Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1909-01-15
WANTED
FOR CRIME, CUTS
THROAT and DIES
REV. ]. Il. CARMICHAEL ADMITS
BUTCHERING VICTIM AND
BURNING BODY.
CLAIMS HE WAS HYPNOTIZED.
Mystery of Port Huron (Mich.) Church
Murder Cleared in Letter to
Michigan Sheriff.
HIS WIFE TAKES NEWS CALMLY.

CARTHAGE, ILL.,, Jan. 11.-Rev.
John Havelind Carmichael, the clergy
man who was wanted for the murder of
Gideon Browning at Rattle Run, Mich,
committed suicide here by cutting his
throat. Carmichael made two wounds i'll
his neck and died several hours later.
Admits Awful Crime.
A letter of ten pages was written by
Carmichael before he committed suicide
admitting his identity, and confessing
that he killed Browning, cut up the
body and burned it in the stove, while
under the hypnotic influence of his wife.
Carmichael had been staying here for
the last two days at private boarding
house. He ended his life in an clubhouse
on the premises of the place at which he
had secured a room. He had a sister
living here, Mrs. Mirandi Hughes, but
he has not seen her to any extent.
On his arrival at the boarding house
here Carmichael stated that he intended
to start factory and then called on the
local Catholic priest, stating that he was
Catholic and wanted to enlist the in
terest of the members of that church III
his enterprise.
Changes His Mind.
This morning he told the boarding
house proprietor that he did not like
the location and would take the morn
ing train for Bowen, Ill. Sometime aft
| erwards he was found in the clubhouse
with his throat cut. Physicians were
called and letters were found in his
pocket identifying him. One letter was
OII 70 oh Mt a
other to his wife, both confessing the
crime.
Confession of Murderer.
The confession Of Rev ]. II. Car
michael is as follows:
Carthage, Ill, Jan. 9, 1909.
ITO Mr.. Wagonsteil, Port Huron,
Mich.
"Honored Sir: I write this letter to
explain some things in connection with
the Columbus church tragedy. l am
guilty only because l am coward. The
man had such a hypnotic influence over
me that l felt that something must be
done. I felt greatly ashamed that a
man said to be short minded should
be able to compel me to yield to his
will, but / said nothing about it. AT
first he said, It's all right, elder, don't
be afraid then he begun to talk about
/ how we two could get rich. Three times
he came to my barn and talked to me;
| twice he was at the river when l went
to water my stock and each time | felt
that he was doing something that he
was proud of. Once when he was 60
| ing out to Columbus, he was on the pike
near the schoolhouse and when | over
took him he asked me to ride, which |
could not refuse. He asked me it ever
had driven up the pike to Port Huron,
to which 1 answered, no. Then he said:
Come, let's drive up to which l dis
scented, but he kept on until he per,
suaded me to go.
! "Has Snakes Eyes"
! "He got out and stood at the corner
while l went to the barn with the rig
then after we had been at the restaurant
for which he paid also for the horse,
he gave me a half dollar and said he
wanted me to go across there and buy a
small Ratchet for his boy to play with.
| began to tell him to go and do his
own buying when he set his eyes upon
| me in the queerest sort Of a look, some
thing like the look of a snakes eyes.
Then l felt his influence Tightening his
grip on my mind so | went, intending
| to go into the store and out the back
way to get the horse and rush off for
home. When I turned to close the door
he stood looking upon me through the
| window and / just bought the hatchet
and came out again, but by that time he
| had disappeared, SO | went to the barn,
got my rig and started for home. When,
as | made the turn onto Military street,
he was at the corner to get in. He
rode as far as South park, where he
| got out to take the car. He took the
Ratchet with him and said nothing nor
| did I think anything at the time about
the change.
Feels Small as Chicken.
"Once at the depot at Adair, he came
| ont of the house in his shirt sleeves and
exercised me by compelling me to walk
the rails, all the while | felt as small
as bantam chicken. When he arranged
with me about the wedding he said he
would go to Port Huron and meet me on
| the read between that place and the
| church I thought he really meant to
get married when he engaged my serv-
/ ices, but when we met on the road and
he was alone, | began to feel uneasy,
but he said it was all right and that the
others would come in a carriage. When
he went into the church l wanted to
| light a lamp. to which he dissented, say
| ing. No. elder, no light unless they
should come but presently he said,
| Maybe you'd better have a little fire,
so | went out and passed wood for him
| what I thought would be enough, he said,
s'Now, elder, the moon is shining right
on fhe front door and if you go around
there to come in, some one may see
you, just put up some wood here and
| come in at this window" l brought
a few sticks, laid them across each 9th
err from the top of which he helped me
into the building. He let the window
nearly down again and we kept looking
out through the opening. to see the 9TH
ers come down the road. Presently he
took big hearty laugh and said there
amt no use looking for there amt go
| inc 10 he no wedding He was sit
ting where the CLEANS of light shone on