New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-10-22
HEALER FOUND DEAD
WAS HE SCHLATTER?
Strange History of Western
Nan of Mystery.


Hastings, Neb, Oct. -2l.-The body OF
man, said to be Charles NJ. Schiatter. noted
few years ago as a healer who claimed
TO cure ills by divine power, was found
in a room at a local hotel to-day. Doctors
say he died OF old age.
The man was practically penniless. lie
had been in this place for about a month
Thousands of newspaper clippings descrih-
ing his visits TO Boston. Denver and other
cities were found in his ROOM Unless
relatives or friends claim the body IL VIII
be turned over to some medical college.
The mystery surrounding the man was
partly cleared this evening by the discoV-
cry of family album containing picture
Of the man taken in 1871. This was IN
scribed 'Dr. Charles Mclean
His literature and advertising circulars
declare him to be Francis Sehlatter. di-
vine healer" receipt for an envelope
deposited with the Bay State Trust Com
pany, Of Boston. was also found. This was
placed in the care Of the company last
February For three weeks the man had
been kept at the expense OF the city He
said that he was the original healer who
appeared in Denver. and he averred that
he caused the report to be spread abroad
that he had persisted in the desert.
st. Louis Oct 21.-Aecording to local
records, the man found dead IN Hastings,
Neb., to-day is Charles Mclean. who has
posed in various places as Francis Schlat-
ter, the original Schlatter OF "divine heal
ing fame. who succeeded about twenty
years ago to the reputation of Francis
Schrader. the first seIf-styled divine
healer" Schrader, after gaining a great
reputation as "A healer in Denver and
other cities, was found dead in the Colo
RADIO desert about fifteen years ago
Shortly after Francis Schrader's death,
a man of similar appearance and methods.
calling himself Francis Schlatter, began
travelling about the country, claiming 10
heal the sick by divine power. In May, 1905.
a man, who is believed 70 have been Me
Lean, appeared in St Louis with much
younger man calling himself 'schrader.'
The older man posed as "Schlatter.'
Mclean was arrested in Des Moines,
Iowa last June. on Il charge preferred by
a citizen of Clinton. Iowa. that he had
taken away a large sum of money in
trusted to him for use in his healing work.
He had posed in Clinton as Schlatter In
his ragged clothing when arrested he had
S755 and three diamonds, valued at 500
each.
"schIatter and "Schrader'' appeared in
Los Angeles last winter. and announced
they had established the Kingdom Of the
New Jerusalem on a South Sea island.
and We're going to convert the world.
Francis SchIatter as he was known IN
the Central West, made his first appear
ance as a healer among the Mexicans OF
New Mexico in July, 1895.
A Mexican girl. crippled. deformed and
sickly, had been put aside by her family
To the mother OF the girl came strange
man with a spreading beard, long hair and
kindly eyes He offered to cure the child.
and the next day the child was walking
upright, cured of her affection
At least such was the story that spread.
Others came to the healer. Diseases that
had baffled the physicians appeared TO de-
part under the touch of this strange per-
son. People from distant points began
coming to him. and all departed with the
same result.
Schlatter finally went to Albuquerque. Up
10 that time most of his patients had been
Mexicans. but now Americans came His
fame was spread by telegraph, and he
vent to Denver. There Schlatter began
fast that lasted forty days. All the Wills
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 before him as he
STOOD on the porch.
He would lean over and take the hand
OF the patient, while he prayed with each
one. He also blessed handkerchiefs, caps
and other articles to be used as instru-
ments Of healing. He refused to take
money and gave credit for his work 10
the Father
Later Schlatter was credited with having
claimed to be the reincarnation OF Christ.
He travelled In various parts OF the coun-
try. pursuing his healing wherever he went.
Ultimately Schlatter disappeared and for
several years was lost to public view. He
was reported TO have persisted in Mexican
desert. while his friends declared he had
gone to a ranch for rest.
In the summer of 1902 a man supposed
to be Schlatter 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
had arisen, that he disappear for time.
Little or nothing is known of Schlstters
autccedentS.