The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-12
LAST CHAPTER IN
 MYSTERIOUS MURDER
tcoNT1NuED FROM PAGE 1.)

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1.) cold and that the wound in the throat was not sufficient to cause death. Judg- ing from the time he left the house to the time he was found in the shed, it would appear that Carmichael might have been lying in the bitter cold with his throat cut for over two hours.
 The Confession.
 The confession left by Rev. J. H. Carmichael Is as follows:
 Carthage, Ill.,, January 9. 1909.
 To MT. Waggonstefll, Port Huron, Mich. Honored Sir-I write this letter to explain some things in connection with the Columbus church tragedy. I am guilty only because I am coward. The man had such hypnotic influence over , me that I felt that something must be done. I felt greatly ashamed that man said to be short minded should be able to compel me to yield to his will, but I said nothing about i1 At first he said its all right, elde !, don't be afraid then he began to talk about how we two could get rich Three times he came to the rear of my barn and talked some through the manure hole; twice he was at the river when I went to water my stock, and each time I felt that he was doing some thing that he was proud of. Once when I was going out to Columbus he was on the pike near the Pink school house and when I overlook him he asked if ever I had driven up the pike to Port Huron, to which I answered mo- Then he said: Come, let's drive up' to which I dissented, but he kept on until he persuaded me to go. lie got out and stood at the corner while I 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 small hatchet for his boy to play with. I began to tell him to go and do his own buying when he set his eyes upon me in the queerest sort of look, something like the look of snakes eye. Then I felt his influence tightening it's grip on my mind, so went intending to go into the store and l out the back way to get the horse and l rush off for home. When I turned to | close the door, he stood looking a me l through the window, and I just bought | the hatchet and came out again, but l by that time he had disappeared, so l | went to the barn, got my rig and ] started for home. When I made the | turn into Military street, he was at the , corner to get in. He rode as far as | South Park where he got out to take l the car. He took the hatchet with him | and said nothing, nor did think any thing at the time about the change. | Once at the depot at Adair he came | out of the house in his shirt sleeves and exercised me by compelling me to walk the rails. All the while l felt as small as a bantam chicken. When ! he arranged with me about the we'd | ding he said he would go to Port Hu- 1 ron and meet me on the road between | that place and the church. I thought | he really meant to get married wh en | he engaged my services, but met him on the road and he was alone. I be- came little uneasy but he said that 1 it was all right that the others would come in a carriage. When we went | into the church I wanted to light a lamp, to which he dissented, saying, No, elder. no light unless they should l come" but presently he said, Maybe you had better have little fire" So I , went out and passed wood for him through the window. When I had put in what I thought would be enough he said Now, elder the moon is shining right on the 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"
 I brought few stocks, laid then
 
 he helped me into the building.
 He let the window nearly down asair
 and we kept looking out through the
 opening to see the others come down the
 state road. Presently he took pie
 heary laugh and said, here aint nc
 use looking, for there ain't going to DC
 no wedding He was sitting where tht
 gleams of light shown on his face an'
 his eyes were so brilliant that l wal
 thrilled through and through with thu
 queerest sort of feeling l asked hin
 why then he had made the present ar
 rangements when he said: Well, elder
 just wanted to have a little fun. Yol | consider yourself an educated man ant
 look down upon poor, ignorant felloy
 like me. And just thought what l cou
 do I knowed would show what | could do. l knowed if I could handl
 you could handle other men too ant | make big thing out of it Then h
 said: Now raise your hand; up sh
 goes: see, that's no dream. and felt m
 hand raise without effort whatever O my part and then he said: Now. then