Los Angeles herald., 1909-01-12
PASTOR ADMITS
DEED; ENDS LIFE
REV. CARMICHAEL CONFESSES
81 MURDER IN CHURCH
CUTS THROAT IN CARTHAGE, ILL.,,
FIRST BLAMING WIFE
Says Hypnotic Influence of Spouse
Caused Him to Kill and
Burn Man in -Adair,
Michigan
tBy Associated Press.l


H. Carmichael, wanted for the murder
of Gideon Browning at the Battle Run
Methodist church in Michigan last
Tuesday night; cut his throat in
boarding house here last night and died
at noon today.
Carmichael had cut his throat, MAX
ing two serious wounds, and died a
few hours sitter being taken into Gus
tody.
A letter of ten pages had been writ
ten by Carmichael admitting his iden-
tity and confessing that he killed
Browning, cut the body up and burned
1t in the stove, while under the hypnotic
influence Of his wife.
This letter is now in the possession of
the sheriff.
Carmichael had been staying here for
the last two days at private boarding
house. His attempt at suicide was
made on the premises Of the place at
which he had secured a room.
Carmichael was found in the toilet
room of the boarding house after he
had attempted to end his life.
He arrived at his sisters house Fri
day night and expected to leave this
morning for Bowen. Iowa, according to
the story told to his fellow boarders
When told at Adair, Mich, that her
husband in his letter said that he had
committed the murder of Browning
while under her hypnotic influence,
Mrs. Carmichael declared she knew
nothing of hypnotism; that her hus-
band, so far as she knew, was also
ignorant of it, and that hypnotism had
never been discussed in their home.
Denies Hypnotic Influence
Il never saw person hypnotized,"
she said, land know absolutely nothing
about the practice. And If my hus-
Ia 1a1, n c+a to-, H., la
L cannot imagine the reason for it,"
Mrs. Carmichael insisted she had no
relatives or friends in Carthage. and
knew nothing of the place.
Mrs. Carmichael, continuing, said:
Il would not think that Mr.. Brown
ing either would have known anything
of hypnotism. I never spoke Of Mr.
Browning to my husband and my hus-
band never spoke to me of him. 1
never said any more than how do you
do?' to Mr.. Browning.
Il never knew Mr.. Browning and my
husband were close friends until this
came out. can't understand 1T.
IF Mr.. Carmichael ever did anything
to Mr.. Browning my. husband must
have been crazy. Why, he did not have
an enemy. He never struck man or
was in a fight. He could not have been
aroused over the action of the people
here, for everybody was kind to US
from the start.
II have often been afraid that the
gatherings in my husbands ears would
cause his death or make him insane"
Sheriff Bethsho said Carmichael in
the letter told the story of the killing
in graphic manner. He claimed
Browning attacked him with two
knives
Carmichael says he then picked UP q
Ratchet and proceeded to hack away
until he thought Browning was dead.
He 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. he
body until it had lost all resemblance
to a human being, then took the re-
mains out and burned them.
After that he took a train for Chi
cago, where he bought new clothing and
left for Quincy, ILL.,, and from there to
Carthage.
Murderer's Confession
The confession of the Rev. J. H. Car
michael was as follows:
Carthage, ILL.,, January 9, 1909
To Mr.. Waggonsteil, Port Huron,
Mich:
"Honored Sir: 1 write this letter to
explain some things in connection with
the Columbus church tragedy. I am
guilty only because 1 am a coward.
Inc man ndQ such hypnotic in
fiuence over me that [ felt that some
thing must be done.
Il 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 began to talk about how we
could get rich
Three times he came to the rear of
NV barn and talked to me through the
manure hole; twice he was at the river
when [ went to water my stock and
each time [ felt that he was doing
something that he was proud of.
"Once when [ was going out to CO.
lumhus he was on the pike near the
pink school house. When I overlook
him he asked me to ride, which /
could not refuse.
HE asked nle if ever 1 had driven
up the pike to Port Huron, to which I
answered no.
''Then he said Come, let's drive up
to which I dissented. But he kept on
until he persuaded me to go. He got
out and stood at the corner while I
went to the barn with the rig.
Then, after we had been at the res
taurant for food for which he paid and
also for the horse, he gave me a half
dollar and said he wanted me to go
across there and buy small Ratchet
for his boy to play with.
II began to tell him to do his own