The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-01-12
CARMICHAEL'S CONFESSION DOESN'T
REVEAL REAL MOTIVE FOR CRIME
Story That He Murdered Browning
Because Of Latter's Hypnotic In
fIuence Not Believed --- died
With Lie on Lips" Says
Prosecutor

, vein. III II had not been that he had
lain so long In the cold and lost 30
| much blood. the doctors said they
could have restored him to conscious
ness; but, as the thermometer stood
| almost at zero. he had become 80
thoroughly chilled that he never
aroused from his stupor and died
about 1910 o'clock.
Coroner J. A. Barr was summoned
from Fort Green and a jury was en-
paneled. Sheriff Carl Bertschi came
and took charge OF the mans suit
case, containing two letters. one ad-
/ dressed to Mrs. J. III. Carmichael and
the other to the sheriff of st. Clair
county, Michigan. The opening OF
the letter addressed to the Michigan
sheriff showed at once that the
strange man was Rev. John II. Car
michael, of Adair. Mich. wanted for
the murder OF Gideon Browning, a
neighbor, In Rattle Run Methodist
church.
Late last night the sheriff decided
to open Carmichaels letter to his
wife and found that II was practically
duplicate of the confession to the
Michigan sheriff. He said Dear
Wife," and mentioned his three chill
dren by name.
Saturday morning Carmichael sent
an express package to his brother AZ
Wellsburg, w. Va.
The coroners jury returned ver-
dict late tonight as follows:
we, the jurors, find that the sup
posed John II. Carmichael came to
his death by his own hand and expo
sure to cold"
The letter to his wife was forward
ed to her and the other one was open
ed. II detailed the murder OF Brown
ing.
/ The confession or Rev. John HI Car
michael. left in q letter to the sheriff
lct st. Clair county. follows:
| CARTHAGE. ILL.,. Jan. 8. 1909.
To Mr.. Waggonsteil. Port Huron,
Mich.
Honored Sir--I write this letter
to explain some things In connec. ,
ton with the Columbus church
tragedy. | am guilty only be-
cause | am coward. The man
had such hypnotic influence over
me that | felt that something
must be done. 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 II.
At first he said IT'S all right,
elder, 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 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 1 was going
out 10 Columbus. he was on the
pike near the Pinkie schoolhouse.
When | overlook him he asked me
TO ride.
| could not refuse. He asked
me X ever | had driven up the
pike TO Port Huron. to which !
answered no. Then be said:
Come. let's drive up: dissent
ed but he kept on until he per-
suaded me to go.
He got out and stood at the cor
nef while | 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 half-dollar and said he want
ed me TO 20 across there and buy
/
with. | began TO tell him 10 20
and do his own buying when he
set his eyes upon me In the queer
est sort OF look. something Ike
Tie look of a snakes eyes. Then
| felt his influence tightening his
grip on my mind, SO | went, In
tending To go into the store and
ont the back way To get the horse
and rush of for home. When |
turned TO close the door he stood
looking upon ME through the win
dow and | just bought the Ratchet
and came out again. but by that
time he had disappeared, so |
went TO the barn. got my rig and
started for home. When | made
the turn on to- Military.st. he was
al the corner To- get In. He rode
as far as South Park. where he
got out 10 take the car.
He took the hatchet with him
and said nothing. nor did | think
anything at the time about the
change once at the depot al
Adair he came Out of the house In
y his shirt sleeves and exercised ME
bv compelling me To walk the
rails. All the while felt as small
rs bantam chicken When he
arranged with me about his wed
ding he said he wOuld go To Port
Huron and meet me on the road
between that place and the church
! thought he really meant TO gel
married when he engaged my ser
vices. but when We met on the
road and he @As alone | began tO
feel uneasy but he said IL was all
right. The others would come ia
carriage.
When We went into the church
wanted to light lamp, 10 which
he disSeRted. saving NO. elder; *
no light unless they should come"
Presently he said Maybe you'd
better have a little fire." SO | went
J, out and passed wood TO him
IE.a6Ins1aA Raas EInAll