The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1913-01-17
ACCUSED PARs0N
VAN|sHEs FROM
RICHMOND HOME
Rev. Frank Horn Takes His
Clothes and Personal
Effects From House
After Night
EVIDENTLY FINDS
NEW HIDING PLACE
Proofs Of Former Identity
Still Come - Church
Will Dismiss Him

No longer known as the skating
| rink preacher but now heralded as
the vanishing parson7 of Richmond,
Rev. Frank Horn. pastor of the First
Baptist church Of that city, who is
accused by Mrs. Eva Mae Metz de
Tovrea in a divorce action of being
her husband. again disappeared yester-
| day morning. after leaving his secret
hiding place in the belfry long enough
to make general denial of the ac-
cusations against him.
This will o. the wisp clergyman has
led the newspaper men and his friends
merry chase within the lask~4o hours.
| So sudden are his appearances and
| exits from the stage setting OF the
weird story Of dual personality being
enacted at Richmond. II he proves to
he in reality De Tovrea. that all the
Knowledge of Sherlock Holmes would
| fail in keeping track of his where
abouts. That he has not left the city
funds and in weakened condition
from sickness
thorough search last might OF his
former residence, the home OF Mrs. p.
Church. the woman who has stead
fastIy. notwithstanding all The charges
and the peculiar actions OF the man
within the last few days, refused to
believe Ill of the minister, who has
| roomed at her home for the eight
| rnonfhs OF hts pa.s ~ "a, failed TO re-
veal any trace of his presence
Rev Mr.. Horn maintains an absolute
silence. His romantic, pathetic story
of misguided twin brother. for whose
sins he has suffered as the result of
strong physical resemblance between
them, is no longer repeated to ques-
TONERS of his Identification
PROOF NOT PRODUCED
The affidavits from relatives and
friends which would clear him of all
suspicion. the kilograms from his
mother. whose address he could not
remember, have failed to materialize.
And one by one even the stanchest
members OF his congregation are ceas-
ing to support him. BY the majority of
them his action in hiding, his flight
from the deacons and the Identification
of former trinkets OF Mrs. de Toyrea.
found in his roorl, are held as evidence
OF his guilt.
Morbidly curio1s persons thronsed
the church grounds yesterday believing
that perhaps his third disappearance
would be accounted for in the finding
OF his body within some hidden recess
of the edifice.
1t was known that he was de-
spondent and in a highly excited state
when last seen in the semidarkness of
the chapel midnight Wednesday. But
the people who know him scofr at the
idea of Rev. Mr.. Horn taking his life
and declare he IS keeping out of sight
either because he is guilty OF the
charges and is awaiting an opportu
nifty to leave town, or else, through
fear Of further interviews and ques-
tioning, until he has documents to
establish his true identity.
From the time he spoke the few
words shortly after midnight of
Wednesday and then vanished within
the confines OF his study all positive
trace of him is lost. Contradictory
statements are made as TO his present
whereabouts.
STRANGE MAN STORY
According to the statement of Mrs.
F. Stout, wife OF one OF the church
deacons. Mrs. Church came up to their
home at the end OF Nichol street early
yesterday morning and excitediy told
of an unknown man entering the
Church home at 112 Nicholl street dur.
ing the night.
She said she heard window on the
porch. opening into Rev. NE Horns
room. open. and some one step inside"
stated Mrs Stout. Mrs. Church said
she did not arise to investigate the
matter, as her husband was. at the
Standard Oil works. working on the
night shift. and she was alone in the.
house. with the exception OF her young
son.
''As nothing more was heard Of the
man, she said she believed it was the
clergyman who had come over from
his study. where she had left him an
hour before, and had entered his room
in that manner to avoid arousing the
household. When she went into the
room in the morning she declared no
one was there. nor had anything been
disturbed. Nor did search reveal
any ono at the church
MRS. CHURCH DENIES
When questioned in regard to this
Mrs. Church natly denied making any
such statement. and persisted in her
previous assertion that she had not
conversed Or seen the accused minister
since Tuesday night The woman il IN |
&ontinued On Pase 2, Columa = !