The San Francisco call., 1909-10-22
DIVINE HEALER IS
FOUND DEAD ALONE
Francis Schlatter, Whose Fame
Was Widespread, Meets His
End Penniless
Thousands Sought His Aid With
Faith in His Power TO
Benefit Inem

HASTINGS, Neb.. Oct. 21.-The my
stery surrounding the death of the man
claiming TO be Francis Schlatter was
partially cleared tonight by the dis
covery of family album containing a
picture of the dead man taken in 1871.
This was inscribed DR.. Charles Nc
Lean. a note was also found naming
David McNaughton of Chicago as the
custodian of his effects.
His literature and advertising cir
culars declare him to be Francis
Schlatter, divine healer" A receipt
for an envelope deposited with the Bay
State trust company of Boston was
also found. This was placed in teh
care of the company last February.
For three weeks the man had been
kept at the expense of the city:
Thousands of newspaper clippings.
describing his visits to Boston, Denver
and other cities. were found in his
room He was practically penniless.
Francis Schlatter. as he was known
in the central west, made his first ap-
pearance as a healer among the in
tensely religious and superstitious Mex
leans OF New Mexico In July. 1895.
Schlatter's fame ultimately. was
spread by the telegraph and he went
to Denver. There Schlatter began a
fast that lasted 80 days. All the while
he continued to heal. Persons of all
classes gathered in such numbers that
the healer was unable to accommodate
them in his house and they passed be-
fore him as stood upon the porch.
He would lean over and take the
hand of the patient, while he prayed
with each one. He also blessed hand
kerchiefs. caps and other articles to be
- 10
People literally came by the thou
gave credit for his work to "the
father"
1T is not l who does it, said he.
Later Schlatter was credited with
having claimed to be the reincarna-
ton of Jesus Christ.
He travelled in various parts of the
country, pursuing his healing wherever
he went. Ultimately Schlatter disap-
peared and for several years was lost
to public view. In the summer Of 1902
he reappeared in Chicago after having
lived In seclusion for five years. He
declined to say where he had been,
merely stating he thought it better,
in view OF the many false prophets
who have arisen, that he disappear for
a time. !,
But little or nothing is known of
Schlatter's antecedents.
His Name in St. Louis
ST LOUIS. Oct. 21.-Accordng to
local records the man found dead in
Hastings is Charles Mclean. who has
posed in various places as Francis
Schlatter, who succe eded about 20
years ago to the reputation of Francis
Schrader, the first divine healer" of
wide repute. Shortly after Francis
Schrader's death a man of similar ap-
pearance and methods, calling himself
Francis Schlatter, began travelling
about the country, claiming to heal the
sick and afflicted by divine power.
This was Mclean.
Believe Him Impostor
OMAHA, Neb.. Oct. 21-Persons here
who saw Francis SchIatter in Denver
In 1895 and who have recently seen the
man whose death is reported from Has
tings declare positively they were not
the same.
1t is also said their methods were
entirely dissimilar. The Schlatter of
1895 spurned money, and when 1t was
urged upon him Immediately distrib-
uted it among those who seemed to
need it.
He was native OF Alsace-Lorraine
and worked in Denver as a shoe maker
some years before he became known
as healer.