The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1896-01-04
SECURED HIS ROLL
An ALLEGED CASE OF BLACkMAlL-
ING IN san FRANCISCO.
The Pastor of h Lending Co"'sre-
SatfOnal Church Pays Il Woman
$500 and Promises More FOR
Keeping Quiet IL story Thas NE
Had Hccn Intimate With IL YOU'RE
Ii False.

san llllIlSSos = 'A'
A. Davidson has been arrested ON the
charge Of cxtortion preferred by Rev.
G.. o. Brown. pastor Of the i'lfs'
Congregational church. DIR. Brown
charges her with blackmail and says
he paid her $500 to sccur her silence
in regard to his alleged relations with
Miss Overman. a young woman from
Tacoma. who visited his home.
The First Congregational church is
the largest and most fashionable one
of that denomination in the Ny. Mrs.
Davidson. who is Il about H
| wears of age. came here during the
mid-winter fair as a representative. OF
a Boston corset firm. and lately con-
Quoted a corset store of her here.
She has attended DR.. Browns church
| for about a year. and has taken great
| interest in church matters. Miss
OvcYman came here from Tacoma for
| her health. and visited at the house
Of DIR. Brown. whose family h knew
in Tacoma. After Il stay OF several
months. during which time she be-
| came acquainted with Mrs. Davidson,
| Miss Overman returned to Tacoma.
| hut came back to San Francisco when
Mrs. Davidson promised to secure IN
ployment. for her. According to DIR.
Brown, Mrs. Davidson came to him
last November ut the time when there
was intense excitement in the city
over the exposure Of several old men
who had been
DebuuchfnE Young Girls
and told him that she had been COM
missioned by Mrs. Jane Baddin. a
lodging housekceper. to demand S22!OUO
down and 500 n month for ten years
if he did not want his intimacy with
Miss Ovcrnan exposed. Mrs. David
son said that Miss Overman had ron
tidcd in her. and would testify against
| him. and that Mrs. Baddin knew that
he had OccAi led Il room in a lodging
house with an unknown woman. Mrs.
Davidson pointed out to him that. ow-
ing to the state of public feeling. al
most anything that witnesses would
swear to would be believed. and adj
| vised him to settle at once. DR..
| Brown was Mortified at the nature of
the charges brought against him. but
saw no lean of escape. He succeed
ed. however, in reducing the figures
TO $500 down and $50 a month for five
years. Mrs. Davidson signed Il re-
ccipt. when he paid her the $500. Then
DR.. Brown attempted to find Mrs.
Baddin. but without success. Final
ly he met Miss Overman. who was
shopping with Mrs. Davidson. and re-
preached her with her pertidy. She
Indignantly denied that She had made
any charges. and when confronted
with Mrs. Davidson. denounced the
woman as Infamous. Miss Ovcrman
Immediately left Mrs. Davidson's
house and went to the home of DIR.
Brown. where she now is. under fle
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
say that there is net the slightest
foundation for the charges. Mrs.
Davidson. when seen after her arrest.
said DR.. Brown called OH 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 Ovcrman. she says. confessed
her love for DR.. Brown, and that he
had promised to pay her S35 81 month.
A few days after this Mrs. David
o says Dr. Brown handed her $33
to give to Miss Overman. saying he
had promised to pay her that amount
for ten months. Some time ago a
strange woman. who called herself
Mrs. Baddin. 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.
Baddin's demands. He said: ut is
all true and more too"
Mrs. Davidson continued: He re-
fused to see the IN and asked me
to handle the business for him. He
said. You have our hearts Secrets
and told me everything. Or. 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.
DIR. 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.
Raddin. who said she was going to
leave town. but would return each
month for the $50. Mrs. Davidson
says DR.. Brown has paid $50 for Miss
vcmber and December She concluded
her statement by saying:
81 have kept this secret for the sake
Of the church. for the sake of Miss
Overman and DR.. Brown, but the
truth must he. told. and ! am sorry l
am obliged to divulge these things"
So far. the police have failed to find
any trace of Mrs. Baddin or the lodg-
ing house which she is said to have
kept.