The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-02-25
THE PREACHER,
FOLLOWED BY AN ANGRY,
THREATENING MOB
CONFESSED TO RUNNING A Girl
ALLEGED MISSIONARY SPOKE TG
LARGE AUDIENCE IN
FIRST WARD
SPOKE OF DIVINE FORGIVENESS
Although He Had Sinned He Maiu-l
tatned That Better Men Had
Done WOrse-Indignation Y
In First Ward.

Lynch him! Soak him! Who's got
the rope?'
These were the threats that went I'D
from great many Of the nearly 500 men
women and children who followed Albert
DahlStrom, an alleged Mormon mission
ary, from the hall on Pavne avenue
near Cook street, to the street car yes
teruay afternoon. Even the little bows in
the crowd amused themselves by throw
ing snow balls at him. Dahlstrom how
ever, can consider himself very lucky
that the crowd didn't start something -
Ior ne mad just talked to about 500 peo-
PIE In the hall for over two hours and
had made a public confession that did
rum s1Xteen-year-old Annie Hagstrand.
lie talked in Swedish and had MANY ex-
cuses to offer to the curious audience
one Of them being that David of Olden
times mad done worse things than he did
and God had forgiven him." DahIstron
uso lntlmated that he had no doubt
oVerstepped himself but he knew that
God had forgiven him, and said he was
sorry. '''"
Inc appearance of Dahlstrom in the
First ward again came as a surprise TO
many, and, when he arrived at the han
yesterday afternoon the hall was pack
eo TO suffocatton, while about 500 people
were clamor1ng at the door for admit
lance. All seemed to want to get a
glimpse of the man who has caused such
a sensation in the First ward during the
last six months. But, in spite of all the
threats that have been made by the in
dlgnant citizens, Dahlstrom gathered M
enough courage to return from Chicago.
whittier he went about six weeks ago
ana ne is now living on the West side
Dahlstrom it will be remembered. came
10 st. Paul last July, and one fine dav
the residents OF the First ward were sur
prlSed to find new minister in their
midst. He attracted unusual attention.
ana, strange to say, a number of the
First warders were baptized by him.
His teachings were entirely different
from denominational churches. and .ac-
cording to him, the other churches were
all wrong.
RUINED A YOUNG GIRL.
Among those who went to hear him
was the little Hagstrom girl, who was
at that time only fifteen years old.
Everything went well for Dahlstrom.
and he had the First ward all stirred ,Ip
with his preaching" This was not TO
last always, for one day little Annie
Hagstrand confessed that Dahlstrom had
taken improper liberties with her This
put the First ward on fire, and the mat
ter was discussed by every one. on the
street, in the stores and in the homes.
suddenly Dahlstrom mysteriously dis
appeared, and no one seemed to know
where he had gone until a rumor reached
the East side that he had committed
suicide in Chicago. Meanwhile Alfred
Bowman living at 544 Laurel avenna
was appointed guardian of the girl, who
is an orphan, and she is at present living
at Mr.. Bowman's home
NO one thought that Dahlstrom would
care to come back to St. Paul again. and
1t was no small surprise to the residents
Oh the East side when it was rumored
that Dahlstrom had returned. and had
held secret meeting with members of
ms mock IN hall on Payne avenue last
tuesday evening. 1t was too strange to
believe, but those who seemed to know
insisted that it was So and said further
that he would appear at a pubi;c meet
ing yesterday afternoon and make a
public confession. The result was as
stated above that almost 1,5O0 people
turned out to see and hear him yester-
day, more for curiosity than ANYTHING
else. AS early as 1:30 the people began
to arrive, and by o'clock the hail was
packed
Would he appear?" This seemed to be
the one question in the minds of those
present.
DAHLsTROM FACES THE CROWD.
Suddenly there was a commotion at the
rear door, and Dahlstrom, looking very
pale, stood before the audience almost
peLore any one realized what had hap
pened. He left by the same door, and it
was then that the remarks, quoted in the
first sentence, were hurled at him from
the crowd.
1t is understood that a number of the
prominent business men of Payne avenue
held secret meeting the other night to
consider what they had better do in re-
gard to Dahlstrom. Many of the people
are very indignant, and it is very likely
that If Dahlstrom continues to appear in
the First ward there will be trouble.
Rumor also has it that Dahlstrom's wife
returned to st. Paul with him, but. on
becoming acquainted with the facts. i'm
mediately returned to Chicago.
Dahlstrom's victim, it is understood.
will be cared for by his friends.