The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-05-27

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In view of the discovery of the trunl
IN Butte that theory is exploded. Whei
dermanns returned to Salt Lake from
Cnlcago he brought the leather trunl
with him.
Rev. Mr.. MeIby Of this city formerl,
1ved In Salt Lake and filed a pulpit a.
Provo. He was well acquainted with
Hermanns and both the Clausen and
Samuelson girls, and particularly vel
known with Miss Clausen, who boarded
at the Spencer house. where he also
| boarded. He knew her as a good
Christian girl He has in his study al
the Scandinavian church a camp meet
ing group, photographed several years
ago. Among the group is Miss Clausen
ana her picture shows her to have been
a bright and intelligent looking young
woman. Mr.. Melby knew Miss Sam
| uelson only casually from having seen
her In Hermanns' congregation and
| meeting her at the church. For a year
| or more he roomed at the home of Mr.
Hermanns and his third wife, and was
intimately acquainted with the Her
| MAINS. The latter was secretary of
the conference and no preacher in the
conference was held in such high re-
gard as he. He was a magnetic man
and an eloquent preacher, and his SER
mons were always powerful and full of
pathos. HE could bring the tears to
any mans eyes" said Mr. Melby to a
Standard reporter yesterday. as he re-
called some instances of Hermanns'
preaching, and to think he was this
kind OF man. / never was so shocked
In my life"
During his visit in Butte he preach
ed two sermons at the Scandinavian
church, ON Sunday, Feb. 23, one in the
morning and the other in the evening
Persons who attended the services re-
call his effective eloquence and the
tears that were shed in the congrega-
ton. During one of his sermons he
made a tender reference to his last
wife, deceased, and before and after
frequently mentioned IL to Mr.. Melby
and other friends. and now 1t is also
surmised that he not only murdered
that wife. but his two previous wives
also, and the three are said to have
died suddenly and rather mysteriously.
1t was published in Salt Lake papers
that Hermanns. after the disappear
ance of Miss Clausen, told different
persons, In explanation of her absence,
that she had made an indecent pro-
posal to him and that he had repulsed
her and advised her 10 leave the coun-
try, and that she left that night and
he had not seen her since. He told the
same story to Mr.. Melby without any
apparent excuse for doing so. He said
that different ones had made proposals
to him. He said that on a Sunday eve
ming after his return from a confer
ence meeting Miss Clausen came to his
room, threw herself in his lap, put her
arms around his neck and made an ex-
traordinary proposal Hermanns said
when the girl .made that astonishing
proposal to him he thought he saw the
spirit form of Martha, his last WIFE
and he told the girl that she must
leave. She got up and left the room
and he never saw her again. The next
she sent an unknown express
man for her trunk, and IL was hauled
away, but where to Hermanns did not
know. He also told Mr. Melby that
Miss Samuelson had also been after
him and that her aunt wanted him to
marry her. The Samuelson girl after
wards went to Chicago, he said, and
another man and went to
Sweden.
Mr.. Melby was one of the committee
of ministers who investigated Her
MAINS ENLIGHTENMENT and went to Salt /
Lake in April for that purpose. When !
the presiding elder telegraphed to Her /
manns at Chicago he at once returned |
and confessed his shortage. He was /
discharged from all ministe- /
rial privileges and his credentials were /
revoked and the case certified to the /
general conference. which will meet 4
some time this fall when final judg- 4
ment will be passed on him. Hermanns /
wrote letter to relatives In England j
asking them to send to Elder Mork |
3, 900 to cover the amount of the en-
bezzlement.
Rev. Mr.. Melby yesterday received a
ettet from Elder Mork and a telegram I
rom Chief of Police Platt of Salt Lake
making inquiries concerning the zinc |
trunk and he wired back what he
kenw concerning It.
Mr.. Binnard, the second hand man,
will to-day try to recover some of the
articles sold from the trunk and send
hem to Salt Lake for Identification.
There seems TO be very little doubt
hat it will turn out that they belong
ID to Annie Samuelson.