The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-07-16

If the latest story in connection with
Rev Francis Hermans, the Scandi-
navian Methodist church murderer, is
true, it at once places him in the front
rank of criminals without a parallel,
and alongside of whom Holmes, the
multi-murderer, sinks into insigniii-
canoe. The story charges that Her
mans committed 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
well known among the Scandinavian
population of tie north central states,
received a letter from a Swedish lady
in Chicago The lady's name is Anna
c. 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.
A TELL TALE PHOTOGRAPH.
Finally in looking over some old
photographs 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 startling revel2t ton was that
the identical minister who resembled
EermanS was one that was wanted IN
the old country for poisoning fourteen
people The thought at once fastened
itself upon her mind that Hermans and
the one whose likeness was among the
group We're one and the same But
she decided to investigate before MAX
ing known her suspicious, and at once
wrote to Mr.. Hanson, asking him ali
sorts of questions about Hermans and
what was known about his career in
the past
COMPARED NOTES.
Now the fact is that back Of 1889
nothing definite concerning the pastor
is known; but Hanson gave all the
information that he could, especially
what he had learned concerning Her
mans early days in Sweden. A reply
at once came indicating that Mrs.
Jundstrom was strengthened in her
suspicious. In this letter she described
the picture from Sweden by which she
recognized Hermans as one among a
group. This brought on an inYesti-
cation here, with the result that
similar picture was found among the
fugitive preachers effects in Salt Lake.
In comparing Hermans' latest picture
with that taken in Sweden it is diff
cult at first glaze to make out the
resemblance; but a close examination
of the features confirms the theory.
THE CRIME IN SWEDEN.
The work of the Swedish minister
who, it is now supposed, was none
other than Hermans, shocked the
.
one Sunday afternoon in 1885, after
the congregation in a little church had
partaken of the Lords supper, that
all the communicates were taken VIC
lently sick Out of about forty that
partook of the wine, fourteen died.
That same day the minister disap-
peared An investigation followed, with
the result that it was ascertained that
poison had been administered in the
wine. Further investigation revealed
the probable motive Of the crime, as
it was established that the supposed
man of God was in reality a. gay
Lothario and had been carrying on
criminal relations with several lady
members of his flock The minister
disappeared as if swallowed by the
earth, and has not been heard Of
since.
It was the picture of that fiend which
Mrs. LundstrOm has in her possession
and which she thinks is the true like
ness OF Francis Hermans. She was
well acquainted with him and believes
she could easily recognize him if she
saw him now. Mrs. Lundstrom has
been requested to forward the photo
graph. and it Will upon its arrival here
be compared with the one found in
Hermans' possessions. If they are
found to be the same much viii have
been accomplished toward establish
ing that Hermans is guilty of a graver
crime than that of cutting Miss Clau-
sens body into piecemeat and Gre
mating it il a furnace
RETICENT ABOUT HIS PAST.
In connection with this it is interest
ing to recall the fact that Hermans.
on many occasions. told people that
he was born in England, and not as
many supposed in Sweden There may
not be much significance attached to
this. but still it showed his unwilling
pess 10 have people question him about
his old home in Sweden 1t may also
BE- stated that among all the records
of the denomination of which he was
q member. there is not a line on his
past history. something rather singu-
lar The fact is, no one seemed to
know anything about him, from
whence he came or what he was until
in 1889 when he sought admission to
the church and was ordained as one of
fits ministers.