The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-05-27
cHARRED BONES IN A FURNACE
A Methodist Pastor Is Charged With
Murder in Salt Lake City.

Salt Lake City, Utah, May 25.-A
| local paper prints a story which may
develop into a sensation. Foul play is
claimed in the somewhat mysterious
| disappearance of Miss Henrietta C1au-
sen. who has not been seen since Sep
tember last. Shewas at that time taking
care of the apartments Of Rev. Francis
S. Hermann, pastor of the First Sean
dinavian Methodist church, in this
city a recent inspection of the CRATE
of the furnace in the building reveals
two razors and a butcher knife, garter
and belt buckles, and charred bones.
The bones have been turned over TO
physicians. end the police department
is making a rigid investigation.
Miss Samuelscn, friend of the pas
tor, also disappeared last January. The
last heard of the pastor he was at
Kansas City on his way to Iowa.
A warrant was SWORN out last night
for the arrest of Rev. Hermann upon
information charging him with muir
der. The warrant is signed by ID. ii.
Wenger, city magistrate, upon the
complaint of John Hanson, who is
the last man thai. saw Miss Clausen
before her disappearance from The
city.
Under date of May Mr.. Hermann
wrote "a letter from Kansas City to
the present Presiding Elder of the
church above named inclosing a
pawn ticket, which is claimed by the
police department to have been given
for gold ring and gold watch, the
property of Miss Anna Samuelson, who
disappeared on January % last. a box
containing poisonous drugs has been
found in the room formerly occupied
by the pastor.
wa. wiSnToeOienS3 shrd hrdlhrdlhrdd
In investigating Herrmann's record
the police have reached the opinion
that Herman has Il record OF crime
little less extensive than that of the
notorious Holmes
His first wife died in England, under
suspicious circumstances. lie was
pastor of a scandinavian church at
West Superior, Wis, in 1890 and 1891,
and there married highly respectable
woman, who in less than year died
very suddenly, with her two weeks
old baby. An inquest was held but
nothing beyond a suspicion of foul
play was elected Herman soon mar
ried again. and came TO Salt Lake in
1894 with his wife. \ baby was born,
and the mother and child died sud
denly a few weeks after.
Then his acquaintance with Miss
Clausen commenced, and it is charged
in the complaint, which has been
sworn to by John Samson, member
Of the church here, that he murdered
and cremated the body in the heating
furnace in the church basement.
He was engaged to marry Miss Sam
uelson in February of this year, but
she disappeared, and it is charged that
he poisoned her, and carved up the
BODY in 1.-The church cellar. 1t is be-
lieved he has murdered seven persons.
Miss Clausen came to Salt Lake from
Omaha seven years ago. She was ma
tive of Sweden and, as far as known,
had no relatives in this country, but
she had many friends here and was
considered respectable girl.
Miss Samuelson was employed as a
nursery governess in a good family
here. and left her place to be married
to the preacher. She has an aunt and
other relatives living here, and was
member of IIerrman's church. The
church officers say that Herman was
suspended recently for embezzllng
church funds, confessed his guilt IN
thar regard and was waiting hearing
before the annual Methodist confer
ence He was a fine-looking man, ana
very generally liked.
He is represented as having great
liking for the study of medicine, ana
tony, and kindred subjects, and often
delivered disquisitions on the human
| form. Photographs and descriptions
of the man have been sent all over the
country, but so far the police here have
no tidings of him. When he LETT SAT-
Take nm Nav Is he purchased a ticket
to Kansas City.