The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1896-01-02


SAX FRANc1sco. Cal, Dec. S0.--Mrs.
Mary A. Davidson has been arrested
on q charge Of extorticn, preferred by
Rev. G. 0. Brown. pastor Of the First
Congregational church. DR.. Brown
charges her with blaclSmall and says
he paid her $500 10 secure her silence
Al regard 10 his alleged relations with
Niss 0yormann, young woman from
Tacoma, who visited at his house.
Mrs. Dayidoon, who Is woman Of
about 60 ycsrs o: age, came here dur
ing the mid-wlnier fair as a represent
ative Of Boston corset firm and lately
conducted a corset store Of her own
here. She has attended Dr. Browns
church for about year and has taken
great interest In church matters. Miss
Overman came here from Tacoma for
her health and visited at the house Of
Er. Brown, whose family she knew In
Tacoma After a stay Of several months,
during which time she became az
quainted with Mrs. Davidson. Miss
Overman returned 10 Tacoma, but
came back 10 San Francisco when Mrs.
Davidson promised 10 secure employ.
ment for her.
According 10 Dr. Brown, Mrs. David
son came 10 him last October at q 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 that she had
been commissioned by Mrs. Jane
Elizabeth Baden. q lOdging-house
keeper, 70 demand $1,000 down and
500 per month for ten years II he did
not want 10 be exposed. She said
Miss Overman had conhded In her and
would testify against him, but that
Mrs. Baden knew that he had occu.
pied . ruom In a lodging house with
an unknown woman.
DR.. Brown was Mortified II the ma
ture Of the charges brought against
him and saw no means OF escape. lie
succeede, however, In reducing the
figure down TO $500, and SS5 a month
for FIVE years He paid Mrs. Davidson
$500, for which she signed a receipt,
After paying over the money DIR. Brown
attempted 70 End Mrs Baden, but
without success. Finally he met the
Miss Ovcrmvn, who was stopping with
Mrs Davidson. and approached her
with perhdy. She Indignantly denied
that she had made any charges, and
when confronted with Mrs Davidson
denounced the woman as infamous.
Miss Oyerman Immediately left Mrs.
Davidson's house and went 10 the home
OF Dr.. Brown. where she Is now under
the protection Of his wife. Then the
ministeE 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 Il
the slightest foundation for the charges.
Mr. Davidson when seen after her
arrest said DR.. Brown called on her
several months ago and voluntarily
confessed his love for Miss Overman.
lie asked her advice and she told him
10 saver his relations with ;he girl Al
once. Miss Overman, she says, con.
iessed her love for DR.. Brown and that
he had promised 10 pay her tS5 .
month. A few days after this Mrs
Davidson says DR.. Brown handed her
eS5 70 give 70 rN erman. saying
he had promised lier mat amount ioI
ten months. Some time ago a strange
woman who called herself Mrs Bladder
called on Mrs. Davidson and said she
knew Of DR.. Browns intimacy with
Miss Overman and demanded $4,000
a. the price OF her silence. About ix
weeks ago she sent for DR.. Brown and
told him OF Mrs. Badden's demands.
lie said; ut Is all true and more,
too"
Mrs. Davidson continued: "He re-
fused 10 see the woman and asked me
70 handle the business for him. lie
said; You have our hearts secrets,
and told me everything. DR.. Brown
said he could not pay her enc, 600, but
would pay $1,000 with $500 down and
the rest Al the rate Of tS5 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 10 Mrs. Baden, who said she
was going 10 leave town, but would re
turn each month for the fS5. Mrs.
Davidson says DIR. Brown had paid tS5
for Miss Overman In August and Sep
tcmbcr, November and December. She
concluded her statement by saying; u
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 10 divulge these ihings."
granfad n Dlvorre