Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1896-07-18
LIGHT ON HEBMANS LIFE
Important Information Fur
nished by a Chicago Lady.
Fourteen Women Poisoned While Re.
ceiving the Sacrament he Minis.
ter who was Responsible For 1t
FIed-Anna q. LundStrOm "a isfled
That Hermans is the Ministep-A
TeII-TnIc Photograph COrroboratcs
Her Theory.

Salt Lake City, July I6-lf the latest
story in connection with Rev. Francis
Hermans, the Scandinavian Methodist
church murderer, is true, it at once
places him in the front rank of Grim
inals without a parallel, and alongside
of whom Holmes, the ti-murderer.
sinks into insignificance. The story
charges that Hermans comuEtted no
less than fourteen murders in Sweden.
A few days ago John M. Hanson,
whose connection with hunting down
the preacher has made his name very
we'll known among the Scandinavian
population of the north central states,
received letter from a Swedish lady in
Chicago. The lady's name is Anna G.
Lundstrom and she halls from the same
place in Sweden as did Hermans. Mrs.
Lundstrom was struck with the familiar
features when she looked at his picture
In one of the daily papers. She at once
made up her mind that she knew him,
but for several days failed to place him.
Finally in looking over some old pho
tographs one day her eyes fell upon a
group of Swedish ministers, among
whom was one resembling in detail the
Salt Lake murderer; but the most start.
ling revelation was that the minister
who resembled Hermans was one that
was wanted in the old country for poi
soning fourteen people The thought
at once fastened itself upon her mind
that Hermans and the one whose like.
ness was among the group were one
and the same. But she decided to in
vestigate before making known her
saspicions, and at once wrote to Mr..
Hanson, asking him all sorts of ques-
lions about Hermans and what was
known about his career in the past.
Now the fact is that back Of 1869 moth
ing definite concerning the pastor is
known; but Hanson gave all the infor.
nation he could, especially what he had
learned concerning Hermans early
days in Sweden. A reply at once came,
indicating that Mrs. Lundstrom was
strengthened IN her suspicious. This
brought on an investigation here, with
the result that similar picture was
found among the fugitive pr acher's ef
fects in Salt Lake
In comparing Hermans' latest picture
with that taken IN Sweden, it is difficult
at first glance to make out the resem
blance; but close examination of the
features confirms the theory.
The work of the Swedish minister
who, it is now supposed was none other
than HermanS, shocked The whole coun-
try at the time. 1t was on one Sunday
afternoon in 1885. after the congrega-
the Lords supper, that all the communi-
cants were taken violently sick. Out of
about forty that partook Of the wine,
fourteen died. That same day the min.
lister disappeared An investigation fol
lowed, with the result that it was ascer-
tanned that poison had been admin,
CATION revealed the probable motive of
the crime, as it as established that the
supposed man of God was in reality
gay Lothario and had been carrying on
criminal relations with several lady
mem ers of his flock. The minister dis
appeared as If swallowed ~ he earth,
and has not been heard OF sir.ee.
1t was the picture of that iend which
Mrs. Lundstvom has in her possession
and which she thinks is the true like
ness of Frances Hermans. She was
well acquainted will him an believe S
I'D easily recognize him if she
- Lund from has
7EmH ITO