The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-01-12
MYSTERY IS :. CLEARED UP Rev. Carmichael Con- fesses to Murder. THEN !coMMlIs SUICIDE Details of Tragedy Reads Like
 Dime Novel. After Murderins Gideon Browains, the Preacher Cut Up Body s.a
 Burned Pieces ia
 the stove.
 


 Carmichael. who last Tuesday night in the little Methodist Church at Rattle Run, Mich. killed Gideon Browning, the village carpenter and then Burn ed the body in the stove, committed suicide here today by cutting his throat with a pocket knife.
 He died at the county hospital after he had been taken from the boarding house of Miss Miranda Hughes. where as a stranger he had been living since last Friday.
 Tn a long letter found in his suit case Carmichael told in detail the story of the killing of Browning, how he had fallen victim to Browning's hypnotic power. and meeting him in the church Tuesday night was compelled to obey every command: how finally when Browning attacked him with knives, Carmichael defended himself with a hatchet. After killing his victim with the hatchet he said the red hot etove in the church suggested itself as the best means of dlsposing of the body. Before putting the body in the stove. however, he exchanged some of the dead mans clothing for his own, which had become bespattered with blood.
 Carmichaeis death was almost as horrible as that of his victim. When he arrived at the Hughes boarding houses he gave the name of John Elder and as he said he was a woodworker and had come here to start a factory. no suspicion. was attached to his presence.
 Went TO Priest.
 Once he went to a Catholic priest. and declaring he was Catholic, asked the influence of the members of the church in helping him in his busi- nnV Ia oh Ar<n t. sa out of the boarding house he gave no indication of breeding over the murder although all this time he must have thought about 1t. for the written con fession had been prepared and was concealed among his beiongings In his room. ,s ssI sss,s..s ,4S sstts. .. {.
 Although 50 far as he knew he was stiil beyond the reach Of detectives, the crisis came this morning about T:2a o'clock. when he fntbfn1ed 1iss uGheb that as.l no satisfactory site for his factory could be found here, he intend ed to go to Bowen. H..
 T think { will find better site there." he said ''I'lI take the 9 o'clock train"
 Saying this he went out into the back yard. As he delayed coming back and had not returned at train time to get his suit case, Miss Hughes instituted 6 search. A passing teamster. was hailed and he joined the Searchers. But Carmichael by his own hand. so far as he was able, had expiated his crime In an old wooden shed back of the house, he had cut his throat The cutting had been done with a pocket knife which lay by his side. The dying man was carried into the house but he never recovered consciousness and Jied at p. m.
 His clothing and suit case were searched and two letters were found. one addressed to his wife at Rattle Run, which was sealed and remains unopened. The other letter was the confession which was addressed to the sheriff at Port Huron. Mich. There was also found in his pocket a memorandum directing that his night shirt and money he sent to his wife. The money consisted of small amount of change.
 Arrival At Carthage.
 Carmichael arrived here over the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy road. On inquiring for boarding house lie was directed to that managed by Miss Hughes. He appeared in happy frame of mind and talked freely with every one of his plans for coming here and starting a factory. Going care- 
 the business places. His keen interest in Carthage aroused interest in his project. Even up to the moment when he suddenly said he had to leave town. there was no token of any mental per- plexity he might have been suffering The statement in his confession that he constantly dreaded being captured by the detectives. as he knew he in- evitably must be. was not borne out at all in his conduct here, for instead of acting as one in fear, he appe6red to be cheerful, retired early and re- appeared in the morning as fresh as if he had enjoyed a good nights rest.
 At an inquest tonight the coroner's jury returned the following verdict:
 we the jurors find that the sup posed John H. Carmichael came to his death by his own hand and by exposure to cold"
 Carmichaels suit~case arrived here Saturday morning from Burlington. having been re-checked from Donnell' son. Iowa. This indicated that Car michael had gone through Burlington to Donnellson and thence returned to Burlington Friday. allowing his suit ease to follow him. It is thus perhaps. that the minister left Chicago on We'd nasday afternoon or might. arriving, here on Wednesday evening or Thurs day and going on to Donnellson. It IS thought that he was originally bound for Kansas City but changed his mind.
 Late tonight the sheriff decided to onen Carmichaers letter to his wife and found that 1t was practically a dunlicate of the confession. He said <" dear wife" and mentioned his three children by name.
 Saturday morning Carmichael sent an express package to his brother at Wellsburg. West Va.
 pr. Bender who attended Carmichael saId Hdeath was caused by exposure to cold and that the wound In the throat was not sufficient to cause death"
 JudginR from the time he left the bouse until the time he was found 1t would appear that Carmichael might nave been lying in the bitter cold with ht. throat cut for over two hours.
 Appearance ln Carthage.
 Carthage. Ills, Jan. lion Friday evening when the Chicago. Burlington and Quincy train pulled into Carthage A stranger with reddish brown hair and smooth shaven face alightad and
 .k to Mfaa NiFaud HnRhas' haard-