Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-12
CONFESSES TO ADAIR MURDER
Rev. John H. Carmichael Then Com
mits Suicide at Carthage.
LEAVES LETTER ADMITTING DEED
Declares He Killed Gideon Browning
While Under Hypnotic Influence
His Throat Cut
when Found.

CARTHAGE, ILL.,, Jan. 11.-Rev. John
Haviland Carmichael, the clergyman
wanted for the murder of Gideon Browning
at Rattle Run, Mich, committed suicide
here today by cutting his throat. He lived
several hours after he had inflicted the
fatal wound.
A letter of ten pages, written by Car
michael, admitting his identity and con-
Tossing that he killed Browning, cut up
the body and buried it in the stove while
under the hypnotic influence of Browning,
was found. Carmichael had been staying
here for the last two days at a private
boarding house. The minister cut his own
throat while in an clubhouse on the prem
ises of the place at which he had secured
q room. He arrived at the boarding house
Friday night and expected to leave this
morning for Bowen, Ia, according to the
story he told his fellow boarders.
Sheriff Bertschi said that Carmichael had
told the story of the killing an a graphic
manner. Carmichael claimed Browning
exerted a hypnotic influence over linn,
that when he entered the church Browning
attacked him with two knives he had in
his possession. Carmichael added that he
then picked up a Ratchet and proceeded to
hack away until he thought Browning was
dead.
! Browning returned to consciousness, how
ever, so Carmichael kept at him. He then
took one Of the knives Browning had used
in his attack upon him and proceeded to
mutilate the body until it had lost all
resemblance to a human being. The minis
ter then burned the remains in the church
steve. After that he took a train for Chi
cago, where he purchased new clothes, then
went to Quincy, ILL.,, and from there to
Carthage.
Widow Takes News Calmly.
ADAIR. Mich, Jan. n.-"Really, really,
nave they really found him?' was Mrs.
/ Carmichael's exclamation when told that
her husband had been found in Carthage,
Ill. She took the news calmly, in fact,
seemed almost relieved to know that the
much sought man had been located. 81
know Of no reason why he should have
gone to Carthage she continued. He
had no relatives there and no friends thai
l ever knew Of"
Mrs. Carmichael said that she has ar
aunt and a cousin in Rushville, Ind. But
Mrs. Carmichael insisted that she had nc
relatives or friends in Carthage and knew
nothing of the place.
Mrs. Carmichael, continuing, said:
81 would not think tina Mr.. Browning
either would have known anything o.
hypnotism. I never spoke of Mr., Browning
to my husband and my husband never
spoke of him to me. / never said am
more than how do you do to Mr.. Brown
irg.
IT never knew Mr.. Browning and m,
husband were close friends until this cam.
out. I can't understand 1t.
IF Mr.. Carmichael ever did anything t
Mr.. Browning my husband must have beef
crazy. Why, he didn't have an enemy
He never struck a man or was in a fight
He could not have been aroused over an.
action OF the people here, for e~verybod.
vas kim TO us from the first. I hav
often been afraid that the gatherings II
my husbands ears would cause his dealt
) or make him insane" a.