The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-11-12
FAKE SCHLkTTER
DEAD IN POVERTY
"Devine Healer" Imposter WhO
Deceived Thousands Identified
as DR.. Mclean
ORIGINAL PERISHED- IN DESERT

Disappeared In Denver-No Trace Of
the Man Found After He Had
Reached the Climax OF Hls Mission
Some Cures He Effected.
Hastings, Neb.-A man supposed to
be Francis Schlatter, the famous "di-
vine healer" was found dead In q
room at a local hotel and after his
demise It was learned that he was
Charles Mclean, and that for twelve
years he had been imposing upon
thousands Of credulous persons
throughout the country by posing as
the original Schlatter, who. 1t is now
pretty well established. perished In
the deserts of New Mexico in 1897.
A family album. containing a pic
ture Of the dead man, taken in 1871,
was found In the room. It bore the
inscription, "Dr. Charles Mclean"
Those who knew the original Schlat-
ter say the dead man was not he. nor
is the picture his.
The methods of Schlatter and Nc
Lean were totally dissimilar. Schlat-
ter spurned money, while Mclean
sought 1t. In fact, he was arrested at
Des Moines last June on a charge of
Incorporating large sum given to
him in trust by faithful follower.
The last great healing" perform
ance Of Schlatter was in Denver on
| NnunrnhAr Nm khok hn
treated" 5000 persons. Special
trains had carried the afflicted from
many points in the Western States.
Ali the Denver hotels were filled with
cripples and "incurables" seeking re-
lief from Schlatter, and several hun
dred unable to find lodgings, had talk
en- shelter under tents. Schlatter dis
appeared when at the height Of his
Denver mission. The only explanation
was in a note left in his room. read
ing: my mission Is finished; Father
takes me away"
| Search was made for the man over
several States, but no trace Of him
was found. A couple of months after
his disappearance it was reported that
he had been lost in a sandstorm in
| New Mexico.
Schlatter was born in France, and
was brought when boy to this coun-
try with his parents. He was black
smith in Denver for many years He
went to New Mexico, and It was from
there that the first word came Of him
as a divine healer"
| A Mexican girl, deformed and un-
able to walk. had been cast OF by her
parents. Schlatter took the girl back
to the mother and offered to work q
cure. Then he carried the child away
in his arms, and the following day re-
turned leading her by the hand. The
girl was straight and active and COM
pletely cured. The Mexicans hailed
him as a prophet, and Schlatter look
ed the part He was tall and spare.
with black hair falling over his shoul-
ders. His face was full and soft in
expression, with the eyes those of a
dreamer. He wore a beard and his
brow was high and intellectual. The
Mexicans brought many cripples, and
1t was said that Schlatter healed them
all. He went to Hot Springs. Ark, in
1898, and there was sentenced to
three months in the chain gang as a
fraud. When he was released he re-
turned to New Mexico, and for two
years went up and down among the
Mexicans laying on hands" and say
ing he was a new Messiah.
News of the man spread through
the West, and he was invited to Den
yer by Edward Fox, an Alderman in
that city. Schlatter prepared for the
visit by fasting for forty days in AL
buquerque. He was weak and hardly
able to stand when he reached Den
yer. There were more than 1000 Grip
pies waiting for him in the railroad
station and when he alighted men and
women fell to the ground before him.
The following day he began treat
ments in the Fox home. He saw per
sons in a constant stream for four
teen hours each day for two weeks.
Then the patients multiplied until
Schlatter arranged to treat them on
the porch of the Fox home.
All classes were represented, and
1t was asserted that many wonderful
cures" were wrought Clutches were
built In a pile on the Fox lawn. and
there was another pile of cast-ofl
bandages. The sick poured into Den.
yer until 1t was necessary to provide
tents to accommodate them, and the
Fox home was f1anked with the tents
on three sides.
Schlatter stood on the porch for
about two weeks. while patients came
to him in line. He took every one by
the hand. placed his other hand on
the head Of the patient, and. leaning
over, moved his lips as II prayer. He
also blessed handkerchiefs. canes and
other articles to be used as instru-
ments of healing.
Schlatter was offered large amounts
Of money. but he refused to take q
cent He said that he deserved no pay
or fees. because he was only doing the