Francis Hermann

Francis Hermans (c. 1851 – after 1896) was an English-born American pastor, murderer and suspected serial killer. After being connected to the murder of two female churchgoers in Salt Lake City, Utah, Hermans fled the city and was never seen again. He is also suspected of murdering ex-wives and two of his children.

Life in Europe and the American Midwest Francis Hermans was born in England to immigrant parents of either Norwegian or Danish origin. He was well-educated. They were soon living in West Superior, Wisconsin, where Hermans worked as the pastor of the First Norwegian-Danish Methodist Episcopal Church. Bertha's younger sister Caroline lived with the couple. Around early January, Bertha began exhibiting "spells" of severe mental instability. Her death was thought to be odd, but no investigation was launched at that time. Despite this marriage, Caroline Wangen remained a part of his life. Eventually an announcement was made that Caroline was moving back to her previous city of St. James, Minnesota. She did not arrive in St. James, and she was never seen again. A daughter was born to Martha and Francis on March 25, 1895. The baby died suddenly on April 15, followed by Martha's sudden death three days later. Subsequently, he was known to take young ladies driving in his horse-drawn buggy nearly every evening until 11 pm or later, often going with a different young lady each night. Hermans was also known to sometimes drink heavily, and he kept various liquors in his study.

Disappearance of Henrietta Clawson

A native of Sweden, Henrietta Clawson (or Clauson/Clausen) first arrived to the United States via Denmark in 1887. Having no relatives in the U.S., she settled in with a family named Johnson in Omaha, Nebraska. However, due to an illness, Clawson was brought over to Salt Lake City by Tillie Anderson. Anderson later returned to Omaha, but Clawson decided to remain, maintaining contact with her friends in Omaha through letters. Soon after Hermans arrived in Salt Lake City, her letters frequently contained allusions of their great friendship.

In September 1895, while Hermans was attending a church conference in the east, the 25-year-old Clawson was hired to look after his parsonage in the church. When he returned in late September, business went on as usual, as did their relationship. Hanson had heard of Clawson's disappearance and harbored a suspicion that "something unusual had befallen the girl."

Local newspapers soon learned of the investigation. Mrs. Peterson, when asked by a newspaper reporter about Hermans' relationship with Clawson, said Clawson "cared a great deal for him." Mrs. Peterson also alleged that Hermans had told her of an indecent proposal Clawson had made toward him. Mrs. Peterson had felt at the time that it was unkind for Hermans to say such a thing about a "good girl" like Clawson.

Over the following year, several people were arrested on suspicion of being Hermans, but were later released when it was proven false. Reports concerning Hermans eventually ceased, and presumably he escaped capture. Those falsely accused of being Hermans included: D. M. Elmenberg - On June 1, 1896, George M. Nolan, reported to be either the employee of a Salt Lake City liquor house, or a California wine company, claimed to have travelled along with Hermann two days prior off the Oregon short line, Rev. J. Orris Brown - On June 5, the Rev. J. Orris Brown was arrested in Tennessee on suspicion of being Hermann. He was first detained in Chattanooga and extradited to Cleveland, where it is last reported that he was waiting for a picture of Hermann to arrive in order for identification procedures to continue. No other reports for him exist, suggesting he was released. Unnamed man - In July 1897, a man was arrested in Pembroke, Ontario, Canada on suspicion of being Hermans. A detective from Salt Lake City was sent out to confirm his identity, but ended up exonerating the man, saying that a mistake had been made.

List of suspected victims Ms. Smith, his first wife - died under suspicious circumstances prior to his 1891 arrival in America. Bertha Wangen, his second wife - died mysteriously on January 11, 1892. Bertha Wangen's infant - died around the same time as Bertha. Caroline Wangen, his sister-in-law - mysteriously disappeared in the spring of 1892. Hermans' newborn daughter by Martha Lommen - died suddenly on April 15, 1895. Martha Lommen, his third wife - died under suspicious circumstances on April 18, 1895. Henrietta Clawson, his housekeeper - disappeared in September 1895. Annie Samuelson, his housekeeper - disappeared in January 1896.