New-York tribune., 1896-05-25
HIS CAREER LIKE HOLINESS.
A MINISTER SUSPECTED OF KILLING
MANY WOMEN.
HIS LAST TWO VICTIMS SLAIN IN HIS CHURCH
AT SALT LAKE CITY-POLICE LOOKING
FOR THE REV FRANCIS HERMANN

FOR THE REV FRANCIS HERMANN.
Salt Lake City. Utah. May A-The people Of this
city are greatly excited the murder of two
women o church. resembling in some respects the
double crime committed by Durrant in San Fran
cisco No less than persons. most Of them
women It Is believed have been killed by theper-
accused Of the murder of the two women. The
pastor OF the church. the Rev. F. Hermann is accused
of the murders. The Of the crimes was the First
Scandinavian Church In this city. Last year the
pastors wife died and he engaged Miss Cawson an
attractive young of twenty-five, to look after
his apartments in the church building In September
last Miss Clawson suddenly disappeared and has not
been seen alive since Immediately after her disap-
pearance the pastor, although the weather was not
that season. ordered big fire built In the furnace
in the basement OF the church. He sent everybody
away and lighting the fire himself kept 1t going for
hours.
Persons in the ntighborhood detected odors at the
time and demonstrated with Hermann. but he said
he wanted to give the hues thorough test before
cold weather came 1t was in this furnace rev
days ago that the body of Miss Ciawson together
with backened razors, butcher knife. and part OF
a woman's garter buckle. were found.
The other victim Is Miss Annie Samuelson. She
engaged be married to the preacher, but mys-
teriousy disappeared in February last and It is sup
posed her body Is concealed somewhere about the
church The police, who have been secretly working
on the case for several days. found BARREL the head
OF which IS covered with human blood. B.oodstains
were also found the furnace door and floor.
The Rev, Mr.. Hermann. for whose arrest warrant
has been issued on the charge OF murder. left Salt
Lake on May ~ TOR Kansas City, thence 10 Decorah,
Iowa, on missionary tour. Since his departure ne
has not been heard Of. and telegrams sent to 6otn
Kansas City and Decorah have failed to bring tidings
OF him. Among his effects here. which are In the
hands OF the police. letters. articles OF 1ewelry
an@ 70 both M the dead rs aa to the
belief that the Rev Francis Hermann Is a man with
record OF crime little less extensive than that OF
the notorious Holmes His first wife died in Eng
land under suspicious circumstances He was pastor
OF Scandinavian church West Superior. Wis,
in 1890 and 1891, and there married highly re-
spectacle woman. who In less than year died sud
denly with her two-weeks old baby. An Inquest
was held. but nothing beyond suspicion of foul
came to Salt Lake in 1894 with his wife. Before
long baby born and the mother and child
died suddenly a few weeks after;
and II Is charged In the complaint. which has been
sworn 10 by John Samson. a member OF the church
here, that he murdered and cremated the body In
the heating furnace in the church basement.
Hermann was Engaged to marry Miss Samuelson
in February OF this year. but she disappeared and
II is charged that he poisoned her after betrayng
As far yet discovered II is believed he has muir
dered seven persons Miss Ciawson to Salt
Lake from Omaha seven years ago. She was a
native of Sweden. and as far known had no rela-
tives In this country but she had friends here
and considered n respectable girl
Miss Samuelson was employed as a nursery gov
be married to the preacher. She has aunt and
Hermanns church The church officers say that
Hermann was suspended recently for embezzing
church funds confessed his guilt in that regard and
was waiting a hearing before the annual Methodist
Conference He fine looking man. and gen.
orally liked. He is represented having a great
liking for the study OF medicine. anatomy and kin
dred subjects. and often delivered dsquistions on
the human form. Photographs and descriptions Of
the have been sent all over the country.