The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-01-12

HE WAS HYPNOTIC VICTIM
STATES IN CONFESSION THAT
MURDER OF THE VILLAGE CAR
PEWTER WAS TO BREAK HIM
SELF OF HIS POWER.

Carthage, ILL.,. Jan. 12.-The Rev.
John H. Carmichael, who committed
suicide here yesterday by cutting his
throat after numbering last Tuesday
night, Gideon Browning at Battle Run.
Mich, confessed his crime in a letter,
found after he had breathed his last
in the county hospital. The minis
ter's victim was the village carpenter.
After he had been killed in the little
Methodist church, Carmichael burned
the body in the stove.
In a long letter found in his suit
case Carmichael told in detail the
story Of the killing of Browning; how
he had fallen a victim to Browning's
hypnotic power, and meeting him in
the church Tuesday night was COM
PEELED to obey every command; how
finally when Browning attacked him
with knives he, Carmichael. defended
himself with Ratchet. After killing
his victim with the Ratchet, he said.
the red-hot stove in the church sug
gested itself as the best method Of
disposing of the body. Before putting
the body in the stove, however. he ex-
changed some of the dead mans
clothing for his own, which had be-
come despatched with blood.
Carmichaers death was almost as
horrible as that Of his victim. When
he arrived at the Hughes boarding
house he gave the name of John FL
der, and, as he said he was a wood
worker and had come here to start a
factory, no suspicion was attached to
his presence. 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 business.
No indication Of erooding.
Going about the town and in and
out the boarding house, he gave no
indication of brooding over the MUIR
| der, although all this time he must
have thought about it, for the written
| confession had been prepared and
| was concealed among his belongings
in his room. Although so far as he
knew he was still beyond the reach of
| detectives, the crisis came yesterday
morning about 1850 O'Clock, when he
informed Miss Hughes that. as no sat
isfactory site for his factory could be
| found here, he intended to go to
Bowen, Ill.
Il think will find a better sitl
there" he said. I'll take the
o'clock train
| Went to Clubhouse.
| 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. the landlady
instituted a search. A passing team
joined the searchers. But Carmichae
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 regained consciousness
and died at p. m.
searched and two letters were found
one addressed to his wife at Battle
Run, which was sealed and remain:
unopened. The other letter was tn,
confession, which was addressed t
the sheriff of Port Huron. Michigan
There was also found in his pocket ;
memorandum directing that his nigh
shirt and money be sent to his wife
The money consisted of small
amount of change.
Carmichael arrived here over thu
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy road
On inquiring for boarding house h
was directed to that managed by Mis-
Hughes. He appeared in happ,
frame of mind, discussed freely will
every one plans for coming here ant
starting factory.