in the city
over the exposure of several old men
| who had been
DebnuchinE Young Girls
and told him that she had been COM
miSsioned by Mrs. Jane Baddin, a
lodging hOusekeepGr. to demand $1,000
! down and 500 n month for ten years
If he did not want his intimacy with
Miss OvcTman exposed. Mrs. David
son said that Miss Overman had con-
| fided in her, and would testify against
him, and that Mrs. Baddin knew that
be had OcC-a led Z room in n lodging
house with an unknown woman. Mrs.
Davidson pointed out to him that, Ow-
ing to the state OF public feeling, al
NEST anything that witnesses would
swear TO would be believed, and adj
vised him to settle at once. DR..
RrOwn was Mortified at the nature of
the charges brought against him. but
saw no means of escape. He succeed
ed, however, in reducing the figures
TO $500 down and $50 a month for five
years. Mrs. Davidson signed n re-
cript, when he paid her the $500. Then
DR.. Brown attempted to find Mrs.
Bdddin. but without success. Final
ly he met Miss Overman. who was
shopping with Mrs. Davidson. and re-
preached her with her perfdy. She,
Indignantly denied that she had made
any charges. and when confronted
with Mrs. Davidson, denounced the
woman as infamous. Miss OTerman
Immediately left Mrs. Dayidson's
house and went TO the home of DR..
Brown. where she now is. under the
protection Of his wife. Then the min
lister consulted with the deacons of
the church and the result IL the
Arrest of Mrs. Davidson.
Both the minister and Miss 0verman
say that there is not the slightest
foundation for the charges. Mrs.
Davidson. when seen after her arrest.
said DR.. Brown called on her several
months ago and voluntarily confessed
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
bad promised to pay her $50 a month. |
A few days after this Mrs. David !
son says DR.. Brown handed her S35 |
to give to Miss Overman. saying he |
had promised to pay her that amount |
for ten months. Some time ago a |
strange oman who called herself |
Mrs. Eaddin. called on Mrs. David |
son and said she knew of DR.. Browns |
intimacy with Miss Overman and de- |
handed $4,000 as the price of her |
silence. About six weeks ago she sent
for DIR. Brown and told him Of Mrs. |
Eaddin's demands. He said: 1T is
all true and more too"
Mrs. Davidson continued: He re-
fused to see the woman and asked me
70 handle the business for him. He
said, You have our hearts secrets
and told me everything. DIR. Brown
said he could not pay her $4,000, but
would pay $1,000, with $500 down and
the rest ut the rate of $50 a month.
DR.. Brown said he would leave San
Francisco within three months, as he
had calls from churches in Brooklyn
and Philadelphia"
Next day she paid the $500 to Mrs.
Eaddin. who said she was going to
town, but would return each
month for the $50. Mrs. Davidson
DR.. Brown has paid $50 for Miss
Dverman In August, September, No
and December. She concluded
her statement by saying:
Il have kept this secret for the sake
IF the church. for the sake Of Miss
Dverman and DR.. Brown. but the
must be told. and 1 am sorry l
I'm Obliged to divulge these things"
So far, the police have failed TO find
trace OF Mrs. Baddin or the lodg-
ng house which she Is said to have
,opt.